Loss of Oblt Carl-Heinz Metz 8/JG2

[Peter Cook]

I am trying to establish the circumnstances of the loss of the Bf 109 of Oblt Carl-Heinz Metz of 8/JG2 on 5 September 1940. Parker's Luftwaffe Crash Archive Vol. 3 p. 344 states that Metz colided with another aircraft, the tail was broken off, and it crashed at Bleakwood, Walderslade, near Chatham, Kent. Metz became a POW. However, Robin Brooks states in Kent's Own, the History of 500 (County of Kent) Squadron, p. 65, that the Bf 109 landed at Detling airfield, having run short of fuel. He also states that the Bf 109E-4 'Black 2' was later flown flown to Farnborough for evaluation by the 'boffins'. Which version is correct?

Peter

[Adriano Baumgartner]

MONBEECK, on pg.223 of his 1st Volume on the History of JG 2 do list him shot down in combat with Hurricanes, near Bleakwood (Walderslade).

[Chris Goss]

BofBT&N says Metz crashed near Detling a victim of 46 Sqn 5 Sep 40 while Parker says 6 Sep 40 and Prien says 6 Sep as does West's Captive Luftwaffe (Detling) as does Mombeek. NVM says 6 Sep 40 (53518/11 born Bingen 31 Jul 14). Walderslade to Detling is hardly anything and it would appear the K Report for Metz is quite precise. Is it me-cannot find it in BofBCA.....

[Nick Beale]

The conflicting accounts may be explained by a message from V. Fliegerkorps to JG 2 and III./JG 2 on the evening of 5 September about their
repeated failure to submit daily reports of losses and accidents.

[Peter Cook]

Thank you all for the quick response, the consensus is clearly for Walderslade, and 6 September. I wonder where Robin Brooks got his version from?

Peter

[Chris Goss]

The Captive Luftwaffe?

[Peter Cook]

I haven't got the Captive Luftwaffe - just ordered a copy!

Thanks Chris

[Chris Goss]

Very old book and there are better ones since