[Peter Cornwell]

Robert,


Thanks for the details from the Flugbuch which allow us to take this case forward. The only contemporary British reports filed on this incident were an RAF A.I.1.(g) Report (AIR 22/266) giving the date/time of the crash as ‘2/9 at 08.50 hours’ & a report filed by Ashford ARP Centre (timed 09.30 – 09.41) that recorded an ‘Enemy aircraft down Bridge Farm, Bilsington, MR 27/82. No damage to property or stock’. Given these timings, the fresh evidence from the Flugbuch precludes Oberfw Erich KUHLMANN as a candidate for the pilot killed at Bilsington and buried as an ‘Unknown’ at New Romney. So, as there are only two Bf109E pilots unaccounted for on that date, it therefore follows that the Unknown German Airman now interred in Grave 1-5-152 at Cannock Chase is most likely Lt Herbert RIEGEL as Erich KUHLMANN was lost over the Channel later in the day.


Another one for you, Joe.