Bf109 May 10th 1940 Oud-Beijerland/Spijkenisse (The Netherlands)

[grvreijn]

On May 10th 1940 a Bf109 is reported to have crashed in waters near Oud-Beijerland in the Netherlands. Does anybody know the unit or name of the pilot and cause of loss?

A similar report was made at Spijkenisse (in the “Oude Maas”) which is just a couple Km’s away. Both planes have not been recovered and no information has be found until now. It could be the same crash reported twice by different sources.

[Pieter H]

There are indeed persistent reports of a Bf109 shot down into one of the waterways around Rotterdam in the early morning of May 10. The Oude Maas at Spijkenisse is often mentioned.
Some sources state the aircraft to be from 1./JG1.
However, firstly there is no proof from the NVM or other German sources of an identified Bf109 in this theatre. See e.g. the list of Peter Cornwell.
Secondly, I./JG1 as part of Fliegerkorps VIII, was active over Maastricht. I don't exclude that only for the early operations of 10 May over Rotterdam 1./JG1 was detached, but I haven't seen any proof of that. In fact I think it is quite unlikely, since Maastricht was as least as important as the operation over western Holland.

So that's where we are: no confirmed wreck, no confirmed loss of an identified pilot, and the only reference to a unit probably wrong.
Still I think there is a reasonable probability, based on eye witnesses etc, that an aircraft was shot down. But not necessarily a Bf109!

Regards, Pieter

[grvreijn]

I found one confirmed loss;

Keller, P. Fw 10(Nacht)/JG-2 Bf 109D-1 (lost 5/10/40) Night Fighter Operational Clasp His 109 crashed in a river at Rotterdam Holland on 10 May, 1940, cause and pilot disposition unknown. (DeSwart)

But no clear location.

[Chris Goss]

In respect of the 10/JG 2 loss, flak east of Rotterdamm, crash-landed 2000 hrs and pilot captured

[grvreijn]

Thanks Chris.

East of Rotterdam is not really near to Spijkenisse or Oud-Beijerland but you never know. The pilot does not seem to have flown after this date. Perhaps he was shipped to the UK with other POW's?

[Larry Hickey]

Chris/grvreijn,

Do we know who this pilot from 10 (N)/JG2 was?

Regards,

[Matti Salonen]

Fw Peter Keller.

Matti

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

If Fw Peter Keller is the pilot of the plane mentioned above, it is not the Bf109 the original poster of this thread is asking about. Keller's Bf109D-1 came down on land on the Maneswaard outside Opheusden Netherlandsand and substantially burned out, probably as a result of action by the pilot just before his capture. The EOE Working Group DB has two photos of this a/c at the site of Keller's forced landing.

Regards,

[grvreijn]

Larry,
what is the source of your info as I cannot find any trace of a bf109 crash near opheusden in 1940?
I have a F. Keller crashing on may 12th. near Maastricht but it is not the same guy. Fw. Peter Keller was made POW and shipped to Canada.