"Recco" Bf 109
 

Hello everybody,

In his book "Le Grand Cirque" Pierre Clostemann describes the shoot down of a "recco" Bf 109 near Scapa Flow. The incident took place on 21 February 1944 and the Bf 109 was carrying two drop tanks. Does anybody have suggestions regarding the Bf 109's unit and operating base - possibly Norway ?

Frithjof

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Bf 109 G-6, Wk Nr 20357, A6+XH of 1/120. Oblt Helmut Quednau killed. Ac was shot down by Ian Blair of 602 Sqn

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Thank you Chris !

Frithjof

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

The 1./120 was placed in Stavanger/Sola during February 1944.

Regards, Heuser

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Date of this loss from NVM and combat report is 20th. Feb. although 'The Big Show' shows it as the 21st,

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Correct, the loss date in the German Wast report also state the date as February 20, 1944. I would assume that this reco mission over Scapa Flow was flown during daylight. In February this is limited to a few hours during mid day. It is therefore unlikely that the plane left Sola airfield late on the 20th. and to be lost after midnight on the 21st.
By the way, the aircraft was a Bf 109G-6/R-3.

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Time on Combat report is 12.50 hrs. on the 20th.Feb. 50mls. east of the Orkney Islands. Also reported was that the 109 had the letters A.K or A.H in faint black lettering on fuselage

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

The correct unit code carried by this aircraft was A6+XH. The Bf 109s of 1.(F)/120 always used the last letters in the alphabet, i.e. X, Y and Z.
Obviously, the RAF pilots mistook the X for an A.

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

Are there any photos available depicting these codes applied to the Bf109's of this unit?

Re: "Recco" Bf 109
 

In his book Pierre Closterman comments that the aircraft did not carry any national markings....

Frithjof