M8+AC, Notlandung Cousley Wood, 4. Sept. 1940

[carlmu]

M8+AC, Bf110C W.Nr. 3602, Stab ll/ZG76, belly landed in Sussex, Cousley Wood on a mission to London Sept. 4, 1940. Pilot Oblt. Hermann Weeber and Bordfunker Uffz. Max Michael captured, POW later.
Can somebody confirm and eventually expand this information? Is more known about the crew and the plane?
I have read somewhere that M8+AC was not the plane Hermann Weeber usually flew. Is this correct?
Thanks in advance for any help!

Carl

[Maximowitz]

M8+AC was normally flown by Maj. Erich Groth, Gruppenkommandeur of II./ZG76. If memory serves Weeber was his Adjutant.

[Peter Cornwell]

Stab II./ZG76 Messerschmitt Bf110C-4 (3602). Damaged by No.1 (RCAF) Squadron Hurricanes during escort sortie and belly-landed in garden of Little Butts Farm at Cousley Wood, near Wadhurst, 1.35 p.m. Probably that shot down by F/O A.D. Nesbitt. FF Oberlt Hermann Weeber (Gruppenadjutant) captured unhurt, BF Uffz Max Michael captured badly wounded in chest and throat - admitted to Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells. Aircraft M8+AC 100% write-off.

[carlmu]

Thank you for the information, Maximowitz and Peter!
Your answers raises an interesting question:
Fact 1: Sept. 4, 1940 at 1:35 pm, Weeber and Michael bellylanded with Groths plane M8+AC at Cousley Wood.
Fact 2: At the same time the very same day, Groth is credited to have shot down 3 or 4 Spitfires 10 km south of London.
The info is contradictive. Or did not Groth fly his "own" plane M8+AC? If so, why not?
Carl

[Maximowitz]

Not really contradictory. Pilots flew whatever was available - as Gruppenkommandeur Groth would more than likely have had more than one aircraft at his disposal for personal use. Perhaps Weeber's usual aircraft was unserviceable?

[Andy Saunders]

Carl

If it helps, photos of the crashed aircraft show five white victory bars on the starboard tail fin of this aircraft.

Plus, a little bit of amusing light anecdotal material for you:

"One of the members of a partridge shoot who was having beer and sandwiches in a field at Chessons Farm took a couple of pot-shots at the Me 110 as it wobbled overhead, remarking 'Rather a high bird, I'm afraid'. In the Whiligh Estate Game Book that evening was entered: 10 brace of partridges, two hares and a Messerschmitt 110"

[carlmu]

Funny, Andy!
In war time with the enemy above your head, trying to bomb you back to the stone age, who else but the British would be joking about it while shooting birds, eating sandwiches and drinking beer?
Greetings from Oslo - where the outdoor season starts right now!

Carl

[Andy Saunders]

Ah, yes!

But life had to go on as normal, despite the minor inconvenience of some trifling interference by the Luftwaffe.

The shoot, the beer and the sandwiches were the major consideration. Not the tiresome war!!