Trying to trace 2x Ju-88 shot down June 6th 1944

I have been reading about the 325th action on that day during Operation Frantic and talking with one of the P-51 pilots.

Although the official claims for that day by the 325th were 1x Ju-88 2x Fw-190 and 2x 109, the Pilot I was speaking to approached Two Ju-88's but another P-51 sneaked in ahead of him (much to his non-amusement) and shot both down.

The Pilot who shot them down, according to the Pilot I was talking to, certainly dispatched both or my contact would have shot the other down.

I have since reviewed the conversation with the Pilot and he mentions that he actually met the Pilot that was shot down, during a reunion many-years after the war.

Sadly he didn't get his name (as is always the way!) but he did say that the Pilot was definitely Romanian. He said the Romanian told him that on that day he was flying, he got shot down by a Mustang of the 325th. My contact said "I know, I saw him do it!"

So it was a Ju-88 of the Romanian Air-Force...does that get anywhere nearer identifying the Unit?

I am trying to ascertain whether 2x Ju-88 were lost in that area, or whether it was 1 shot-down and 1 severely damaged?

Allied to that detail, I wonder if anyone can tell me what Unit they were with and as a long-shot, maybe the Unit of the 109's and 109's.

I only ask as I am intrigued by the fact that my contact saw 2x Ju-88's shot down, but the pilot who did the shooting down only ever claimed 1.

Cheers, MP

I never heard about romanian Ju 88 ever shot down by a Mustang. ( only romanian Ju 88 shot down by a P-38 on 26 july '44)
Probably the two were german Ju 88.
Regarding reunion with 325thFG pilots and romanian Ju 88 pilot could be the one held in Budapest.
G-ral av ® Dan Stoian ( ex Ju 88 pilot) discussed the fight where his friend Dobran (Bf 109 pilot) was shot down by a Mustang of 325th on 6 june'44. Probably were missunderstandings, Stoian doesn't know english.

Thanks for the reply.

The Pilot shot down by Dobran was Barrie Davis, who got separated from his flight along with his wingman Wayne Lowry. I understand Barrie was also at the Reunion, but I don't think Dobran was (although they made a Documentary later of the two pilots meeting for the first time in Romania (Kogain Films production)) there.

The 2xJu-88's were shot down in the Galati area, in the Group not with Barrie Davis, by 1st Lt. Cullen Hoffman, although he only claimed 1 (confirmed by Gun Camera). The Pilot I was talking to watched as Cullen flew up in-between him and the Ju-88's and opened fire.

The Pilot I talked to confirmed he saw both shot down, or he would have jumped in and got the other.

This is a real puzzle to me, as I know that Barrie Davis got shot up and survived (returning to Piryatin in the Ukraine) while Wayne Lowry, his wingman, broke into Dobran and shot him up, forcing him to land (although Lowry claimed a Victory).

Looks like I'll have to keep searching

Cheers, MP

This post has been edited by Mysticpuma on June 11, 2011 09:56 am

According to my data, there were no german losses of bombers in the Southern Eastern front that day ==> either Romanian or no losses at all or they shot down two Soviet Bostons .

It is quite possible that the two Ju 88 were in fact soviet twin bombers escorted by soviet fighters La-5 ( also mistaken with FW 190 ?, there were no IAR 80 or german FW 190 lost in the area on that day).

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on October 27, 2011 06:53 am

Cantacuzino,

I was about to say the same things you said, but you were faster.

My research material showing A-20's activities in the area escorted by
Russian main line fighters such as the LAGG-5....my data
base don't show any JU-88's activities in the area and on that day.

Yogi :

As you may recollect our email exchange, the A-20's in question
lost were those of 218 BAD and 244 BAD from Grutzkov and Balti.....
I therefore presume that the JU-88's were misidentified.

BR
Al

This post has been edited by yugit on October 27, 2011 10:24 am