captured 4-engined bomber

[Erik Mombeeck]

Hello,

progressing in the redaction of the JG 2 Chronicle for the year 1943, I came across an interesting letter from a 2./JG 2 pilot. He wrote that a few weeks before its redaction (thus about mid-July 43) a captured 4-engines was awaited to land on his airfield (Triqueville or St André de l'Eure) and, despite to have warned the Flak, it was "shot down" by local Flak. Nevertheless, the crew was unhurt... was leads to think that it was only (slightly) damaged.

Could it maybe be the B-17F-27-BO ‘Wulf Hound’ (41-24585) which served with 360th BS, 303rd BG and was lost on 12th of December 1942? This a/c later visited fighter units throughout Germany and France before to return to Rechlin in July 1943... maybe to be repaired after this failure ???

Does anybody know anything about this incident?
Thank you

Erik
www.luftwaffe.be

[brewerjerry]

Hi
just a random thought,
lancaster W4842, ZN-H, 108 Sqn
apparently after its crash 28 may 43 it was taken apart, then it was taken by barge to schipol ( info from lemb )
it might explain what happened to it ?
or maybe not ?
cheers
jerry

[Erik Mombeeck]

Hi Jerry,

thank you for your thoughts. Yes, it could be this Lancaster, nevertheless, I think that B-17F-27-BO ‘Wulf Hound’ (41-24585) could be a better candidate. I wonder if documents or researches have been seen on his tour in France in order to be shown to German fighter pilots. Any idea ist welcomed.

Cheers

Erik

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Erik,

From the Flugbuch of Heinrich Beauvais, the B-17 made the following tour:

From 1 July 1943 onwards, the Wulf Hound visited Soesterberg, Deelen, München-Gladbach, Rheine, Schiphol and Leeuwarden.

3.7.1943, start 11.54 hours from Leeuwarden to Lille-Vendeville (landing 13.25), next start 18.37 to Vitry-en-Artois (landing 18.47)
4.7.1943, start 09.50 to Poix-Nord (landing 10.30)
5.7.1943, start 14.45 to Venlo
6.7.1943, return from Venlo to Rechlin, end of the tour


No other airfields in France mentioned. I do hope that this helps, all the best,


Marcel

[Erik Mombeeck]

Hi Marcel,

really excellent! I think that this is, indeed the plane I was looking for. Probably this JG 2 pilot exaggerated the damages caused by the Flak in his letter to his parents.

Cheers

Erik

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Erik,

Apparantly I failed to bring over my message: to my opinion the airfields visited by the B-17 Wulf Hound (i.e. Poix-Nord, Lille-Vendeville and Vitry-en-Artois) are to far away from the airfields St André de l'Eure or Triquevillewhere where your JG 2 pilot was when he witnessed the incident described.

Therefore I don't think that there is a match with B-17 Wulf Hound, unless your JG 2 pilot was actually at Poix-Nord... or Lille-Vendeville... or Vitry-en-Artois.

All the best, Marcel