Date: 26th June 1941
Unit: 4./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
Type: Junkers Ju 88C-2
Werke/Nr. 0794
Code: R4 + GM
Location: Mailen, Northern Italy.
Base: Gilze - Rijen
Pilot: Oberleutnant Paul Bohn 67474/4 Killed (Born 14.05.1915 in Dallau.)
Radio/Op: Feldwebel Hans Engmann Baled out
Gunner : Unteroffizier Walter Lindner Baled out
REASON FOR LOSS:
Extracts from Simon Parry's excellent book "Intruders over Britain" ISBN O 904811 077
At 00.15 hours Oblt Bohn approached to eighty metres behind what he identified as a Whitley. A burst of fire hit the Whitley in its fuselage and its right wing and a small blue flame appeared. Bohn made his second attack but the perspex of the Ju 88's cockpit slintered as a burst of return fire from the Whitley struck home. The Ju 88 turned to port and its nose dropped. A fierce blast of icy wind ripped through the shattered perspex.
Bohn made no attempt to pull out. Lindner, the Bordmechaniker, got to the pilot and there was little doubt in his voice as he shouted, "Sepp is dead!"
Taking control column, Lindner began to pull the Ju 88 out of its dive. Being dark, there was no horizon to fly by, only the dimly lit instruments. Despite the odds Lindner straightened the aircraft out. Once again they were on an even keel, the rate of descent slowed and order was restored.
Now the body of Paul Bohn had to be lifted out of his seat, with Lindner taking his place. Unteroffizier Walter Lindner was not a pilot. Although he had flown a Messerschmitt Me 108, his request for pilot training had been turned down as he was, they said, unsuitable. Even so, there had been occasions when Paul Bohn had let him fly back across the North Sea. Now he would have to return on his own. The Bordfunker (Radio/Op), Feldwebel Hans Engmann,
sent his second message - the first having been to report the attack on the Whitley. The second read: Pilot dead. Attempting to return to base.
It was not until 8 o'clock the following morning that news came of Bohn's machine. Both Lindner and Engmann had baled out and had been found near Charleville, France. Before they jumped they had attached a static line to Paul Bohn's parachute and pushed him out. His body was not found for twelve days.
The aircraft flew across France, over the Alps and finally ran out of fuel near Mailen, in Northern Italy.
Oberleutnant Paul Bohn with Leutnant Hans-Georg Schuetze
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