Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

My wife's last remaining uncle passed away recently, aged 93 years. Whilst searching through some of his old photographs, we came across some relating to the Second World War.
Edward Butler was serving with the R.A.S.C. and stationed in south England in 1940.
A note on the back of one of the photos refers to the plane being shot down over Canterbury in June 1940 and on another photo it refers to the location being Broome Park, Denton near Canterbury.
I would be interest to know the details of the shooting down (forced landing)
and the pilot of the Messerschmitt.
The note on the back of the photo of the pilot reads as follows:-
German pilot of plane age 20 taken at Broome Park Denton near Canterbury.
Was fetched down in a field near here. The man arrogant and kept saying that
they would be winning the war in two to three weeks time.
Does anyone know if the pilot was credited with shooting down any allied planes before
is forced landing?

Regards,
Cliff Jones

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

Seems to be WNr.1162 of Lt. Joachim Böhm, "Weisse 4" of 4./JG 51, a Bf109E-3, shot down on 8th of July 1940.

Cheers, Franck.

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

Hello Stafford

I very sorry to hear about your wife's uncle passing, 93 was a fine age to get to. Thank you for posting these excellent pictures.

Franck is correct about the information but let me interpret to perhaps help you understand what it means:

The aircraft is a Messerschmitt Bf-109E-3
It belonged to the 4th Squadron (staffel) of 2nd Group (Gruppe) of the 51st Fighter Wing (4./Jagdgeschwader 51) and was the fourth aircraft of that staffel (all aircraft in the 4th staffel were marked with white numbers).
It's construction number or works number (Werknummer or W.Nr. abbreviated) was 1162.

I hope this helps, please ask if you need more information.

Chris

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

And, concerning the events you have this, extract from the Kracker list site:
"POW 8 July, 1940 after a Spitfire piloted by Sgt E.A. Mould of RAF No. 74 Sq. hit his radiator and he made a forced landing on the slopes of Bladbean Hill, above the village of Elham, in Kent. He suffered a slight head injury when he made the force landing. He was the first Luftwaffe pilot to be shot down over England. Source: John Weal. Alternate spelling: Boehm."

Other pictures have been published.

Regards, Franck.

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

Stafford,

The above identification information is correct. New photos of Battle of Britain losses "in situ" don't surface very often nowadays, so these are a nice addition to the literature in the field. One note, this was the first Bf109E to land intact on British soil, and several other photos of the downed plane and the captured pilot are known.

Our EOE DB carries the following on this one: "July 8, 1940: 4./JG51 Messerschmitt Bf109E-3 (1162). Port radiator damaged in attack by Sgt E.A. Mould of No.74 Squadron during low-level pursuit and belly-landed at Bladbean Hill, Elham, 3.45 p.m. FF Lt Johann Böhm captured, slightly injured left eye on landing. Aircraft White 4 + 100% write-off."

Thanks for posting these and making them available.

Regards,

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

Hi Stafford,

Excellent photographs I might add, many thanks for posting them for us all to enjoy! We have a page on Lt. Boehm and the incident which can be found here:

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/luft1939/boehm.html

Please visit our site you will find two additional photos of the aircraft and a photo of Lt. Boehm after capture.

Kind regards,

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

Yes, always good to see new shots emerge even of such a well-photographed machine. But what a pity that Mr Butler's excellent photos didn't show the Messerschmitt that did actually fall at Broome Park on 23 September 1940 - an hitherto unphotographed incident as far as I am aware:

3./JG54 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (1516). Shot down in combat with Spitfires of No.603 Squadron during free-lance sortie over Thanet and broke up over Barham, bulk of wreckage falling at Broome Park, 10.25 a.m. Believed that claimed by F/O J.C. Boulter but possibly also attacked by F/L H.K. MacDonald. FF Oberfw Helmut Knippscheer baled out into the Channel off Dover but died. Aircraft Yellow 5 + 100% write-off.
The body of Helmut Knippscheer was washed ashore at Reculver on October 27.

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

Dear Chris,
Thanks very much for the information.
I have been told that the caricature on the side of the fuselage of thee plane is that of Neville chamberlain.
Can you confirm this is true?
Regards,
Cliff

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

Hello Cliff

The emblem on the rear fuselage was the unit marking of 4./JG51 and it indeed is a caricature of the honourable British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain's umbrella, which accompanied him everywhere, became a source of fun in the German military and his 'bookish' dignified manner is represented by the woodpecker figure.

You can just make out on the emblem has a strap line "Gott Straff England" 'God Punish England', a comment similar to the Wehrmacht's belt buckle "Gott Mit Uns" 'God with us', both rather dubious considering the outcome of the Battle of Britain and the war in general as He very obviously wasn't!

Cheers

Chris

Re: Downed Messerschmitt 1940
 

Dear Chris,
Sorry to trouble you again, as you can see i'm new to the forum.
I am trying to find out more information out about the pilot.
Should i amend the original posting to ask about the pilot?
I also want to put another image on the forum.

Regards,
Cliff