The first German loss on French territory in WW II.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

In trying to locate the first German crashes on French territory during WW II, the first two that are certain were on 24 September 1939. However, there was a 3./JG53 Bf109E that came down on 20 September "west of Merzig," Germany, which is very near the border with France, close to the tri-border area with Luxembourg. As best I can determine the French border was only 5 to 7 km west from the center of Merzig. In "Fledgling Eagles" P.62, this Bf109E was reported as "shot down into the lines."

"20 September 1939: 3./JG53 Messerschmitt Bf109E. Shot down by Sgt Legrand of GC II/5 in combat west of Merzig and crashlanded in flames 1.55 p.m. (Ff) Uffz Martin Winkler badly burned, died four days later. Aircraft a write-off."

I'm trying to confirm that the aircraft actually fell on the German side of the border. Since Uffz Winker was apparently recovered by the Germans and undoubtedly hospitalized, and there is no indication that he bailed out, I would assume that the plane also came down on German territory. Does anyone have any information to confirm this, and do photos possibly exist of this crash or Uffz Winker?