Interesting French Gendarmerie report about a crashed Ju 88

[Jérémie Tarpon]

Hello everyone,

Researching something else, I came upon a French Gendarmerie report dated February 10, 1943, that raises an interesting question. It describes the discovery of wreckage from a Junkers 88, in a very dense forest area near the hamlet of La Neuville-aux-Haies, Hautes-Rivières (Ardennes). The crash site is close to the Belgian border and the remains of two crew members were found nearby.

The following markings were recorded on the wreck (reproduced here as written in the report): "Norddeutsche Dornier Werke – Nachbau Junker – série J.V. 88 – R.I-H.N – 8.88.302 – B.N.R. 4299 – Abnahme 12.40." and on a wing: "3.Z + 40".
According to the report, the crash likely occurred on the night of May 20, 1942, during an air battle in which a British bomber was shot down at a place called "Le Petit Sabot", in the Aiglemont area. This seems to match the loss of a Halifax of No. 35 Squadron, serial W7658, destroyed near Aiglemont at 00:55 on May 20, 1942, by Lt. Friedrich Gräff of 9./NJG 4. However, the only German night fighter loss that night AFAIK is a Messerschmitt Bf 110 that crashed near St. Trond after colliding with a Stirling of No. 7 Squadron.

Since the code 3Z is generally associated with KG 77 (but what about "3Z+40", should we read "3Z+AO"?), the crashed Ju 88 is probably unrelated with the events of May 20, 1942. Maybe one of our Ju 88 experts has some clue about the identity of this plane?

Best wishes,

Jérémie