[Tim O.]

Hi all

I recently found this image of Josef Harmeling's Bf 109E-4B on E-Bay. I have seen other images of this aircraft before but none with the 4./LG2 Staffel badge so clearly shown. Many images show the aircraft with just a hole where the badge should have been (presumably it was later cut out by souvenir hunters).

I have Josef Harmeling's award documents and, although his aircraft is illustrated in many books, I have never seen an image of Harmeling included so just for the record here is the photo from his Flugzeugführerschein.

Harmeling's force-landing is well documented. His aircraft was hit by ground fire during a fighter-bomber attack by II.(Schlacht)/LG2 on RAF North Weald, which commenced at 16:40 on 29th October 1940. Having dropped his 100kg bomb but already struggling to regain height, Harmeling's aircraft was attacked and he was lightly wounded in the arm and head (probably by the Hurricane flown by Sergeant Michal Maciejowski, a Polish pilot flying with 249 Squadron). Harmeling force-landed at Wick Farm, Langenhoe near Colchester and was taken prisoner for the duration of the war, finally returning home in 1947. Harmeling's aircraft was sent on a tour of the UK to raise funds for the war effort. The attached image shows the aircraft disassembled for transport during the early days of this tour.

Harmeling was awarded both the Ehrenpokal and Fighter Clasp in Silver after his capture (certificates attached just for interest). He had only recently returned to duty having recovered from a previous wound, when he was shot down over England and captured.