Seeking ID of Ju87B Crashed near Maastricht during WC of 1940

[Larry Hickey]

ClinA-78 & Pieter,

The posted photo is T6+LR, WNr.442, of 7./StG2. The 7./StG2 insignia in clearly evident on the nose, and is visible even in the poor quality photocopy posted above. The best prospect for this one in our EOE DB: "May 12, 1940: 7./StG2 Junkers Ju87B. Believed forced-landed east of St Truiden damaged by No. 3 Squadron Hurricanes during sortie to attack armour near Gembloux 8.30 a.m. Possibly one of those attacked by F/O Bowyer. One of crew wounded. Aircraft a write-off.”

I've corresponded with both Philippe Dufresne and Peter Taghon about this one, with the specific location suggested as the "Les Fourons" area of Belgium. Peter Taghon says "That it should have been shot down by the fire of the Aubin-Neufchateau fort is a fairy tale, these guns simply could not fire in the air!”

An email from Philippe Dufresne said: "Les Fourons " was written on the back of the original picture. I have for information but without evidences that a Ju-87 from 7/St.G.2 was lost on the 12th of May near the village of Looz/Borgloon, just a few miles East of St-Trond, (there are a lot of orchards in this area) but no serial. No Pictures and no markings (so far) so it could be the one in the picture and the place named on the back info is false or another one but if you said there are only one airplane of this unit loss that day ...I will investigate. The only other element is the name of LOOC give in some sources. That name don't exist in Belgium. The closest is LOOZ or LOON who are in the same village of Borgloon.”

So, I would really appreciate any help in pinning down the precise location, date and pilot of this one. Is it the Gembloux loss, or a different one, perhaps one not even recorded in the Luft QM losses reports. I have seven different images of this one in the EOE DB, including a good quality image of the one in the photocopy.

There is another 7./StG2 Ju87B down next to an orchard sometime about this time, T6+FR, WNr.422. This one has the 7 Staffel insignia on the port fuselage, and the III./StG2 insignia on the starboard side in the same position. This is what sparked the question above about the insignias on Oblt. Lau's 8./StG2 aircraft, which remains unresolved. I'm suspecting that by the spring of 1940, III./StG2 used the Gruppe insignia on the starboard nose, and the Staffel insignia on the port side. This is important because we are organizing the art packages for the 1000+ Luftwaffe color aircraft profiles for the EOE book series, and we want these to be definitive and accurate. Any help on these aircraft would be appreciated.

Regards,