Bf109 loss 7th January 1942

[Andy Saunders]

Originally Posted by RT

The level of our interest, dear Andy

rémi

???

[alex crawford]

Hi Tomislav,

Thanks for the extra info.

Andy,

The 263 Sqn ORB for 7th Jan 1942 states that two Whirlwinds were scrambled after two Bf109s. One of the bandits suffered engine failure and the pilot baled out and was captured.

My interest in the Bf109 was simply to determine the name of the pilot and what unit he was from. This would be added to my history of 263 Sqn.

However from the replies this would seem to have been an interesting event as it was a recce flight and was subsequently excavated. From a historians point of view it would be interesting to learn more about this episode.

Regards,

Alex

[David Ransome]

Hi Andy,

I think RT is meaning that everyone would be interested! Do you have a bulk photocopying facility? (Only joking!) Good to see you appearing on the TOCH site especially with all your aviation archaeology and research experience!

Regards,

David

[RT]

Thks DR , to hv read between the lines


remi

[Chris Going]

Folks might like to know some of T's reconnaissance imagery taken on other sortiers survives. The usual places -Portsmouth, Plymouth etc. The quality of the interpretation is pretty execrable though -bog standard photo 'reading'. Incidentally the a/c was the last 109E downed over the UK.

Best


Chris

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by alex crawford

the pilot baled out, being captured near Tracey Bovey.

For the record (and if you're trying to find it on a map) it's Bovey Tracey, not the other way round.

[alex crawford]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for that, my mistake.

Alex

[brewerjerry]

Hi Alex,
I never realised the whirlwinds had scrambled for this a/c.
The 109 was first excavated by DARRT, ( devon based recovery group) and later Kurt came to england,( invited by that group ), he stayed locally to the crash site, then spent a few days in torquay before returning to germany.
If you want more info I have a file of stuff also, crash report, etc, part extract of a pow interview, also somewhere video footage I made of him during his visit, but it will take sometime to find the box it is in.
The 109 was apparently a specialy modified E-7, not a field conversion, but apparently done in a factory in france.
Official crash site was mardoen woods, n/w buckfastleigh, apparently a lot was recovered and the fuselage (?) left from the local railway station.
The interesting part of the story i think is, that after landing kurt threw his personal leica camera over a hedge, and it was never found....
Cheers
jerry

[alex crawford]

Hi Jerry,

263 Sqn ORB Form 541 for 7th January 1942 reads:

P/O Blackshaw/P7011 and Sgt Lovell/P7003 were scrambled at 1055 to patrol base at 15,000ft. Two photographic ME109Fs were patrolling between Plymouth and Ibsley. One of these crashed through engine failure. Its pilot bailed out sucessfully and was captured near Bovey Tracey. Time down 1130.

As the Bf109s were mentioned in this entry I assumed the Whirwinds had been scrambled/vectored to intercept these two Bf109s.

Alex

[brewerjerry]

Originally Posted by alex crawford

Hi Jerry,

263 Sqn ORB Form 541 for 7th January 1942 reads:

P/O Blackshaw/P7011 and Sgt Lovell/P7003 were scrambled at 1055 to patrol base at 15,000ft. Two photographic ME109Fs were patrolling between Plymouth and Ibsley. One of these crashed through engine failure. Its pilot bailed out sucessfully and was captured near Bovey Tracey. Time down 1130.

As the Bf109s were mentioned in this entry I assumed the Whirwinds had been scrambled/vectored to intercept these two Bf109s.

Alex

Hi Alex,
You're right, I never connected the info together, a touch of the 'dooh', by me..
cheers
jerry