Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

From an Antwerp X (the AA belt around the city against Pilotless Aircraft) report:

"On the morning of 30 Dec '44 the first noteworthy incident in the recent increase in enemy air activity occurred. At 0410 an ME-210 circled the position of Btry B, 407th AAA gun Bn at an altitude of 1500 feet. The Btry fired and destroyed the target"

A further overview of activities of Antwerp X however puts the date on 31 Dec 1944 at 0410 hrs.
Map reference J-694774 is mentioned, which is a bit north of Mechelen, or Malines in WW II language.
B Btry, 407th AAA Gun Bn reportedly stationed near Berlaar at that time, several kms to the NE of above map reference.

I wonder if a match exists with known (Me-210) LW-losses on said date(s) in that area?

Thanks for info.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

the plane was probably a Me-410 of a recon unit

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

There's nothing in the Air Operational Watch reports from Bletchley Park that seems to fit the place and time. Also, I can't think of any Me 410 unit still active in the West — the last I know of, 1.(F)/121, had finished conversion to the Bf 109 by the end of October 1944 and became 1./NAGr. 1 from November.

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

Thanks. Perhaps case of mistaken identity in winternight sky..?
Only LW-loss in general area of Mechelen/Malines on 31 Dec 1944 I found so far is Ju-88 Wnr. 620069 of 10./NJG 2 at Muizen.
I do not know crash time. Apparently had been in air combat over the Ardennes already before crash.

PS: Nick: an Me-210 was claimed by the AA Gun Bn, not an Me-410.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

a) They could tell the difference?
b) The only Me 210s still in service by then were Hungarian, I think.

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

If the AA Bn could tell the difference? It's just that they claimed a ME-210 to have observed and shot down... Therefore error in type recognition likely as no known LW-loss of ME-210 (or Me-410) types on 30/31 Dec 1944 in Belgium known, apparently.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

AD(I)K report 69/1945 shows Ju88 G-6 4R+DR returning from the Antwerp area was engaged by AA near the front approx. 0430 hrs on 31st December. With most of the instruments shot our the crew were ordered to bale out being taken prisoner with two injured . The pilot Hpt Alfred Kühn was shown as fate unknown with the aircraft believed to have come down behind German lines near Venlo . The Luft.Officers Careers site showed he returned to be lost in March 1945 .

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

Hi,

Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report serial No.265 dated 29th January 1945 (AIR 40-45) mentions a Ju88G found near Mechelen (= Malines in French).

Best regards

Luc

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

That was Ju 88G-6, WNr. 620132 of 7./NJG 2. Hptm. Kühn probably bailed out over German territory. He was killed later on a mission on 3.4.1945.

WNr. 620069 was lost in the night of 31.12.44/1.1.45.

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

AD(I)K 66/1945 Shows 4R+GU 620069 as crashing 2345 hrs on 31-12-1944 SE of Malines with only Ofw Herbert Loscher being identified all crew killed . The report indicates that an RAF night fighter likely shot the Junkers down .

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

Attached image in Luc's post (#8) writes 620029 for Ju-88 4R+GU, while other info points to 620069 for same?

Me-210 claim by US Army AA Gun Bty still open question, recognition error possible.

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

The German Lw.Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. loss return indicates a W.Nr. of 620069

The British ADI(K) report records it as 620029.

A signal from 2TAF to the British Air Ministry records the W.Nr. as 620069 and the cause of loss as "believed shot down by night fighter".

Re: Me-210 loss (?) - Antwerp X - Belgium - 30 or 31 Dec 1944
 

In the book of André Ver Elst "Oorlog in de lucht en in de ruimte (5)" there is a crash of a Ju-88 mentioned at Muizen (Mechelen) on page 228. Furthermore he mentions that a Me-262 exploded above the city of Mechelen. At Hever (Boortmeerbeek) a 109 was found in a wood, the pilot a lieutenant. He also writes of a 109F crash in a village in the provence of Brabant hit by a Spitfire. Does anybody has more information about these 109's?