Seeking Staffel for I.(Z)/LG1 Bf110C crew loss 4.10.39

[Peter Cornwell]

Gentlemen,

Have finally got around to this query following modem failure, illness, and prolonged Christmas festivities - my apologies for the delay. It does seem clear that there has been some confusion in interpreting these early losses to V.(Z)/LG1 but I am satisfied that the photo lately acquired by Larry indeed relates to the following casualty:

4 October 1939: 14.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C-1. Flew into ferry-boat cable and crashed in the River Main while low-flying near Grossheubach, north of Miltenberg. FF Oberlt Heinz Höhler and BF Uffz Ernst Krenz both killed. Aircraft 100% write-off. (EOE photo & TOCH 12/10)

Thanks to Matti Salonen we can now be reasonably sure of the following:

16 October 1939: 13.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C-1. Abandoned 8 km west of Alzey after port engine caught fire and crashed near Nieder-Wiesen. FF Oberlt Joachim Glienke baled out landing injured, BF Uffz Walter Titzck killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.
After the Polish Campaign, V.(Z)/LG1 had transferred to Würzburg on October 4 for operations over the western front.

The reference to a further loss on 16 December 1939 cannot be further substantiated and, given its similarities and likely confusion with the 16 October loss, this has been deleted from our database.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Guys

I have just one problem and that is with the unit itself. Taghon places the date of I.(Z)/LG 1 to V.(Z)/LG 1 on Nov 1st 1939, ie the same date when the new bomber group was formed.
From this discussion it seems the true date is earlier, perhaps already on October 1st. Can this be pinpointed exactly and why is Taghon one month off side?

Cheers
Stig
PS: Thanks for the detective work