6./JG 2 Frank Liesendahl

[sidney]

Dear All,

According to the info here http://falkeeins.blogspot.ie/search/label/JG%202 , on 23 June 1941 Oblt. Frank Liesendahl flew perhaps the last Jabo sortie with his 'first' Jabostaffel 6./JG 2. On 10 July 1941 he was wounded in combat, but he nevertheless managed to land his aircraft at Abbeville. For the second time in just over a year he remained hospitalised for about two months. There is little info on the event of 10 July 1941. I wonder whether this photo here http://www.messerschmitt-bf109.de/di...otonummer=4533, apparently taken in the peak summer of 1941, showing a forced landed aircraft of 6./JG 2 (note the Jabo emblem on the engine cowling), might have been taken on that day.

Furthermore, I wonder whether series of photos of apparently "Yellow 10" from Falke Eins' excellent blog (i.e., the former reference above), show the Bf 109 F-4/B aircraft? I have not heard of the Bf 109 F-2 being used for the Jabo missions due to its early structural weaknesses, but let us say that it is a possibility. If the aircraft was the Bf 109 F-4/B, that would put the time-frame to June 1941, since the Bf 109 F-4 apparently started reaching the front-line units from that month.

Any member's comments, remarks on the two queries above will be much appreciated.

Regards,
Sinisa

[sidney]

To try and answer myself to the second query in the post above: According to Lynn Ritger's book The Messerschmitt Bf 109; Part 2: 'F' to 'K' Variants, page 209, although the Bf 109 F-4 appeared to have been the preferred aircraft of choice for the Jabostaffeln, the Bf 109 F-2 was also cleared to carry the ordnance loads externally – when equipped with the ETC 500/IXb bomb rack, the aircraft was designated Bf 109 F-2/B. The same applies to the Bf 109 F-1 aircraft.

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Sinisa,

The Bf 109 F-2 was used quite a lot by 10.(Jabo)/J.G. 2 in March, April and May 1942. See here: http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/jagd/b10jg2.html

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[sidney]

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for the note. My reading of the 10.(Jabo)/JG 2 Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen list is that the Jabostaffel had the Bf 109 F-2 (and Bf 109 E-7) aircraft on strength while still in the process of formation, and released them all by April 1942, when they got the Bf 109 F-4s in sufficient numbers. Whichever the case though, the Bf 109 F-2 seemed to have been used in the Jabo role, and it is likely that the 6./JG 2 used them in that role in May-June 1941.

Would you happen to have a view on the photo of the above forced landed 6./JG 2 aircraft in the summer of 1941?

Regards,
Sinisa

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Sinisia,

10.(Jabo)/J.G. 2 was using the Bf 109 F-2 on operations in March and April 1942. For example, Uffz. Weiser was shot down in a Bf 109 F-2 on 31 March 1942 (this presumably being the F-2 noted as lost "durch Feindeinw." on Holm's site).

But of course that doesn't answer your question, and I'm sorry to say that I've nothing to add regarding the 6./J.G. 2 aircraft photographed in the summer of 1941. Hopefully one of the Bf 109 experts can step in and help.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[ouidjat]

Hello Sidney,
Maybe a tiny step forward? That machine pictured above has a gun camera ..

[Fredo Hara]

I wonder whether this photo here http://www.messerschmitt-bf109.de/di...otonummer=4533, apparently taken in the peak summer of 1941, showing a forced landed aircraft of 6./JG 2 (note the Jabo emblem on the engine cowling), might have been taken on that day.


Hello,
In the fantastic book of Eric Mombeeck "Am Himmel Frankreichs Die Geschichte des JG2 "Richthofen", Band 3 : 1941 ", you have 3 photos of Liesendahl crash the 10/07/1941. I confirm it's the same plane.
Fredo

[sidney]

Andrew, Franck

Thank you both for your feedback, it is highly valued. The presence of the gun camera was more exception than the rule on the Luftwaffe fighter aircraft, so it might point to the Staffelkapitan's aircraft.

On the other hand, the forced landing of Bf 109 F-2/B of 10 July 1941 (or any other day in the summer of 1941) must have been recorded. That is, if it indeed happened in the first place, for Oblt. Liesendahl might have landed the aircraft in good order at Abbeville in spite of being wounded. Any loss record of the period at hand?

Regards,
Sinisa

[sidney]

With reference to Tony Wood's JG 2 Loss list here http://www.ww2.dk/misc/jg2loss.pdf
There are two candidates:

10.07.41 Lfl. 3 II./JG 2 Pilot unknown. Staffel Messerschmitt WNr. 6761 60%
Jäfu 2 Desvres Fl. Pl. Crashed-landing: damaged by enemy MG Bf 109 F-2
fire (Feindbeschuß).

10.07.41 Lfl. 3 II./JG 2 Pilot unknown. Staffel Messerschmitt WNr. 5469 15%
Jäfu 2 Near Calais. Emergency landing due to fuel shortage (brenn- Bf 109 F-2

The first one seemingly matches the circumstances of Oblt. Liesendahl's action on that day.

Regards,
Sinisa

[ouidjat]

Originally Posted by Fredo Hara

... Hello,
In the fantastic book of Eric Mombeeck "Am Himmel Frankreichs Die Geschichte des JG2 "Richthofen", Band 3 : 1941 ", you have 3 photos of Liesendahl crash the 10/07/1941. I confirm it's the same plane.
Fredo

Thanks Fredo!
Highly valuable info for those who don't have this book. I Wonder if the photos are in The French edition???

Regards, Franck.