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Old 17th May 2008, 03:54
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Re: Fw-190 midair collision over Wevelgem

some additional info (from the VDK-Database):

Ltn. Fritz Kessler (7./JG 26)
* 31.01.1921 in Danzig-Langfuhr
+ 29.4.1942 near Wulverdinghe
final resting place: Bourdon (F), 32-9-346

Fw. Karl-Heinz Ehlen (7./JG 26)
* 30.6.1916 in Bremen
+ 29.4.1942 near Merkeghem
final resting place: Bourdon (F), 32-9-344

in Google-Maps (-Earth) Merkeghem is spelled Merckeghem. Both villages are located roughly 3 km's apart from each other, and to the east of Watten.

According to D.Caldwell's "JG 26 War Diary", the collision and subsequent crash(s) happened at 16:00.

But (!) - the crash place(s) is about 65 km's due west from Kortrijk-Wevelgem airfield ... so i don't think, that the collision happened "during landing at Wevelgem". JG.26 used quite frequently a/f St.Omer-Arques at this time - and Arques is only ~ 10 km's to the south of the crashplace(s). So i assume, that Kessler and Ehlen were on their way to Arques (and not Wevelgem) ...

Regards,
Uwe
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