I HAVE FOUND THE MAN WHO SHOT DOWN MY BROTHERS CREW. WW2 1943

Thanks to Norbert Vollmann, Germany

416. OAK LEAVES CARRIER August Geiger CAPTAIN NIGHT FIGHTER 416. Oak leaves carrier August violonist captain, night fighter August violonist was born at 06.05.1920 in Ueberlingen in the circle the Bodensee. After completing the work service violonist joined 1939 of the Air Force. After the basic training and the attendance of the destroyer flier school, and/or blind flier school violonist is carried to the second lieutenant and comes in the spring 1941 to 8. Relay of the night interception squadron 1. In the year 1941 the attacks of the RAF on German realm Reich began harden to become. For the year 1941 however no successes of violonist were held. But violonist learned much and fast and in such a way shot he at the night of 25. on the 26,06,1942 a "Wellington" - and a "Whitley V"-bomber. In the following days further firings followed. So to 03.07.1942 a "Wellington", to 29.07.1942 a "Wellington", to 30.07.1942 a "Whitley", to 10.08.1942 a "Wellington" and to 11.09.1942 a further "Wellington". Against year end it reached 10 firings and received for it the iron cross Ith class. At the beginning of of 1943 is promoted violonists to the first lieutenant and becomes to squadron commander of the 7. Relay of the squadron appointed. From now on violonist firing collects around firing. Thus it shoots at the night from 29. to 30.03.1943 5 opponents. Before to 22.05.1943 the knight cross for its past 22 firings had been lent to it. In the summer 1943 it is promoted to captain, becomes violonist leader of the IIITH group of its squadron in Twente. At the night of 28.09 to 39.09.1943 violonist group the order receives flying opponents in the area Zuider to intercept. Which did not know violonists, was, which was set up for the fight of the successful German night fighters specially a British remote night fighter relay 141. Among the pilots was also Bob Braham, which specialized in the fight against German fly race. Braham, which should obtain 28 air victories to end of war, met on violonists and shot this finally. Violonist left his machine with the parachute, landed however in the channel, where he drowned. After finding the corpse August violonist is buried at the cemetery Ysselsteyn in the Netherlands. August violonist had achieved 53 air victories in 328 combat missions. But it received to 02.03.1944 posthum oak leaves to the knight cross.

August 27/28, 1943

75 Squadron NZRAF

Mepal Cambridgeshire
Stirling III Take off time 2130hrs. Date 27 Aug.1943
Target Nurnberg
Crashed Schwarzenau,21 km E.N.E. of Wurzburg
Cemetery Durnbach Germany.

Crew F/S F.D.Higham Pilot RNZAF
Sgt. R.Renfrew Flight Engineer
Sgt.J.R.Culshaw Navigator
F/S M.Bailey Bomb Aimer RCAF
F/S C.J.Bridger Wireless Operator RNZAF
Sgt.H.Jennings Air Gunner
Sgt.A.Clarke Air Gunner (My Brother)
No news received from them after take off.