The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

https://www.ebay.de/itm/323936197372...wiyNpy8tfUiYSE


Second photo give a rather good view of the surrounding area and countryside.


With this view, can anyone finally provide an exact location for this crash?

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

Backside says Goch......could be an indication? Of course this is the place where the picture was printed, but....perhaps a clue?

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

Hi John

As the photo is stamped 5 August 1940 it does not look like this is the aircraft that force-landed at Laval on 17 September with Beitz and Heinze on board, which was one theory.

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

Good spot Tim & as we have always suspected

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

It is not the crash on 17th September. That crash is shown in my book for Red Kite, 'Messerschmitt Bf 110 units in the Battle of Britain - Part Two', page 112.


This one is the Western Campaign in the Spring of 1940. Whereas some photos of it give an approximate location, such as 'on the road between...' the exact location and date has never been nailed down, as a corresponding entry in the loss/damage returns cannot be traced for 5./ZG 1. The 17th September date was erroneously passed to me many years ago by a well-known researcher, which is now known to be incorrect.


Hope this clarifies things regarding this crash.

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

Can it be the Avesnes, Northern France, crash ?

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

Hi John

Thanks for the clarification. I just checked my copy of your book and it is a great photo on page 112. I will read more closely!

May be totally irrelevant but here is the scan from the Flugbuch of Martin Heinze (Bordfunker) of 5./ZG 1 for a Notlandung in Belgium after attacks in the Netherlands on 13 May 1940. It may be a candidate but then again, perhaps the hard landing in the photos would not be described like that. Unfortunately Heinze does not record his aircraft code - I read the place as St Jean, Belgium but could be wrong. I have not been able to find any related record. May be a total red herring and if so apologies.

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

Hi Tim

he noted "zwischen Baeumen" so it`s very interesting.

Regards

Robert

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

There is a Mont-Saint-Jean in Belgium between Brussels & Charleroi, just south of Waterloo but attacking targets in Holland it's very doubtful he would end up as far to the south as that.

Re: The famous 2N+HN stopped by trees...
 

But other logbooks show that landing at airfield in Bour took place at approx. 06.30 hrs (takeoffs between 04.30 and 04.45 hrs). One hour earlier. Perhaps they got lost and had flown too far to the south?