The Eagles Over Europe Project

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Am trying to ID this crashed Bf110C:

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-2xZ...-2xZ876S-L.jpg

This is very likely one of the two losses below:

April 22, 1940

15.(Z)/LG1Messerschmitt Bf110C-1. Crashed into houses near Mannheim-Sandhofen, Germany, and burnt out following engine failure on maintenance test flight. (Ff) Oberlt Walter Clausen (Staffelkapitän) and mechanic killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.
Note: "Merlin" has this as L1+AL.


May 12, 1940

13.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Lost control in vertical dive avoiding attacks from, S/Lt Boitelet and Sgt Tallent of GC I/5, also Sgt Guillaume of GC III/7, over Vouziers and hit trees at ‘Nugimont’, south of Blagny, France, at 7.15 a.m. FF Lt Hans Gaffal thrown from aircraft and captured with fractured skull, admitted to hospital in Ste-Menehould, BF Uffz Aloysius Dierkes also captured wounded – both later released. Aircraft L1+AH 100% write-off.


This a/c appears to have a white or yellow "A" on the top of the wing. The vegetation and markings clearly date this to the spring of 1940.


Does anyone have other photos of this crash that might help ID this photo? From this angle, there is no evidence of the houses that the 22.04.40 crash reportedly hit. However, it is hard to see how the pilot and BG of this a/c survived the crash, although both were injured. This photo was kindly provided by Chris Ehrengardt, who may know what the source of it was. If it was a French source, then it is probably the May 12 incident. If a German source, it could be either one.


Thanx for any assistance.