Emergency landing 14 aug 1940

[Tony 858]

This ME BF 110 made a nearly perfect landing near the hamlet of Haler (Hamlet near the dutch- Belgian border south of holland)
Is there more information about this plane and his crew and to which geschwader this plane belongs to ?

Tony


http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...f110aug19.jpg/

[Jaap Woortman]

Losslist number: T776

Date: 13-aug-40
Place: Weert
Type: Bf 110
W.Nr. 3347
Unit: 2./ZG 26

Source: Dutch Studygroup Airwar 1939-1945

Jaap

[Jim P.]

I have this as WNr. 3344 'U8+EK' at Hunsel/Mollenbercel. Which is correct? Given that there are later loss listings for both WNr., either works.

[Larry Hickey]

Jim, et al.,

If you enlarge the photo attached with the post above, the W.Nr. is pretty clearly 3347. There is another photo of the full port side of this a/c in the old "Caler Illustrated Series" softcover book: "The Battle of Britain" by Bruce Robertson. This publication dates back to about the 1960s. I've never located an original print of that photo, but when you look at the visible W.Nr., it also appears to be 3347. If anyone has a quality print of the Caler book photo, I'd certainly appreciate a copy, as this may well be a color profile in the EOE Book project for 2./ZG26. I've never seen this particular photo published anywhere else. Incidentally, based upon the W.Nr., this should be a Bf110D-0, which is entirely consistent with the camouflage pattern on the a/c. Based upon the lack of a unit insignia, and the D-0 subtype, this is probably a very recently assigned aircraft.

Based upon Jim's info, we carry this in the EOE loss DB as:

August 13, 1940: "2./ZG26 Messerschmitt Bf110D (3344). Damaged in forced-landing at Molenbeersel, cause not stated. Crew unhurt. Aircraft U8+EK damaged but repairable."

We probably need to change our to W.Nr. 3347. If anyone can pinpoint the actual crash location more precisely than the four sites given: (Haler, Weert and Hunsel/Mollenbercel), this info would be much appreciated. I note that the first three locations are all within about 5 kms of each other in the same general area. The photos show the FL in a cow pasture probably somewhere near these hamlets. Also, does anyone have any information that would permit identification of the crew of this 2./ZG26 a/c?

Regards,

[Jaap Woortman]

I do not know the exact location but Haler is in between Hunsel(Neth.) and Molenbeersel(B.). And they all are located south of Weert.
So for the moment from this point of view Haler(Neth.) would be the most logical location.

Jaap

[Jaap Woortman]

Location of the crashsite has been confirmed as: 600 meters south-west of the centre of the village Haler(Neth.). Just 300 meters from the Dutch-Belgian border at Dutch territory. Thanks to Ton Bosmans for this information.
This must be one of the victims of RAF Fighter Command during 'Adlertag'.
Aircraft of ZG 26 also made crash/emergency landings at Vlissingen and near Amsterdam during this day.

Jaap

[Larry Hickey]

Jaap,

Thanks for passing this along. I agree with your assessment of the "Adlertag" association. This is exactly what I needed for my profile package. Now all we seriously lack is the name of the crew for this one, which will probably have to come from some German source, if it can ever be determined. Unfortunately, the surviving records for ZG26, including any KTB material for this period, are seriously lacking. But one can always have hope. Thanks also to Tony for posting the new photo of this a/c and starting this discussion.

You mention the other two crashes in Holland that day. I have a 1./ZG26 machine, U8+EH, down in a belly landing with 25% damage near Vught, Netherlands, by Lt. Köpsell. I also have a 7./ZG26 Bf110, 3U+JR, at Amsterdam with 10% damage (Matthes), and an 8./ZG26 crash-landing at Vlissingen, Netherlands, unknown crew OK but plane written off. Code and W.Nr. unknown. Are these the ones that you're referring to? Do you know of any Dutch photo sources, or other information for these incidents?

Regards,