Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
 

Fantastic! Many thanks :)

Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
 

Please notice the book about the "Airfield of Störmede", which is available by ebay.

In fact "Eiklon" is a little village in the west of the airdrome. Often the german fighters started from Störmede in this direction.

In "Fliegerhorst Störmede" you will find a detailed report of this day, based on alliied and german sources.

Perhaps you know, that one german pilot ist MIA since March 24th, 1945.

Greetings

Helmut

Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
 

Thanks for the tip, Helmut. Looks like a really interesting book, although I am unable to buy it at this moment. I am seriously short of shelf space and having just purchased another dozen books last month, I'm worried my wife might kick me out if I get another 300+ page book! :D :D :D

Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
 

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was flown by Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel Werner Geserich. In an air raid with American escort fighters over the City of Bielefeld his machine was badly damaged.

Fhj-Fw Geserich had to land between the farm Niemann and the border to the Municipality of Steinhagen on an arable land, in the district of Ummeln, City of Bielefeld. He left the damaged plane and tried to get to the nearby Hagen (a small woodland in German language) on the "Maschweg" to rescue of the American fighter, but was killed on the way there by cannon fire.

An eyewitness who lived nearby kept this event in her diary. She went to the dead man and found that he came from the vicinity of the City of Potsdam.

https://www.airwarhistory.com/ummeln

The crash site is close to where I live.

Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
 

Thank you for your very interesting reply! With "The Messerschmitt Bf 109" do you mean the exact one from the gun camera still?

I noted the images have long gone since I originally started this post, but I still have a copy of some of them.

Regarding the map, as John Manrho said: "First, green area is landing ground. Red square is barracks area. Blue line is aircraft dispersal. North of airfield in orange is ammunition storage and railway line is in purple."

Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
 

I can not say whether the camera shows the shot down of the fighter of Geserich.

The Bf 109 K-4 of Geserich, III. Gruppe 11. Staffel/JG 27, was not shot down on or near the airport Gütersloh respectively Störmede!

Fhj-Fw Werner Geserich was one of 8 losses of III./JG 27 on that day in the Gütersloh area.

Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
 

Thanks for clarifying, as I wasn't sure where to place his loss in the grand scheme of things.

Re: Bf 109 massacre of 24 March 1945 (359th FG)
 

I am still looking for the "Werknummer" and "Kennzeichen" of the Bf 109 K-4 of Fhj-Fw Werner Geserich.