Bf 110 losses 11-05-'40 over the Netherlands

[mathieu]

Hei,

Some time ago I visit the Crash Museum ( www.crash40-45.nl ) who have the remains of the Fokker D.XXI in there collection. The story about it's sorties during May 1940 tells that when the pilot eject the canopy to bail out after being hunted by 3 110's, the canopy flew in the propeller of one of the 110 which due to that crashed. The pilot managed to fly in a cloud, when he got out he was on the tail of a 2nd 110 which he shot down, only the be shot down himself by Dutch AA a little bit later.
Now I wonder: did it realy happen or is it just a mythe? And if it is true, is any information avaible about the werk numbers or it's crew?


Best regards,

Mathieu.

[Leendert]

Mathieu,

The Fokker D.XXI would have been "229" with pilot Sgt.Vl J. (Koos) Roos that crashed at Nieuwkoop.
The nimh.nl website gives some Bf-110s lost/damaged over Zuid-Holland (Waddinxveen, Leiden-Gouda, Reeuwijkse Plassen....) on 11 May 1940. Unit would have been ZG 1.

In Peter Cornwell's book "The Battle of France Then and Now" however no loss of a Bf-110 is described that fits the picture. The two Bf-110 losses (one damaged, one crashed) over Holland are attributed to flak during an escort mission to the Gorinchem area. These belonged to 3./ZG 1.

Roos sometimes is said to have flown in "225", but this one apparently was lost on 10 May 1940 with Sgt. Looijen at Ouderkerk a/d IJssel.

The exploits of Sgt.Roos and the thrown away cockpit are well-described, but your question what Luftwaffe losses match the story is indeed worth a try to look into!

Perhaps contact the NIMH in Den Haag and ask what more info the records T513, 514, 515 and/or 516 hold for you on the Verliesregister 1939-1945?

See http://www.nimh.nl/nl/images/1940%20sec_tcm5-7281.pdf
Regards,

Leendert

[Pieter H]

Mathieu, Leendert,

It is almost certain that the interception of the Fokker T-V's (850,856) and their escorting D-21's (213,225,242) was by Bf110's of 3./ZG1. In the encounter one T-V (the 850 at Waddinxveen) and 2 D-21's (the 213 at Zevenhuizen and the 225 at Nieuwkoop) were shot down, while one of the attackers crashed at Gorinchem and a second one returned damaged with a wounded crew member. Which one of the two was the aircraft supposedly damaged by the canopy of the Sgt Roos' D-21 is impossible to ascertain, but I opt for the damaged one that returned to base, since the aircraft at Gorinchem was claimed to be hit by enemy fire, either AA or the Dutch aircraft.

Regards, Pieter

[mathieu]

Hoi Leendert & Pieter,

Thanks for your replies!
@Pieter: The D.XXI that Sgn Vl Roos flew was the 229 and not the 225. Until the excavation of the remainders of the D.XXI it was accepted that it was the 225, the remains proved that it was the 229.
Is there a German Pilot credited with the T.V's or D.XXI?

I'll try to contact the nimh and ask for more details about the 110 losses.

And about there list of crashes/losses: at least concern the G.1 there is some inaccuracy because they used old information. Some examples:
G.1 301 listed as lost 10-05-40, This G.1 was captured by the Germans and crashed in 1941 in Germany. When a aircraft is captured by the enemy it is also lost but than the date should be 15-05-40.
309, listed as the aircraft of Lt Vl J.P. kuipers, recent research revealed that Kuipers most probably flew the 319
319 listed as the aircraft with which Lt Vl v/d Jagt was shot down and killed. Recently photo appearred on Ebay show at Waalhaven captured by the Germans.
332 listed as lost at Waalhaven 10-05-40, this G.1 also flew by the luftwaffe.
310 listed as shot down 13-05-40, more information at: http://www.nederlandseluchtvaart.nl/...er-g-1-a-1518/
An interesting link concern the T.V: http://www.nederlandseluchtvaart.nl/...kker-t-v-3537/

regards,

Mathieu.

Edit: Add a photo of the ID-plate of the D.XXI in the Crash-museum.