02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

2 October 1940 two Bf 110's of Lehrgeschwader 2 collided in midair:

Obfw Kroll 7. /LG 2 piloted Bf 110 L2+FK (Werknummer 2188). He baled out successfully and landed in the village of Erps-Kwerps (Erps Querbs). He was the only airman on board L2+FK.

The crew of the other Bf 110 involved - coded L2+DR - wasn't that lucky. They baled out at an altitude of 20 - 30 metres. Their names were Oblt. Georg Eckert (pilot) and Uffz August Hauss (radio operator). Eckert was found by a farmer in the village of Kapelle-op-den-Bos. Both airmen were initially buried at Leuven (Louvain) and rest now at Lommel .

All above information was extracted from the book 'België in oorlog 3, Luchtslag boven het kanaal' page 50 by Cynrik De Decker.

My question is what first hand source the author might have used with regard to this midair collision (I already contacted the author himself, but unfortunately he was unable to locate his source).

Can anyone tell me what primairy or firsthand Luftwaffe source this midair-collision information is based on?

Thanks in advance,
Dirk

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

Hi Dirk

In the loss list of GQM (RL2III/1175, page 208) you can read this both losses.
Both was Bf 110 C-5, the wnr 2262 wears the vkz L2 + DR !
The location was defined as "Brüssel", and the occasion of the crash was defined as mid-air-collision.

best wishes
JoMe

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

Thanks JoMe.

Are you able to tell me what the abbreviations GQM and RL2III/1175 stand for?

Dirk

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

Always amazed by these Jump-out at 20-30 m or even 60 m the plane running at that time at something like 200 km/h reported to vertical speed, from 100 to 0 m , point where they sustain a sharp decrease in speed , time elapsed is 2 sec. wonder how they delace themselves eject canopy, or try to pull-it up as it seems that the one of a Bf110 is pretty heavy nd not easy to handle...
To add that generally the forced-landings with this plane represent also some hazards

Remi

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

GQM -- Generalquartiermeister
RL 2 III/1175 -- signatur of documents in Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv (BA/MA) in Freiburg

Best wishes
Rasmussen

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

Hello Dirk,

Second author of this nice 'Kroniek' ("Belgïe in Oorlog") is Jean-Louis ROBA who conducted a lot of researches in the German archives.

Best regards

ClinA-78

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

On 25/25-4-44 Oblt Hermann Kroll (St.Kap)was shot down in Me410 of 1(F)/121 south of the IOW by a Mosquito of 85 Sqd. His Bf was picked up from the sea and made POW while Kroll's body was recovered he now rests at Cannock Chase. What little I have on Kroll is born 5-11-1913 at Pritwalk, started military service 25-8-1934 held RK1, Bronze and Silver War Flights Badge, RK and Goblet of Honour served with 7(F)/LG2, 2(F)/122 and 2(F)/121.

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

Thanks ClinA-78, and Brian for the very interesting information about Hermann Kroll!

I wonder whether any mention is made about the 2 Oct. 1940 midair collision in one of the following books:
- Zerstörer: The Messerschmitt 110 and its Units in 1940 by John J. Vasco & Peter D. Cornwell
- The Battle of Britain: Then and Now by Winston G. Ramsey
- The Blitz: Then and Now by Winston G. Ramsey

Unfortunately, I do not hold a copy of the above books. Can anyone check?

Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Dirk

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

Dirk,

The information published in BoBT&N (1980) will be as documented in the GQM Returns while Zerstorer (1995) benefited from any additional information given in the Namentlicheverlustmeldungen. These losses will not feature in Blitz Vol.2 (1988) as they did not take place over the UK or British waters.

Re: 02.10.1940 midair collision LG2 (Belgium)
 

Peter,

Thanks for your answer. I have sent you two private messages.
I assume you are the co-author of Zerstörer.

Regards,
Dirk