[Larry Hickey]

Remi,

All I can tell you is that there are many photos of Hs 126A-1 L2+BM around showing it force-landed in very good condition, with only the lower port wing tip crumpled from hitting the ground. The tips of the prop blades are slightly bent back, indicating the prop was turning when it contacted the ground. There is no obvious combat damage, such as bullet or flak damage, evident on the airframe. The field grave next to the plane has Panten's name on the cross. (Ltn. Siegfried Panten). For the EOE project, we've assessed this as:

"June 5, 1940: 4.(S)/LG2 Henschel Hs123A-1. Shot down by GC I/6 and crashed 1 km north of Hallu, south of Chaulnes, 10.30 a.m. Possibly that claimed by S/Lt Janis. FF Lt Siegfried Panten died of wounds. Aircraft L2+BM 100% write-off. (EOE analysis)
Siegfried Panten was originally buried in a field grave alongside his aircraft but reinterred postwar in Bourdon Cemetery; Block 6, Row 11, Grave 431."

Peter Cornwell, who compiled and maintains the Luftwaffe DB for the EOE project, may have some further comments on this, but this is where we are at.

There is another photo of this or a same-marked belly landed a/c, L2+BM, that has damage to the starboard wings from contact with the ground. This probably experienced engine failure before making the belly landing, as the prop blades are undamaged. We think that this was probably taken sometime after mid-October, 1939, but have no specifics on it. This date is based on the large size and style of the top-wing cross visible on one wing. So there were at least two Hs123s (or the same one repaired) with the code L2+BM that made belly landings sometime between mid-October, 1939 and June, 1940.

Regards,