Belly-landing Do217 (U5+KP;wnr4201) Oct.1941

[bill norman]

Does anyone have any information on a Do.217E-2 (U5+KP; wnr 4201) that belly-landed near the French/Swiss or French/German border around midnight on 25 October 1941?

[Jim P.]

Do 217E-2, 4201, n.n., , II., 6., KG 2, , U5+KP, , , 26-Oct-41, Crashed due to fuel shortage after sortie to Liverpool. Crew FSA, Bf injured., , Lfl.3/Kanal, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #4)-Vol.6; Balke, Der Luftkrieg in Europa, II, p.424, , bei Blois, 100%, F, Bf Gefr. Friedrich Vahland, ,

[bill norman]

Thanks for that, Jim. I should have said that I am familiar with Balke's book and already have the details you sent. I'm hoping that someone might have additional details - perhaps from nearer the crash site.
BN (website: www.billnorman.co.uk)

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hi Bill,

Given that II./KG 2 was then based in Evreux, a crash near Blois is more logical than near the current French borders.

But it was also close to the "ligne de démarcation", the border between Vichy France and the part of France then occupied by Germany. That may explain the presence of French or German customs agents.

[bill norman]

Laurent,
You might be right. Holzapfel, the pilot, told me that the crew bailed out near Blois and that the Do.217 was later found near "the inner French border". The plane had made a belly-landing, which suggested to me a gradual descent and therefore a landing some distance from Blois. Thus I assumed that Holzapfel meant the eastern border of France. Do you know how far the eastern section of the "ligne de démarcation was from Blois?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The "inner French border" should be exactly the border between "occupied" and "free" France.

This border was following in this area the Cher River, that passes about 40 km south of Blois.

[bill norman]

Thank you, Laurent. That would 'tie in' quite well, I think.