Bf109 Loss 7 Sep. 40?

[stephen f. polyak]

Am looking for information on a Bf 109E that was downed by Sgt. Bohumil Furst with No. 310 Squadron on 7 Sep. 40. Anything about the aircraft and its unit and pilot would be most welcome.

Thank you,
Steve

[Peter Cornwell]

1./LG2 Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 (5798). Shot down by Sgt B. Furst of No. 310 Squadron in combat over Canterbury and exploded in Blackhole Dykes behind Frognall Farm, Wickhambreux, 5.35 p.m. FF Uffz Werner Götting baled out and captured unhurt landing in Stourmouth Vicarage garden. Aircraft White 11 + 100% write-off.
Excavated by the Kent Battle of Britain Museum which recovered the control column, signal pistol, radio mast, Swastika marking from the tail, and complete belts of 7.92mm ammunition. Later re-excavated for the benefit of the pilot who attended recovery operations. Propeller boss and blades, complete armour plate, armament, pilot’s maps, and compressed fuselage panels unearthed. Items all now held by the Hawkinge Aeronautical Trust. First-aid kit in Steve Vizard collection and relics also held by the Southern Area Wartime Aircraft Preservation Society.

[stephen f. polyak]

Peter,

Thank you for the, as always, helpful and informative reply. The identification of W.-Nr. (5798) and sub-type (E-7) leads to another question. On Falcon's excellent Bf109 site, W.-Nr. series 5791 - 5823 is associated with the E-4/B sub-type. Assuming the W.-Nr. in this case (i.e., 5798) to be definite, can it be said if the difference in subtype was a case of a production-line change or a post-production field modification/repair upgrade?

Steve

[Peter Cornwell]

Steve,

Your diplomatic reply ignores a third possibility - that I have simply recorded the sub-type incorrectly. As you say, 5798 was an E-4/B manufactured by WNF. I don't know if it was subsequently modified for extended range or not but suspect that this would need to have been done at the factory rather than a field-mod. I note that Mason has it listed as an E-1 while Perry states E-7. My own notes are now amended to read E-4/B so between us one should be right.

[thenelm]

I have multiple sources for this machine -Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #2)-Vol.3; Prien, et al, Die Jagdfliegerverbände, IV.2, p.399; Prien, JG 77, I, p.382; Mason, p.368, 375 photo; BoB, T&N, p.631

Who's right as to subtype? Anybodys guess. Bf 109Es are tough because so many were continuously updated from original production configuration. Jim P.