Sabotage at 7./JG 54, 11 June 1941

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

In the JG 54 loss list by the late Gunter Rosipal, there are four entries on 11 June 1941, three Bf 109 F-2 damaged at 10, 10 and 40% and a Kl 35 damaged beyond repair at 90% (no WNr given for any), with the reason of the loss given as "sabotage" and the location as "Fl.Pl. Neukuhren ?".

In the pilot column, there is for the four entries an Obgfr Gerke, that was probably not a pilot but the man who did the sabotage.

Can someone confirm the above and give more details ?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Laurent...
I do not have information...but have you thought about this being a pilot error during a take off or landing? I mean, the Obergefreiter Gerke taking off or landing the KL 35 and loosing control and coliding with the parked Bf 109?!
I have seen RAF reports of similar accidents happening...so I thought this to be a reasonable probability.
Sadly I do not have JG 54 details, but the Family name of GERKE seems to be familiar.
Please, I am not jumping the "sabotage" probability...even by a German military man....but...it seems a bit "off the context" early in June 1941 (they were wining on almost all the theaters, etc...high morale, etc..)
Humbly yours Laurent...
Adriano

[Adriano Baumgartner]

The Gerke I thought off should be discarded = Heinz Gehrke from JG26...probably NOT related.
Adriano

[Merlin]

Laurent,

this story is fare outside all facts:

The III./JG 54 converted to the Bf 109F at Stolp-Reitz, which is some 300km west of Neukuhren.

The Ergänzungsgruppe/JG 54 was based at Neukuhren, solely equipped with Bf 109E aircraft, they received some Bf 109F in addition some six weeks later.

Gefr. Völske from Schule/FAR 10 crashed a Kl 35 due to pilot error at Neukuhren with 95% damage This could be the requested Klemm - but this happened on 10.05.41.

There were no Bf 109 reported damaged by JG 54 under both dates.