Date: 9th April 1941
Time: 10.10. p.m.
Unit: 4./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
Type: Junkers Ju 88C-4
Werke/Nr. 0776
Code: R4 + CM
Location: Near Burley - Langham Road, north of Oakham, Rutland.
Base: Gilze - Rijen
Pilot: Gefreiter Franz Brotz 1136/53576 Killed (Born 04.01.1918 in Waldshut.)
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier Willi Lindla 3/60941 POW (Born 09.11.1915 in Gleiswitz.)
Gunner : Gefreiter Ewald Gorlt 1027/53576 POW (Born 07.11.1920 in Walnau.)
REASON FOR LOSS:
At 20.00 hours on the 9th April Ju 88C-4 (R4 + CM) departed Gilze - Rijen to carry out an intruder -type night fighter bomber patrol over RAF airfields. At around 22.10 hours it was itself intercepted by a British Beaufighter night fighter R2122 of No. 25 Squadron, crewed by Sgt Bennett and Sgt Curtiss who were patrolling between Lowestoft and Leicester and shot the German intruder down. The Ju 88 crashed near the Burley - Langham Road, part of the aircraft lying deep in a crater and the rest spread over two fields. It was not possible for the RAF Intelligence officers to learn more from the mangled wreckage but deduced that it was probably a night fighter version of the Ju 88 from the remains of its armament and armour plating.
Gefreiter Franz Brotz killed in action
RAF Combat Report of Sgt S. Bennett and Sgt Curtiss No. 25 Squadron
Burial detail: ?
