FW-190 A8 of 8 Sturm/JG4 shot down over Belgium during Bodenplatte

[Alexander]

Hello,

I'm looking after complementary information and confirmation about the next aircraft and pilot:

FW-190 A8 of 8 Sturm/JG 4 Wnr 960324, Blau 3+, Base: Babenhausen
Shot down by AAF above Belgium during operation Bodenplatte
Crashlanding - crashplace (Hannut?)
Uffz Tharann Horst (POW?)

Thanks
Alexander

[Flupke]

You'r right near Hannut
A.D.I.(K)62/1945 & A.I.2.(g)266 at 8:45 AA he made a belly landing and became POW
Uffz Tharann Horst (POW) 68417/535
Regards
Phil

[FalkeEins]

Tharan contributed a number of accounts to Eric Mombeek's JG 4 history, including a description of his sortie and downing on 1.1.45...

[John Manrho]

In my opinion Tharann crashed northwest of Geilenkirchen and not near Hannut as his ADI(K) indicates.

Cheers,

John.

[Flupke]

Hello John

I have check the report A.D.I.(k) 62/1945 again and it’s well Hannut !!

“Near Hannut (123337,GsGs 4040,sheet68)
20Mi W of Liege , 1st January 1945 0845 hours”

Regards
Phil

[John Manrho]

Phil,

I am fully aware what the ADI(K) says....the point is that not all crash locations mentioned on ADI(K)'s are accurate. Just an example.....ADI(K) 149 says Uffz. Anetzhuber crashed 4 miles ESE of Helmond. Actually he crashed 5 km SW of Verviers. Just a mix up of grid coordinates.

In the case of Uffz. Tharann the CEA Report no. 266 says his a/c crashed NW of Geilenkirchen. I believe that is true.

Regards,

John.

[Flupke]

Hello John

You are certainly more able than me to talk about the 1st January, so if you have the feeling and most probably documents who confirm that he went down around Geilenkirchen
You must have right.
I will contact Eric for to know more on what Tharan say about what happened that day .

I agree with you that the A.D.I(k) are not the bible !

Regards
Phil

[John Manrho]

Hello Phil,

just want to state as last bit that my opnion is not 100% based on evidence. I just believe the Crashed Enemy Aircraft Reports are more accurate than the ADI(K)'s concerning crashsites. There is also supportive evidence by the fact that another 8. Staffel a/c crashed also north of Aachen around the same time.

cheers,

John.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by John Manrho

I just believe the Crashed Enemy Aircraft Reports are more accurate than the ADI(K)'s concerning crashsites.

I agree because the Tehnical Intelligence Teams actually went out to the crash sites and recorded what they found there. ADI(K) interrogators weren't visiting sites so far as I know because captured personnel were brought to them. They didn't have to go out and find them.

[Flupke]

You’r right because I just put the hand on the A.I.2(g)266 and indeed it state that’s well NW of Geilenkirchen WNr-960324 Blue 3+ which was Tharan’s airplane .
Regards
Phil