Bf 109 E-4 Werk No.5044

[Peter S]

6th of September 1940 Bf109 E-4 Werk No.5044 from Stab./Jagdgerschwader 2 has been shot down over Staplehurst in Kent by one of 601.sqn pilots. Bf went down near Headcorn but pilot bailed out.
As far as I know his name was Lt. Schimmelheler (taken as POW).
Surprisingly I have another information that German pilot`s name was Lt. Himmelhaber. Which one is true?
Do anyone has a picture of pilot of Bf109 E-4 No.5044? Do anyone know what`s happened to him? I would like to use a picture of this pilot in my article.
Regards

[Chris Goss]

I contacted Max Himmelheber some years ago and an account of his demise is in my book 'The Luftwaffe Fighters Battle of Britain'. No photos of him or his plane I am afraid

[Peter S]

Does it mean it was Himmelheber? So I`m wondering, where the first name (mentioned in one of the books) came from?

[Chris Goss]

It was Himmelheber

[Peter Cornwell]

As Chris says, the correct name is HIMMELHEBER & Frank Mason simply got it wrong in Battle Over Britain (1969). The correct unit designation is Stab I./JG2 as he was Technical Officer of the Gruppe. See also The Blitz Then & Now Vol.1 p315-316.

[Peter S]

Many thanks for your advice.
Regards

[Andy Saunders]

I have a cartoon drawing of Himmelheber from his time as a POW in Woolwich Hospital, London, if of any interest and, possibly somewhere, a photo of him in a POW camp group photo. A little bit of trivia is that Himmelheber was postwar credited with that wonderful invention......chipboard!! The irony of the fact that a collector I know has parts of Himmelheber's Me 109 fixed to a chipboard mounting board is, I think, priceless.

[Peter S]

I`ve seen some pieces of his Bf 109 a few days ago in Headcorn. Not a lot by the way. The farm, where his plane went down is actually not far from there. The 601.sqn pilot didn`t fly much longer. His Hurricane went down as well. Apparently is still under ground.
Yes, if you can send the picture you have I`d really apprieciate.
Many thanks for your message.

[VtwinVince]

Interesting story and also ironic is this man's name, literally translated, means someone who is lifting up the heavens.

[Peter S]

Also interesting thing is that pilot who shot him down was P/O Topolnicki. This name discend from polish word ''Topola'' (poplar). After this fight he bailed out and landed on the tree...