Fi156 (Wnr.4264) of 2./JG 51

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello guys,

On 14th November 1940 a heavy storm damaged a Fi156 Storch (Werkenr. 4264) of the 2./JG 51.... in Venlo.

I am not a JG 51 historian, nor do I have any reference works about the JG 51 (if any). Therefore I would like to ask for your help to explain the presence of this Storch in Venlo. I see (www.ww2.dk) that the I./JG 51 left Cocquelles early December 1940 for a move over Krefeld - nearby Venlo - to Mannheim-Sandhoven. Is there a connection?

Any help is appreciated: I want to check whether the prewar auxiliary Dutch landing strip at Venlo was ever used as a 'Feldflugplatz' or not.

Many thanks in advance, Marcel

[Jaap Woortman]

Marcel,

Adres/Held. Jagdgeschwader 51 >>Mölder<<. Eine Chronik. Berichte, Erlebnisse Dokumente. Stuttgart. 1985.
Copy available in Nuenen.

Jaap

[Merlin]

Marcel,

the I./JG 51 was based at Pihen-les-Guines from 12.Jul.40 until 23.Nov.40.

There could be many reasons why the Storch was damaged at Venlo. The simplest would be that the crew was on a courier flight the day before and had to stop at Venlo due to bad weather. The next night the aircraft became damaged by the storm.

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Jaap, hello Merlin

Thank you both for your encouraging replies, I will call you later Jaap.
Merlin: that was one of the explanations I thought of too, so any primary evidence supporting this (most likely) theory, would skip one of the few indications that Germans ever used the pre war Venlo landingstrip as a Feldflugplatz before they turned it into a large Fliegerhorst.

All the best, Marcel

[Jim P.]

Losses reported for this machine:

Fi 156C-2, 4264, ./., , I., 2., JG 51, , , PK+NW, , 22-Nov-40, Storm damage., , Lfl.2/Kanal, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #2)-Vol.3; Prien, et al, Die Jagdfliegerverbände, IV.2, p.41, , Fl.Pl. Venlo, 30%, H, , ,
Fi 156, 4264, ./., , , , Kurierst. 12, , , PK+NW, , 10-Oct-41, Bombenwurf., , Fl.Truppe-Sonstige/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #4)-Vol.6, , Fl.Pl. Meshno, 30%, F, , ,
Fi 156, 4264, Klatt, Uffz., , , , Verb.St. 56, , PK+NW, PK+NW, , 16-Nov-42, MIA due to enemy fire., , Fl.Truppe-Sonstige/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #7)-Vol.12, , bei Lepel, 100%, F, , ,

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Jim,

Good to read all your detailed additions to my request from your magnificent databases and many thanks for your help. Though 22 november 1940 is given by Reel #2, the actual day was 14 november, because a local diary reports this incident (and storm) on that date and meteo reports confirm the passing by if this storm on the 14th november. I xan't explain why the 22nd november is reported, but this is what I know presently.

All the best, Marcel