[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

This may very well relate to the series of photos apparently taken with a powerful telephoto lens from (apparently) the Pas-de-Calais, and which were published in the magazine "Signal" at the beginning of Oct, 1940. There are something like 18 images showing a Spitfire chasing a Bf110C of I./ZG26 with the code either U8+GH or U8+GL (two white victory flashes on the fin). After the Bf110 ditches, the crew is rescued from the water by a He59 with the codes NE+??, which I believe was a SNFlKdo 3, a/c (out of Bouglogne). The Bf110C does not have a white nose, so this is almost certainly in August of 1940.

I'd dearly like to ID this photo sequence, which may, in fact, also match the story in van Ishoven's book. The problem with Kogler is that his story doesn't match the photo sequence. Nor does any other Bf110C loss to I./ZG26 (thin white rear fuselage band used only by that unit during that time). So either the story about Kogler is wrong, or it was someone else. This is an enduring mystery to me that has frustrated me for 20 years.

Here is our EOE Luft Loss DB entry for Kogler:

"Aug 11, 1940: 1./ZG26 Messerschmitt Bf110D-0. Both engines disabled in attack by fighters and ditched in sea 40 km north-east of the Thames Estuary 12.10 p.m. FF Hptmn Johann Kogler (Staffelkapitän) and BF Uffz Adolf Bauer both wounded – took to dinghy, rescued by E-boats off Nieuport, and admitted to hospital in Brussels. Aircraft 100% write-off."

Here is the report on Kaminski, which is the wrong Staffel for the photos and the timing doesn't fit either the photo sequence or the van Ishoven account:

"Aug 18, 1940: 2./ZG26 Messerschmitt Bf110C-2. Damaged in combat with fighters during bomber escort sortie and ditched in the Channel off Dunkirk 5.30 p.m. FF Hptmn Herbert Kaminski (Staffelkapitän) and BF Uffz Heinrich Strauch both took to dinghy unhurt - rescued by Seenotdienst four days later and landed at Dunkirk. Aircraft 100% write-off."

Hope we can resolve the identity of the crew in both van Ishoven's story and the photo sequence, which is one of the most dramatic for that period of the war.

Regards,