Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

Good evening,

I am looking for information about a german aircraft that crashed in Merville (15 km north of Toulouse, France) while doing aerobatics on a thursday in September 1943 (therefore 2 or 9 or 16 or 23 or 30 Sept. 1943).

It slammed a barn next to a house, killing one elderly grandfather and several animals.
Pilot was killed as well.
Aircraft likely to be a FW190 but I am not sure.

Any information ?

Thanks 1000

GC

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

Hello Gilles.
I have Ogfr. Otto Berger from 4./JG 2 who was KIA on 43-09-23 at Merville (F)
4./JG 2 flew Bf 109 at that time as far as I know.
Frans.A

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

thank you Frans.

GC

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

As Obgfr Otto Berger is buried in Bourdon, NW of Amiens, and so in northern France, it is almost certain that he was killed in another place called Merville in northern France.

A loss in Toulouse area in September 1943, especially doing aerobatics, would probably be from a school unit, or a test pilot flying one of the aircraft built/repaired in nearby factories (producing at least D.520). So the first place to watch IMHO will be the losses of rear area units of the Luftwaffe.

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

You are right, Laurent.

So I am puzzled now.

There are two Merville in France: one in the north and one in the south. Confusion might come from there.

My local witnesses is very affirmative, saying this event took place on a thursday (he had no school !) at the end of september 1943.

So, the BF109 of Otto Berger would match.

In order to delete any doubt, I would need details about the Otto Berger crash:
are the circonstances of this crash mentionned ?
are there more details on the crash report ?
I would be very interested to have any additional info about this crash to try to crosscheck.

Thanks for input.

GC

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

As one civilian was killed, there should be a trace in French papers, either in the city archives or in the church (for the burial). Or given the size of Merville, you will rather have to search them in departement archives.

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

Berger was shown as on a 'H' flight crash by Merville probaly due to Brennstoffmangel. Another 4/JG2 pilot is shown as falling in combat on the 21st.Sept by St.Juist, however there appears to be a lot of these,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

Thanks gentlemen,

"Brennstoffmangel" is equivalent to "short of gas" ?

GC

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

This would fit, except that it was on Wednesday:
1943-09-15, 1./JGr. Ost, FW 190A-3, 5399, 5 weiße, Merville, 20 km nordwestlich Toulouse, Absturz um 10.43 Uhr nach Hindernisberührung infolge Bedienungsfehler. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Geißler, Erich, tot
Dagneux/Frankreich, Block 37, Grab 262

Matti

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

"Merville 20 Km Nordwestlich Toulouse":
this is the one I am looking for at 99%.

Thanks a lot Matti

GC

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

Gilles, your witness probably remembers he was not at school, so thought it was on Thursday, but maybe in 1943 the school year had not started on 15 September ???

Re: Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France
 

Good point Laurent. I shall try to check again.

But I guess the FW190"5 White" matches my crash.

There is a pond near this house where small parts of the aircraft and ammunitions were thrown by kids at that time (=my witness of today): I shall look for these parts and post pictures if interesting.

Good nite and thanks to all.

GC