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Moonlight Hunter
As the air war raged over Berlin and other German cities, night-fighter units
such as NJG100, the original Eastern front night fighter Geschwader, were
redeployed nearer home in the final desperate defence of Germany. By late 1944
the Luftwaffes night fighting aircraft were being flown by experienced crews
using sophisticated electronic equipment and, though fighting a losing battle,
had become the scourge of the RAFs night raiders. A Junkers Ju88 G-6, piloted by
major Paul Zorner, Gruppenkommandeur III./NJG100, based at Stubendorf,
intercepts and badly damages a four-engined Lancaster of R.A.F. Bomber Command
over Germany in late 1944. Shedding debris and trailing flames, there may just
be time for the crew to bale out before the mightly bomber falls away into the
dark abyss. With the aid of his FuG220 and upward firing Schrage Musik armament,
Zorner has stalked his prey, and attacked from beneath unseen. The crew of this
Lancaster didnt stand a chance, and with the moonlight briefly glinting on his
aircraft, the accomplished Ju88 pilot slips away into the darkness of the
night. |
