Date: 20th February 1944 (Sunday)
Time: 22.10 hours.
Unit: 2 Staffel./Kampfgeschwader 54
Type: Junkers Ju 88A-4
Werke Nr. 3661
Coded: B3 + KK
Location: 64-66 Dagnall Park, Selhurst, Croydon, Surrey.
Pilot: Obergefreiter. Johann Krettek. 63659/75 Killed.
Born 13.10.1918 in Lobau.
Observer: Obergefreiter. Heinz Graf. 63626/227 PoW.
Born 11.11.1922 in Gommern.
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier. Heinrich Gross. 63659/96 PoW.
Born 23.03.1920 in Giessen.
Gunner: Unteroffizier. Franz Serwe. 63626/228 PoW.
Born 08.01.1923 in Lintfort.
Reason for loss:
Source: A.D.I.(k) report No. 79/1944.
This aircraft started from Wittmundhafen at 20.00 hours with two AB.1000 incendiary bomb containers to attack London. About sixteen aircraft of I/KG54, of which eight were from the 2nd Staffel, took part in this raid.
The B3 + KK had reached the London area when it was hit in the port engine by A.A. fire, the aircraft burst into flames and the pilot gave the order to bale out. Three of the crew landed safely and were captured, the pilot is believed to have perished in the aircraft, which crashed with the bomb-load still on board.
Above left: Pilot, Johann Krettek with his Ju 88 (Hall/Brownless) Above right: Gunner, Uffz. Franz Serwe (Hall/Brownless)
Above left: Observer, Heinz Graf (Hall/Brownless) Above right: Aftermath of the crash (via Parry)
RAF and American personnel inspecting the wreckage (via Parry)
Obergefreiter Johann Krettek (Hall/Brownless) Johann's last resting place (via King)
Burial details:
Johann Krettek Brookwood Military Cemetery, near Woking, Surrey.
Researched by Melvin Brownless (A.R. Society) with thanks to Simon Parry, Steven Hall and David King. (June 2011)
