Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

The RAF interrogation on Hptmn. Rolf Pringel, Kommandeur of I/JG 26 is :
A.I.1.(K) Report No. 396/194, Report of the Me. 109F of Sta. I/JG 26 Brought down on the South Coast on 10/7/41.

This includes some material on reaction to the introduction of the 109F.

I assume that this would be filed in AIR 40 at the National Archives at Kew. Can anyone provide a more specific citation for it?

thanks.
David Isby

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

David, one small correction, but shouldn't that read Rolf Pingel?

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

Of course. That's the problem about posting before having lunch. One thinks about junk food.

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

Hi David,

presuming that the report in question is 396/1941 then the TNA reference would be:

AIR 40/2406 INTERROGATION OF GERMAN AND ITALIAN PRISONERS OF WAR: REPORTS 301-400 Vol 12, 1941 Jun-Jul

Cheers

Rod

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

I have a full copy if it would help?

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

Yes, thank you.
I sent a private message but got back "mailbox full".
Anything you could send could send would be most appreciated.
my e-mail is: davidisby[at]gmail.com

thanks,
David isby

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

I will try to find time this evening to scan it and e-mail the pages to you.

A recent edition of "Britain at War" magazine carried quite an extensive piece on the loss of Pingel over the UK and the subsequent loss of his Bf 109F whilst being tested by the RAF.

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

Speaking of the loss of his Bf109F, here is a plate taken from that airplane after its demise. Note: the W.Nr. on the plate is a component number, not that of the aircraft itself (12764).

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

And here is the Messerschmitt data plate from the tailfin of Rolf Pingel's 109F, together with a photo of actual plate in situ.

Again, not the aircraft Werke Nummer.

Does anyone know the relevance of the W.Nr shown here and how it might relate in any way to the airframe W.Nr?

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

Hello Andy,
Do you know which edition???
Br
Gora

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

That is a very nice one Andy!

My take on this type of tail plate - I have seen at least three others in collections - is that the W.Nr. corresponds to that particular vertical stabilizer assembly made by Arado; i.e., it's not the main airframe number. These plates can be spotted in period photos of early 109 F-series 109s, but I believe that only Arado fitted the production plate in this location. Its eye-level position made it easy to spot and remove from abandoned/captured machines (nice war souvenir), and, in the case of a crash, aft placement made it more likely to survive, still attached to part of the (damaged/separated) tail.

Thanks for posting the photo . . .

Re: Hptm. Rolf Pringel - Report in AIR 40?
 

Steve

Thanks for the reply.

This is one that is still in my collection.....you had all my best ones, though!!!

Unfortunately we didn't find the main construction plate.