Bf-109 crashlanded near Cracow, 6 Aug. 1944

[piters]

I’m looking for any information about Bf-109, crashlanded at 6.08.1944 ca. 30 kms southeast of Cracow, in the village Raciechowice (nearest town: Dobczyce), lat. 49.840 N, long. 20.130 E.

The plane with a smoke from the engine was spotted while heading north. The pilot made belly landing but had problems with abandoning the cockpit and the local peasants helped him to do it. He had several burns on his hands and forehead. Approaching peasants were lucky to put out the small fire in the cockpit. Pilot was carried to Home Army partisan base, where he was dressed with a bandage and then released (carried with horse wagon to Dobczyce).
The plane was covered with straw and German patrols were not able to find it – they didn’t like patrolling the area known as “partisan republic” (officially: Banditengebiet). After some days the plane was disassembled by the partisans. They removed and took away 2 MGs and 1 gun (or 13 mm MG).
The rest of the wreck was scrapped after the war.

Here is a photo of the plane while disassembling
http://odkrywca.pl/forum_pics/picsfo...pg_samolot.jpg

and two photos of a pilot (Obergefreiter) dressed by the partisan doc.
http://odkrywca.pl/forum_pics/picsforum12/pg_pilot1.jpg
http://odkrywca.pl/forum_pics/picsforum12/pg_pilot2.jpg
The doctor was a deserter from Wehrmacht, that’s why he wears an uniform.

I’d like to know (if possible)
-the exact plane type
-Werk Nr
-unit and plane number
-the cause of accident (it looks as a engine failure)
-the pilot name
Does anybody have such as data?

Stab and II./JG 52 stationed at Cracow (Krakau) at this time, and the plane headed into Cracow area – maybe it’s a hint…

The date is from local Home Army CO's wife diary - if there's any mistake, it's no bigger than 3-4 days.

Many thanks for any help.

Best regards,
Piotr

[John Beaman]

The only JG 52 losses I have for that day are from 8. and 9. Staffel and they were in Rumania. I do have one on 8-Aug from JG 51 near Warka which seems to be near Cracow. Might this be it?


Bf 109G-6, 16413, Konitzer, Uffz. Heinz, 3./JG 51, braune18 +, DQ+IB, 08-Aug-44, KIA due to Luftkampf with Jak-9s., Ring, JG 51 loss list, p.53, südöstlich Warka, 100%, F

It does say KIA, but maybe a mistake?

[piters]

John, thank you for your reply.

Warka is north of Cracow, closer to Warsaw. There was a bridgehead at Vistula river where was heavy combat at this time.
It's only a suggestion that the plane could be from JG52. In fact, it could be from any unit from Eastern Front...
I forgot to write that some people suggested that the plane and pilot were "Hungarian", but lookong at the photos it's clear the pilot wears German uniform and ranks. Probably he said he's Hungarian because of he was afaid about being killed by the partisans.

At Aug. 6 there was some aerial combat in East Prussia area (ca. 500 kms north of Cracow) because of "Frantic V" shuttle mission. Mustangs from 357th FG took part in it, escorting B-17s.
It's interesting, but the next day (Aug. 7) these planes made an air raid to Trzebinia oil refinery, very close to Cracow, and during the return to Soviet bases they were almost exactly over the place, where Bf109 crashed.
I thought there was any mistake, but the author clearly describes Bf109 crash (dated Aug. 6) and a flight of B-17s and P-51s (Aug. 7). Her diary was written day-by-day.

I know there were two or three German planes shot down by "Frantic V" escort in Cracow area:
- Bf109 G-6 W/Nr 165031 "Yellow 8" III/JG52, crashed near Kalwaria (30 kms SW of Cracow), pilot Oblt Fritz Eberhard (probably accidentaly KIA or WIA by German LAA).
- Bf109 G-6 W/Nr 166065 "Yellow 4" III/JG52, crashed in Myslowice (50 kms W of Cracow), pilot was an ace Lt. Herbert Bachnick (KIA forced to landing and hit in rail embankment).
- a third plane mentioned to be shot down near Zator, 30 kms west of Cracow (Bf109 or FW190).

It corresponds well with American claims (357th FG) in this area at Aug. 7:
- Capt. John F. Pugh - 1 FW190 W of Cracow
- 1Lt. Hollis R. Nowlin - 1,5 plane (one of them was German ace Schack http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=1560)
- Mjr. John A. Storch - 0,5 Bf109 over Oswiecim (Auschwitz), very close (15 kms) to Zator.
(the list may be not complete)

It's not certain Bachnick was hit in dogfight by 357th FG, whether 15th AF plane. I cannot find a confirmation of shooting down this Mustang, regarded as his 80th victory.

I'll be very grateful for any information about pilots and planes mentioned above (especially for plane shot down at Zator and confirming Lt. Eberhard's fate).
But the focus of the topic is unknown Bf109 crashed probably the day before, August 6.

Best regards,
Piotr

[barkas]

Hallo, on 22.August (an airbattle over Silesia) was one 100% loss SE Krakau
Here is list of the JG 52 losses on august 1944:
Bf 109G-6 163578 Hogeweg, Uffz. Karl 6./JG52 gelb 9 + - 44.08.04. KIA by Flak. Ru§land Fast, JG 52, IV p.127txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 163613 Rothenberg, Hptm. Armin III./JG52 44.08.05. KIA in Bauchlandung after Luftkampf. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 163501 Jürgen, Uffz. Ernst 9./JG52 gelb 9 + ^^ 44.08.06. Injured in landing. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. b H
Bf 109G-6 163596 Günther, Ltn. Kurt 8./JG52 schwarz 6 + ^^ 44.08.06. KIA due to Hochspannung. (Hit tension wires?) Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 166065 BACHNICK, Ltn. Herbert 9./JG52 gelb 4 + ^^ 44.08.07 KIA in Luftkampf with US fighters. RK Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt.; Obermaier p 83 100% F
Bf 109G-6 165031 Fritz, Ltn. Eberhard 9./JG52 gelb 8 + ^^ 44.08.07 Luftkampf FSA. Pilot OK? Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 18769 Hilgendorff, Ltn. Hasso 9./JG52 gelb 10 + ^^ 44.08.07 WIA in Luftkampf with P-51. FSA. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 20422 Buchheit, Fw. Ludwig 10 5./JG52 schwarz 7 + - 44.08.09. KIA by Flak. Ru§land Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 160079 Mager, Uffz. Alfred 3./JG52 gelb 14 + CR+DZ 44.08.12. KIA in Luftkampf. Poland Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. West of Staszow 100% F
Bf 109G-6 161367 Kopp, Fhr. Werner 6./JG52 gelb 5 + - 44.08.17. KIA, cause unknown. Ru§land Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 163127 Brinkmann, Uffz. Hans III./JG52 schwarz 5 + ^^ 44.08.17. KIA, cause unknown. Ru§land Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. 100% H
Bf 109G-6 165319 Dembeck, Ofhr. Richard III./JG52 1 + ^^ 44.08.17. WIA by Flak. Bauchlandung. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. b F
Bf 109G-6 166070 Wester, Oblt. Helmut 9./JG52 gelb 5 + ^^ 44.08.17. KIA in Luftkampf. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 441538 Stender, Uffz. Günther 6 1./JG52 schwarz BH+AX 44.08.21. Crashed during transfer flight. Pilot OK? Ru§land Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. NE of Belgorod b H
Bf 109G-6 165720 Schäfer, Uffz. Rolf-Dieter 10+ 1./JG52 44.08.22. Killed in crash. Poland Fast, JG 52, IV p.127 txt. SE of Krakau 100% H
Bf 109G-6 166233 SACHSENBERG, Ltn. Heinz 104 6./JG52 gelb 1 + - 44.08.23. WIA in Luftkampf with 4 P-51s. RK Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.128 txt.; Obermaier p191 b F
Bf 109G-6 165059 Brackmeyer, Uffz. Paul 8./JG52 schwarz 12 + ^^ 44.08.26. KIA by Flak. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.128 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 441931 FÖNNEKOLD, Ltn. Otto 136 5./JG52 schwarz 9 + - 44.08.31. KIA by P-51s while landing. RK Hungary Fast, JG 52, IV p.128 txt.; Obermaier p.111 Ssa§-Budak 100% F
Bf 109G-6 760225 Krah, Uffz. Heinz 6./JG52 gelb 2 + - 44.08.31. WIA in Luftkampf with P-51. DOW 8.9. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.128 txt. b F
Bf 109G-6 165013 Zaubitzer, Uffz. Fritz 5./JG52 gelb 10 + - 44.08.31. KIA in Luftkampf with P-51. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.128 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 16513 Junge, Ltn. Hans-Otto 10./JG52 gelb 6 + 44.08.31. KIA in Luftkampf with P-51. Should probably be a 6-digit serial. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.128 txt. 100% F
Bf 109G-6 166060 Schröder, Ofhr. Nikolaus 9./JG52 wei§ 7 + ^^ 44.08.31. MIA after Luftkampf. Rumania Fast, JG 52, IV p.128 txt. 100% F

[piters]

Wow!

Great deal of information, I’m impressed! Thank you, BARKAS!

I wonder if there’s a possibility of writing down (in the diary) an event happened few days before. I found similar effect dated Sep. 6, 1944 – there was one of partisan actions, but Home Army veterans say, it was at the end of August, not September.
So, theoretically, the plane could have crashed few days earlier, and the author found out about it and mentioned it later. Could you check the records for the second half of July, please?

The information about Bachnick and Eberhard I gave above are from Polish book “Liberator in Gorce Mts”, and there’s a footnote to Czech author Jiří Rajlich (“Mustangs over Protectorate”).
Here’s an information about Eberhard’s plane crash place (Kalwaria). Bachnick’s is situated in “Myslenice”, which is mistaken with similar town name Myslowice. I have not Rajlich’s book and I cannot say, if this mistake is his own, or it was made by the team of Polish authors. I live near Myslenice and there’s no railway.
I’ve searched the web with some pilot names from the list above and I found an information, that Lt. Hasso Hilgendorff crashed in Nyőgér (Hungary). It’s 200 kms south of Cracow and probably is not connected with airbattles with 8th AF planes, but with 15th AF fighters escorting mission to Blechhammer, which happened the same day.
Note that in your excellent list probably every loss over enemy lines is described as “Russland”, over Cracow as “Poland”, and over the whole area further south (probably covering Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and southern Poland) as “Rumania”.

Regarding this, from the Aug. 6, 1944 records Lt. Günther’s crash "in Rumania" (as quite well described) doesn’t concern the incident form Raciechowice, but Uffz. Jürgen’s is possible – pilot was lightly injured (burned), although at the photos I can see not very young Obergefreiter. I’ll follow this clue.

I’ve checked the mission from Aug. 22, 1944 in Alfred Konieczny book “Silesia and airwar in 1940-44”.
He describes that there were some air battles this day:
-A formation of B-17s attacking Odertal was attacked between Graz and Balaton, 7 German planes claimed by the gunners.
-A formation of B-24s and P-51s raiding to Blechhammer was heavily attacked in target area, 6 German planes claimed by the escort, some B-24s and 2 P-51s were lost. Unfortunately there’s nothing about any dogfight in Cracow area, but of course I’ll be searching for any information about it.

What does it mean “Luftkampf FSA” at Eberhard’s record?

And what about pilot rank? Wasn’t Obergefreiter too low for a combat pilot? I found some pilots with this rank, but, generally, Uffz./Fhr. or higher is much more often.
At the photos, he doesn’t look very young. Maybe he was from auxiliary personnel, making for example missions such as plane transfers from unit to unit?

Best regards,
Piotr

[Dénes Bernád]

Originally Posted by piters

What does it mean “Luftkampf FSA” at Eberhard’s record?

And what about pilot rank? Wasn’t Obergefreiter too low for a combat pilot?

I believe FSA means bailed out.
An Ogefr. could very well be a combat pilot.

[barkas]

OK, the July 1944 (however, its not complete list maybe, somebody supply it!)
Bf 109G-6 163564 FÖNNEKOLD, Ltn. Otto 5./JG 52 schwarz 1 + - 44.07.09. WIA in Luftkampf with 2 Yak-9s. Rumania
Bf 109G-6 163574 HAAS, Ltn. Friedrich 5./JG 52 schwarz 8 + - 44.07.10. Inj. in Notlandung during a transfer flight. Rumania
Bf 109G-6 163631 WOLFRUM, Ltn. Walter 1./JG 52 wei§ 6 + 44.07.16. WIA in Luftkampf with P-39 Rusland Poleniczna
Bf 109G-6 16504X Meyer, Uffz. Bernhard 3./ 52 gelb 2 + 44.07.23. WIA on 23.7.44 in Luftkampf. FSA. Russland 5 km East of Chodorow 100%
Bf 109G-6 165036 Kienitz, FjUffz. Ernst 1./ 52 wei§ 8 + 44.07.26. WIA on 26.7.44, crashing on take-off. Poland Near Leisnitz/Lisiecice

Do you know Mr. Petr Sikora from Czech site of Poland border? He asked me for the same cases about one year ago!

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, Piotr!

Just a few questions in order to be able to assist you further:

1. The entry in the diary mentioning this incident is dated August 6th? Conclusion being that the incident must have taken place before August 6th? Or?

2. You mention that the pilot was released - do you mean that he was returned to German forces? Or?

Regards,
Andreas B

[piters]

Hello!

1. According to the diary, the accident has taken place at 6 August. But there's a very small possibility it was few days before.

I think it will be better to quote the whole entry in the diary:

August 6

Today we have an alert because of possible German revenge [the day before a partisan detachment had a skirmish with German unit; two German soldiers were KIA].
At the morning we had a mass in Sarnulki hamlet, we prayed for a success of Warsaw uprising. Then CO “Kosciesza” (a pseudonym) went with his aide-de-camp “Mitmar” to discuss a cooperation with people’s units. They promised to support us with three well-armed platoons in any case.
Afternoon came breathless courier from Poznachowice village, with a report, that a German plane crashed several kilometers away. “Prad’s” had immediately alarmed his troops. Everybody run to the assembly place, gathering in the row, counting and quickly goes farther. Our chaplain runs with them, he almost can’t keep up with them! In fact, there was a plane in the field, Messerschmitt, with some guys from “Terenowka” (local self-defense troops) pottering. The pilot, a Hungarian, is lightly wounded. After a short courteous conversation in broken German, our boys delivered the Hungarian to the doctor, and then ordered a village administrator to take him to Wehrmacht in Dobczyce town. From the plane we disassembled a cannon and two machine guns. The rest of the plane was burned.

That's the whole entry.
I have another story from a man who helped to save the pilot (he doesn’t remember the exact date).

It was about 14 o’clock, when I’ve heard a noise from above. I raised my head and I’ve noticed a plane over the mountains, not very high, slightly swinging, moving from south to the north. The smoke from the engine was visible. Suddenly there was something like small explosion, the plane began to fall. It flew over a small wood close to my house and crashed in a field at the top of the hill. It was about half a kilometer from me. I run to the place where it crashed. With my neighbor we were the first men here. The plane was rather grayish than green, I can’t remember any markings. It’s tail was slightly raised, and the smoke and small fire got away from the front. The pilot tried to leave the cockpit, he helped him to get out. He had his arm and eyebrows slightly burned. More people came and they put the fire out throwing a mud and blocks of earth on it. Than the partisans arrived. They secured the area and took the pilot with a horse wagon. I don’t know if they disassembled any weapons, but surely they didn’t burn it. Then the plane was camouflaged with ground and straw, because of some German motorcycle patrols. The rest of the plane was disassembled by the peasants, they did it in the week after the accident. The fuselage was pulled out of the field with a pair of horses and used as a foundation improvement in farm building just after the war.

2. The most of sources say the pilot was released and returned to German forces, delivered with one’s horse wagon. The Home Army often disarmed and released ordinary soldiers to have a propaganda effect. Only SS-men, policemen and those, who had proven the crimes against civilians were shot.

Only one man said that the pilot prisoner was shot by the partisans close to the place where the plane was landed. He even damned, why partisans did it. He didn’t see it personally, but he “have heard”.
His version doesn’t have sense.
We have two photos of Luftwaffe Obergefreiter, said by the Home Army veterans to be the pilot from this plane. His arm is wounded and being bandaged, it agrees with described injures of a pilot from exactly this plane. The photo was taken in a partisan base (office hut), 10 kms from Raciechowice.
Could they deliver the pilot to the base to bandage him, and then take him back to the place close to his plane and shot him? There was a lot of quiet forest around the base to shot somebody. Rather he was delivered to the nearest German post in Dobczyce, as described in the diary. The man probably heard about shooting a gestapo informer (there were many of them, penetrating the vicinity where Home Army had their bases) and had mistaken both events.


Kindly regards,
Piotr

[Gizmo]

barkas,
I'm especially interested about JG 52 losses for 2nd half of June 1944, involved against USAAF. Would you like to share with them?
As far as I know, at least on 24th June two pilots were KIA and two WIA, including an Experte, Lt. Heinz Ewald.
Thanks for any reply.

Regards,
Szymon