Date: 16th March 1945
Unit: 2 Staffel/Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
Type: Junkers Ju 88G-6
Werke/Nr. 621089
Code: R4 +
Location: 1 km NE from Buch Kr. Schwaeb. Gmuend/Wittbg.
Pilot: Major Max Eckhoff 67019/3 Killed (Born 30.10.1907 in Charlottenburg.)
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier Rolf Michelsen Baled out (Born 18.03.1021.)
Radar/Op: Oberfeldwebel Gerd Boese Baled out
Gunner : Feldwebel Kuenzel Baled out
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft is believed to have been shot down by an RAF night fighter, three of the crew managed to bale out but the pilot Max Eckhoff was killed in the crash.
Note: On the 20.12.1943, Uffz Rolf Michelsen flew with Lt Heinz Schrode and Uffz Sepp Wolf. They claimed shooting down a Lancaster bomber over Frankfurt/Main at a height of 6,800 metres. The Lancaster's bomb load exploded in the air and sent the Ju 88 of Lt Schrode into a searing mass of flames.
Uffz Michelsen and Lt Schrode baled out wounded but Uffz Josef Wolf was killed. Lt Schrode was later killed in another crash.
Unteroffizier Rolf Michelsen survived the war
Rolf Michelsen death notice - passed away on the 10.12.1996
Major Max Eckhoff is buried in the cemetery of Göppingen, Grave 188 (Photo with kind thanks to René Siegert)
Further information has been supplied and added to the information on this loss and we are very grateful to René Siegert for supplying this.
