KG 54 loss - 10 May 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Stijn,

8./KG54 was devastated on 10 May, losing seven aircraft on the opening day of the Blitzkrieg, more than 50% of what would expected to be its strength that day. One fell in the Netherlands, but the other six came down in Belgium. Peter Cornwell's entry from the BoFrT&N has been improved and we presently carry this loss as:

"10 May 1940: 8./KG54 Heinkel He111P-2. Engaged by Hurricanes of Nos. 3, 85, 87 and 607 Squadrons near Courtrai during sortie to attack Wevelgem airfield and crashed in a field along the Groene Sprietstraat in Ruiselede, Belgium, at 7.30 p.m. Possibly that claimed by P/O Jay of No.607 Squadron. BF Obergefr Gerhard Flehmer killed, FF Oberlt Volprecht Riedesel Fr zu Eisenbach, HB Fw Werner Joest, and BM Uffz Eduard Kreiß captured wounded – later released. Aircraft 100% write-off."

Rudi Stessens is our KG54 expert for the "Eagles over Europe" Project. Our team has presently identified photos of two of these losses: B3+AS and B3+BS. We have photos of two more that were probably lost or FL on that day, B3+GS and B3+KS, to which we've never been able to assign a precise location or crew. No W.Nr. known for any of these seven losses.

If you either live in or are knowledgable about this area, you might be able to help us assign specific incidents to our photos, either of which could show the crash at Ruislede. What do you know about this crash? Do you have any photos? Do you live near Ruislede?