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04.03.1943 9./KG 6 Junkers Ju 88A-14 Wnr.4369 Oblt. Lekschat Location: Boxley Abbey, near Maidstone, Kent, England. +
Mission: Attack on London, England.

Date: 4
th March 1943

Time: 04.28 hours.

Unit: 9 Staffel./Kampfgeschwader 6

Type: Junkers Ju 88A-14

Werke Nr.4369

Code: 3E + AT

1 Boxley Abbey

Location: Boxley Abbey, 2 miles E of Maidstone, Kent, England. A2077 (War Revision 1940)

Pilot: Oberleutnant. Arthur Lekschat. 53565/124 – Captured wounded.

Observer: Feldwebel. Erhard Unger. 53565/125 – Captured wounded.

Radio/Op: Feldwebel. Manfred Badstübner. 53565/126 – Killed.

Gunner: Oberfeldwebel. Ernst Bunkerburg. 53565/12 – Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:


This crew were allocated to take part in a raid on London for a reprisal for the bombing of Berlin by the RAF on the 1st March but as they were based at Aalbourg, Denmark they transferred to Eindhoven the following day and were billeted overnight with II./KG 2. The initial planned raid was postponed for a day due to weather conditions.

Started at about 02.30 hrs to bomb an important military objective in London but while passing over the area between Ashford and Maidstone on its way towards London at about 9,000 ft. the aircraft was picked up and intermittently held by searchlights. Then on being attacked by a night fighter the port engine caught fire and the crew baled out, the wireless operator and bordmechaniker being killed.

Markings: A in light green. Werke nr from a data card was 0884369. Engines: Jumo 211 J, with intercoolers and wooden propellers. Armament: one 500 kg, one 250 kg and two ABB 500's. Equipment: the remains of a FuGe 202 were found.

The pilot was known to air intelligence as having been attached to III/LG 1 in April 1942 as for a while acted as the Staffelkapitän to the 7th Staffel. The observer carried a large quantity of Danish money.
This aircraft was shot down by P/O T. C. Wood and Sgt L. Evans in a nightfighter Beaufighter of No. 29 Squadron.

2 Combat Report

3 Junkers Ju88-14 (4369) Via Saunders
The wreckage of the aircraft is kept under guard (A Saunders)


4 Cannock Chase Cemetery

Burial detail: Deutsche Soldatedfriedhof Cannock Chase, Staffs, England.

Manfred Badstübner. Block 1 Grave 359. Ernst Bunkerburg. Block 1 Grave 360.

Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless. Special thanks to Andy Saunders and Nigel Parker for their help in constructing this page. March 2015

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