Crash-landing 24 jan 1944 Zottegem (Belgium)
 

On 24 january 1943, the Jagdgeschwader 1 & 3 ‘Udet’ attaked several B-17’s on their raid to Frankfurt.
One German fighter made a crash-landing in the vicinity of Godveerdegem (East of Audenarde) .
An old man who lives in Godveerdegem (nowadays part of the city Zottegem), told me that the German fighter flew into the treetops in an orchard near the windmill.
The pilot was slightly injured, his warplane completely destroyed.
Does anybody has more information about what happened during that attack, is the identity of this man known & what about the make off the plane, wrknr and so on …. ?
Thanks very much
Regards
redcap50

Re: Crash-landing 24 jan 1944 Zottegem (Belgium)
 

Hi,

This material loss occured in fact on the 24/01/44 and as a material loss, we don't have much details.The very few info's I get it involves a FW 190 (?) whose pilot bailed out, that is all. JG 3 lost one aircraft in this area (Lt. Paul Hönle killed).

Do you have a more precise location for this event?

Best regards

ClinA-78

Re: Crash-landing 24 jan 1944 Zottegem (Belgium)
 

II./JG 1 had some so called "Betriebsverluste" with 100%.
east of Chievres 2 Fw 190 been damaged in aerial combat, 2 lost and 1 lost to technical failure - so ClinA-78 wrote it was in 1944, so no GQM files are availiable.
no further informartions about planes and pilots (all unhurt).

khorat

Re: Crash-landing 24 jan 1944 Zottegem (Belgium)
 

Hi ClinA-78 and Khorat,

So it was 1944 instead of 1943. I regret, but I don't have any other information:
The crash-landing had place in the vicinity of GODVEERDEGEM where I've spoken with that old man. Unfortunaly at that time, he was only 13 or 14 years old and did not take notice of any numbers or lettres on the plane:
he told me that the plane crashed with his "wheels in the air" the pilot evaded of the fuselage with the help of a villager.

Clin, about Lt. Paul Hönle killed, I found in Krackers list:

“KIA 21 January, 1944 in aerial combat with P-47's of 356FG near Gottem, 20 km SW of Gent, Be.
Bf 109G-6 Werk # 160683 "White 10" (lost) 1/JG-3. Crashed and entombed in a swampy area at Gottem, Belgium. After two days of recovery attempts, the recovery effort was stopped. Pierre Koremann seeking permission to unearth pilot and plane. Pilot recovered September 2004. Buried Lommel Cemetery, Block 57/3 (Rosseels)”

Thanks you for the info,

Cheers
redcap50

Re: Crash-landing 24 jan 1944 Zottegem (Belgium)
 

Hi,

I get 24/01/44 as loss date for Hönle.