Oblt Merz /St.G 2

[Alain57]

15/05/1940
Gembloux Belgium
Ju-87 B-1 Hit by flak and exploded
2./St.G 2
Oblt Merz (KIA)

Who was the other crewmember and what happened with him ?

[Peter Cornwell]

2./StG2 Junkers Ju87B-1. Set alight in attack by P/O van Mentz of No. 504 Squadron over Cortil-Noirmont, north-west of Gembloux, 10.45 a.m. Hptmn Paul Mertz (Staffelkapitän) and Fw Oskar Wagner killed. Aircraft a write-off.

[Alain57]

Thanks a lot Peter for the information.

Alain

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Peter

Reading 12 days in May, Brian does not commit himself WHO shot down who in this battle. Van Mentz (very striking name resemblance to Hptm Mertz!) and John Hardacre both claimed a Stuka at basically the same time and in the same area. How come you are certain that Van Mentz got Mertz?

Alain
From where comes your statement that this Stuka was shot down by flak?? It is interesting, since IF it is from German sources, it may indicate that the Germans never even saw the Hurricanes....

Cheers
Stig

[Peter Cornwell]

Good evening Stig,

It's purely my judgement call but based on rigorous analysis of all the information currently available. Yes, there were two claims by No. 504 Squadron and (conveniently) two corresponding losses by 2./StG2 which I attribute as follows:

2./StG2 Junkers Ju87B-1. Shot down by P/O Hardacre of No. 504 Squadron over Cortil-Noirmont, north-west of Gembloux, 10.45 a.m. Lt K. Brausch and Uffz R. Borrmann both badly wounded. Aircraft a write-off.

2./StG2 Junkers Ju87B-1. Set alight in attack by P/O van Mentz of No. 504 Squadron over Cortil-Noirmont, north-west of Gembloux, 10.45 a.m. Hptmn P. Mertz (Staffelkapitän) and Fw O. Wagner killed. Aircraft a write-off.

[John Beaman]

Hi Peter:

What is the source of your information? No WNrs., I suppose?

Thanks

[Peter Cornwell]

John,

Microfilm copy of the Lw Quartermaster General returns (IWM) checked against Jim Perry's lists, photocopy of the Namentliche Verlustmeldungen for I./StG2 (WASt) checked against German War Graves website (VDK), and reference to No. 504 Squadron Operations Record Book & Appendices held at NA-PRO. No Werk Nummers I'm afraid.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Peter

Can anyone enlighten me why the Germans didn't bother about which individuals they lost in their early battles? And why did they suddenly start? Did they record the WNr some other place, now lost?

Cheers
Stig

[RT]

They as you know,just recording the officiers, maybe to record is just a new thing so you start low nd finish more complete giving the Wn of the MG...nd using the first world ever made computer to make that

The marine seems to hv better habits for recording


Rémi