[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Since posting the above, I've looked over the EoE Luft loss DB (100% losses to Stab I, I or 1./ZG52 listed below), but didn't find any 1 Staffel losses that are dead on. Item #1 isn't a possibility. I've included two Stab. I./ZG52 losses (items #2 and #4), whose crews could have been flying a 1 Staffel a/c on loan if needed. However, neither of these appear to fit. The best bet is Item #3, but, unfortunately the crew is not identified, nor was either of them killed. Identified only as belonging to I./ZG52. The date is only one day off the date you were considering most likely. I think that this is probably your aircraft. Please note that these entries have been revised since the publication of Peter Cornwell's "The Battle of France: Then and Now."

1) "May 14, 1940: 1./ZG52 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Starboard engine badly damaged in attacks by Sgt Bouhy of GC II/5 during escort sortie south of Thionville 4.00 p.m. Retired north and abandoned over the ‘Bricherknapp’ near Brouch, in Luxembourg. FF Fw Otto Weckbach baled out badly wounded – admitted to hospital where died May 16, BF Uffz Karl Klaus missing. Aircraft 100% write-off."

A restored engine from this a/c is in a museum in Luxembourg, and the crash site isn't anywhere near Sercus, France.

2) "May 27, 1940: Stab I./ZG52 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Shot down in combat with fighters of Nos. 56, 145, 601, and 610 Squadrons north-east of Calais 7.20 p.m. FF Lt Christian-Friedrich von Neumann (Gruppenadjutant) killed, BF Uffz Hermann Laudemann baled out and captured wounded - admitted to hospital in Dunkirk and later released. Aircraft 100% write-off."

If the location is correct, this would have gone down into the channel. The Bf110 is unlikely to have crashed inland as far as Sercus, which is about 40 kms SE of Calais.

3) "May 27, 1940: I./ZG52 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Shot down in combat with fighters of Nos. 56, 145, 601, and 610 Squadrons north-east of Calais and abandoned over German-held territory 7.20 p.m. Crew baled out unhurt. Aircraft 100% write-off."

Although both crewmen reportedly bailed out unhurt, I think that this is your aircraft. Perhaps one of the crewmen lost a boot in the a/c as he bailed out. So this should be A2+LH, WNr. 2889 of 1./ZG52.

4) "June 4, 1940: Stab I./ZG52 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Crashed at Maizey both engines destroyed in attacks by Lt Huvet, Lt Hebrard, and Sgt Hème of GC II/5 north of Saint-Mihiel 8.10 a.m. FF Oberlt Herbert Ziebarth (Gruppenadjutant) baled out and captured unhurt – later released, BF Uffz Johann Sisterhenn killed. Aircraft 100% write-off."

This isn't anywhere near Sercus, France.

So, over to you for your thoughts.

Regards,