Seeking fate of first captured Bf109E to reach Britain, "Red 9," WNr.3326 of 2./JG51.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Peter Cornwell has just revised our EoE Luft Loss DB for this entry:
"28 September 1939 Western Front: 2./JG51 Messerschmitt Bf109E-1 (3326). Suffered engine trouble and lost formation over Pirmasens during frontier patrol. Lost bearings and forced-landed at ‘Kirschacker’, Geudertheim, 4 km south-east of Brumath, when low on fuel 12.00 p.m. FF Uffz Georg Pavenzinger captured unhurt. Aircraft Red 9 + 100% write-off.

First intact Bf109E to fall into allied hands. This aircraft was made serviceable for evaluation by the French but crashed on a test flight at Nancy on October 6. It is believed that it was subsequently repaired and passed to the RAF on 22 December, being flown from Coulommiers to Tangmere, en-route to the A&AEE Boscombe Down, by W/C J.F.X. McKenna. Grounded at Tangmere by weather and refuelling problems it never arrived at Boscombe Down and its ultimate fate is unknown."

Surely someone knows the fate of an aircraft as important as this one, the first captured Bf109E to reach Britain. Who knows what happened to this a/c? How could it just mysteriously disappear from the records?

Regards,
Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator