Date: 13th February 1944
Time: 20.40 hours
Unit: 5 Staffel/Kampfgeschwader 6
Type: Junkers Ju 88A-4
Werke Nr: 043868
Code: 3E + DC
Location: Burgess Farm, Bogshole, near Whitstable, Kent.
Pilot: Leutnant Egon Ruhland 73045/205 Killed (Born 21.08.1921 in Muenchen.)
Observer: Obergefreiter Karl Keim 73045/203 Killed (Born 13.08.1921 in Wattenscheid.)
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier Eberhard Fichtner 53504/133 Injured POW (Born 12.08.1920 in Werdau.)
Gunner: Unteroffizier Walter Ortlieb 57331/35 Killed (Born 02.08.1918 in Stuttgart.)
REASON FOR LOSS:
According to eye-witness accounts, this aircraft was shot down by A.A. - but in fact it was claimed by a Mosquito night fighter. It crashed and was completely burnt out. The sole survivor, the radio operator, baled out from 1,500 feet and is now in hospital with serious injuries. Another member of the crew attempted to bale out but was killed, and the remaining two were killed in the crash. Credited to W/C E. D. Crew and Navigator W/O W. R. Croysdill D.F.M.in a Mosquito night fighter of No.96 Sqdn at 20.40 hours.
Obergefreiter Karl Keim killed in action (via G. Keim)
Crashsite location at Burgess Farm, near Whitstable, Kent
Burial details:
Those who were killed now lie at the Deutsche Soldatenfriedhof Cannock Chase, Staffs.
Ruhland. Block 1 Grave 407, Keim. Block 1 Grave 408, Ortlieb. Block 1 Grave 409.
