Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

Anyone know the unit and pilot? It looks like 7 British/French victories and 17 Russian victories for a total of 24 victories on the tail

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

Hi:
Heinz Altendorf, Staka 7/JG53. Shot down by DCA (16 December, 1941). Belly landed at Mechili and prisoner.
Regards.
Miguel

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

Germans take 2 prisoners.

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

Thanks Miguel!

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

Great picture.

Thanks for posting.

Miguel - 'DCA'?

All the best

Andreas

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

French: Défense Contre Avions = defence against aircraft = AA = Flak

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

Altendorf told me that he mistook a column of allied tanks for German, went down for a look and was met by a hail of AA fire. He was wounded in the encounter.

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

That looks like one hell of a belly landing from the look of the tail.

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

That's interesting, because it should make it possible to pinpoint the British unit in question. There weren't many British tanks around Mechili that day.

Nick, thanks - that's what I thought, but just wanted to be sure.

All the best

Andreas

Re: Bf109 tail in Western Desert
 

Bf 109F-4/Z WNr 7348

Servus

Roland