Seeking info on two FL Ju87B of 9./StG1, 6G+DT, near Dinant, Belgium, and the other, 6G+JT, in France, during May, 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Despite that fact that German reports of III./StG51 force-landed and damaged a/c during the FC/WC are almost certainly incomplete, we are attempting to ID two 9./StG51 a/c that made wheels down force landings, apparently during May. 1940.

The first, 6G+DT, is well known from many photos that have appeared on eBay, including a copy that has just appeared again.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Sorinnes...-/360907141828

We've pinned the location down to a temporary airfield between Sorinnes and Foy-Notre-Dame, just east of Dinant, Belgium. Since the photos show the a/c intact and not heavily souvenired with the swastikas removed, this suggest that this happened around the time of, or after the Germans captured the Dinant area, which is presently unknown to me.

There is only one III./StG51 report that could apply: 20% damage on 12.05.40. However, there is no way to know if this reflects this incident. All the other unit reports are 60% or more damage, indicating a write-off, which also could be how this a/c was initially reported.

We know the W.Nr. of the a/c was 5179, so we know that it was flown at least once by a pilot named Willy Grams back during the summer of 1939. We also know that this a/c was subsequently recovered, repaired and put back into service, showing up with StG2 at Graz in the spring of 1941.

Can anyone provide any further clues that might allow us to date when this a/c force landed? I know that it is a very long shot, but does anyone have any crew info, or know the circumstances that forced this a/c down? Was III./StG51 ever based just E of Dinant, even briefly?

The second incident involved 6G+JT, auctioned a few weeks ago on eBay.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/A428-Frankrei...p2047675.l2557

The seller caption, which is often wrong, says that this FL happened in France. Does anyone have other photos of this incident, or perhaps know anything about date, location and crew?

Both of these Stukas carried the 9./StG51 "Ace of Hearts" emblem on the cowling, which dates back to 1939, which in June of 1940, before the end of the FC/WC, was replaced by the new devil-riding-a-bomb insignia.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,