JG 53, missing pilot, 1940

[arnaud]

Bonjour,

In 2002, one Bf 109 was found in France near Rethel with an unknown pilot. He is now buried somewhere in France. To locate the burial place, I have contacted Volksbund without success.

I have a French report written in 1941 affirming that a spade was painted on one piece JG 53. Inhabitants evacuated the village on May 13th 1940. SO The a/c crashed between May 14th 1940 and May 1941.

On may 14th 1940, Alfred Stark disappeared (missing)...

Are they others pilots missing from JG 53?

Thanks




Piece found on site: Flugzeugete.le
Bestl E11.798
Com 20864-9
zeichn. 109 800-05
Typu g.p Bf 109
KM 4.39 BAL K26
Prüfidr 0.3 kg/m² suh400

[ClinA-78]

Hello,

Cannot add more but was its wreckage (including DB601E engine) found in Coucy (E. of Rethel)?

Best regards

[arnaud]

Yes... This is a Bf 109 from JG 53 (French report)...

Have you the missing pilot list from JG 53?

Bye

[Oberst]

Maybe try looking here: http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety...anPilotsB.html

[Matti Salonen]

If he is from JG 53, then Fw Alfred Stark seems to be the only possible pilot. All other JG 53 pilots in 1940-41 were missing either in England or above Channel.

Matti

[arnaud]

Could someone else confirm this?

[ClinA-78]

It is written (in BoF) Stark was victim of a collision with a 139 Sqn Blenheim near Remilly-Aillicourt (some 40 km NE of Coucy). Are you aware of a Blenheim crash in that area near Rethel?
Could you post your French report?

[Peter Cornwell]

I currently have this loss listed thus:

1./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4. Collided with No.139 Squadron Blenheim destroyed in combat over Remilly-Aillicourt, south-east of Sedan, and crashed at ‘La Gravière’, near Doux, 3.40 p.m. FF Fw Alfred Stark killed. Aircraft White 3 + 100% write-off.

As Doux is adjacent to Coucy, and given the information from the French report you mention, it seems highly likely that the site excavated there could be this aircraft. It would be useful to know the exact position of the crash to correct this information. The RAF aircraft involved would seem to be this:

Blenheim IV N6230. Exploded under attack by Fw. Stark of 1./JG53 south-west of Sedan during sortie to bomb troop concentrations between Givonne and Bouillon 3.40 p.m. Pilot Officer J. O’B. Power, Sergeant D. T. Stuart-Harris, and AC1 W. Parker missing. Aircraft a write-off.
This serial number was found on a plate discovered amongst wreckage recovered at Remilly-Aillicourt in 1941.The Squadron Operations Record Book records this crew lost while flying P6902 .

Any information or further clarification anyone may be able to offer on either of these events would be most helpful. Thank you.

[ClinA-78]

so we are searching now a Blenheim crew...

[arnaud]

Hello,

As usual for May 1940, things are completely different as it is described in books.

So they are no other missing pilot of JG 53... That’s what I thought. I just wanted to be certain...

I could reveal some of my conclusions. Alfred Stark was shot down at Coucy (absolutely not by the Blenheim shot down at Remilly: a lot too far obviously) by Battle of No. 218 Squadron (possibly by Battle of No. 103 Squadron).

Blenheim N6230 exploded in mid air by Flak (I have a impressive and precise German description): two airmen baled out severely wounded. They were rescued by French but eventually died in the next Blockhaus and are now missing. The third member died in the Blenheim and is now buried in Remilly cemetery.

There was a collision in mid air between a Battle of No. 218 Squadron and a Messerschmitt 109 at Chagny. I have been on the crash sites... I have no information of any human casualty: they were lucky and all baled out... I identified the number of the Battle as No. P2189 (pieces from Fairey factory found). For the Messerschmitt, It could be Sergeant Kröschel’s one of 8./JG 53. He was captured by French and sent to the French military prison at Busanzy...

Unfortunately I have no photos of Alfred Stark and Sergeant Kröschel. If someone have some more details...

All details will be published soon in a book dedicated to missions on Sedan that May 14th 1940... All aircraft have been visited... But I still want information and photos from family or unpublished documents giving some more details...

Thank you for your help

Arnaud