Date: 11th March 1943
Time: 23.25 hours.
Unit: 3 Staffel/Kampfgeschwader 2
Type: Dornier Do 217 E-4
Werke/Nr. 4541
Coded: U5 + BL
Base: Gilze-Rijen, Holland.
Location: Great Stainton, near Darlington, County Durham
Pilot: Oberleutnant Ernst Schneiderbauer 53578/230 Wounded (Born 10.10.1917 in Schaerding.)
Observer: Unteroffizier Martin Hoffmann 57359/12 Wounded (Born 04.04.1919 in Essen / Ruettenscheid.)
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier Johann Weber 62688/14 Wounded *Born 20.03.1921 in Karlstein / Niederdonau.)
Gunner: Oberfeldwebel Gregor Eilbrecht 53911/9 Wounded (Born 07.12.1915 in Boedexen / Hoexter.)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Source: A.I.(k) Report No. 126/1943
This aircraft started from Gilze-Rijen at about 2100 hours to attack harbour installations in the Newcastle area, carrying 8 x 50 kg flares and some 50 kg bombs. The crew were briefed to fly to a point well off the English coast east of Newcastle, from here they turned and flew straight towards the objective. When approaching Newcastle, the crew had difficulty in pin-pointing there position owing to the glare of the searchlights, and were not sure where landfall was made. They therefore released one of the flares to assist in locating the target.
Shortly afterwards, when flying at 10,000 feet, they were unexpectedly attacked by a night fighter, the first burst from which put the controls and intercom out of action. The aircraft immediatley went into a glide, and caught fire; the crew then baled out. This aircraft was attacked by F/L Wilson in a Bristol Beaufighter of No. 219 Squadron.
Copy of the A.I.2.(g) Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report:
The crash site of Oblt Schneiderbauer's Dornier Do 217 (via
Norman)
Please support our work and visit our
Archive section
