Date: 14th September 1943
Unit: 4 Staffel/Fernaufklaerungsgruppe 123
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-4
Werke/Nr. 19194
Code: White + 12
Location: In the English Channel; 40 miles south of St. Catherineís Point.
Pilot: Oberleutnant Fritz Wittmer 67022/54 Missing (Born 26.02.1916 in Erfurt.)
Burial detail: None
REASON FOR LOSS:
This pilot was flying at 500 feet when intercepted by two Hawker Typhoon IB's of No. 197 Squadron. P/O Ahrens flying Red 1 and F/Sgt Shelton Red 2. Hits were observed and the starboard wing blew up. The aircraft spun down in flames from 500 feet and immediately sank in the sea.
There was no trace of the pilot.
Oberleutnant Fritz Wittmer missing in action
Extracted from combat report of
P/O Ahrens and F/Sgt Shelton No.157 Squadron.
Red Section led by P/O Ahrens with F/Sgt Shelton as his
No.2 were scrambled at 18.45 hours. The section was given
various vectors and when flying at deck level on bearing
230 degrees from base about 40 miles South of St.
Catherines Point, Red 1 sighted an enemy aircraft 3 miles
away at 2 o'clock which was flying at 500 feet. Typhoon's
gained rapidly on enemy aircraft and after closing to 150
yards enemy aircraft was identified as an Me 109 F or G.
Red 1 immediately opened fire from 150 yards astern and saw
the hood and panels blown off enemy aircraft and its port
wheel came down.
Red 1 after closing in, overshot and broke to the left. Red
2 then attacked, opening fire at 50 yards closing to 20
yards. Many strikes were seen on enemy aircraft whose
starboard wheel came down. Red 1 made two more full
deflection attacks, strikes being seen in each case.
Finally Res 2 closed in and gave a long burst from 20 yards
in line astern.
The enemy aircrafts starboard tank blew up and large pieces
blew off the cockpit as it spun down in flames from 500
feet and crashed into the sea. The Me 109 sank immediately
and no trace of its pilot could be seen by P/O Ahrens or
F/Sgt Shelton who circled once before returning to base
landing at 19.05 hours.
The Chief point of interest of this very easy victory was
that the enemy pilot, probably surprised by the first
attack, made no attempt at evasive action at any time
during the combat.
