photographs of crashed Do17 U5+DA on ebay.

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Thanks Matti you beat me to it.

Norbert

[Bf 110]

Thanks Larry for your statement. I was not aware that only nose band was the unit insignia. So thank you for the clarification.
I've looked on a map. If the caption is right, there are two crash sites in Saargebiet:

1940-05-09, Stabsst./KG 2, Do 17Z, Bei Homburg/Saar, Notlandung infolge Beschuß durch feindliche Jäger. Bruch 80 % (So my line of thought about the damage was totally wrong. )

and

1940-05-18, Stabsst./KG 2, Do 17Z, Bei Rehlingen, Notlandung infolge Motorschaden. Bruch 40 %.

I also searched for churches in the area. I found this in Rehlingen: http://www.gastgeber-eifel.de/bildan...0Siersburg.jpg It looks similar, but difficult to say if this is it.

Kind regards,
Bf 110

[David E. Brown]

Hi Larry,

The various bands seen on Luftwaffe bombers (He 111, Ju 88 and Do 17) in early 1940 were tactical markings used to identify the Gruppe to which they were assigned in their respective Geschwader, and not formal unit insignia / wappen per se:
· Diagonal encircling nose band ahead of the cockpit = KG 2
· Diagonal fuselage band behind the wing trailing edge = KG 54
· Vertical fuselage band behind the wing trailing edge = KG 76
These markings were of varying widths (20-30 cm) and coloured accordingly: blue = Stab, white = I., red = II., yellow = III., blue = IV, green = V.

Photographic evidence suggests that these markings were phased out prior to Barbarossa, though in late 1944 were seen again on a number of Me 262s operating with KG (J) 54. Here, they appeared as a diagonal stripe on the fuselage side from below the windscreen to the wing trailing edge. They too were phased in early April 1945 when they were assigned the blue and white RV karoband.

I might also suggest reviewing Band I of Ulf Balke’s opus on KG 2 for possible additional information on this aircraft and action:

Balke, Ulf, 1990.
Der Luftkrieg in Europa: Die operativen Einsätz des Kampfgeschwaders 2 im Zweiten Weltkrieg.
Bernard & Graefe, Koblenz (2 volumes).

Cheers,

David

PS: I would check my copies for you if I could but am taking a break here at work!

D.

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by Bf 110

1940-05-18, Stabsst./KG 2, Do 17Z, Bei Rehlingen, Notlandung infolge Motorschaden. Bruch 40 %.

I also searched for churches in the area. I found this in Rehlingen: http://www.gastgeber-eifel.de/bildan...0Siersburg.jpg It looks similar, but difficult to say if this is it.

Kind regards,
Bf 110

Good evening Matti !

Since I'm very often due to my job in the area , I'd like to say almost certainly, that this incident took place in Rehlingen near Beckingen on the Saar-River, Germany.

The aircraft landed at the Wester banks of the Saar-river, facing it's nose in Western direction.

On photo # 5, you can see in the (closer) background a wooded area from the center to the right edge of the picture. This is a wooded ridge between Sarrfels and Beckingen on the Eastern bank of the Saar-river. The more far away-located hill (center to left edge of the picture) and it's visible houses are from Saarfels amd Menningen.

On photo # 2, you can see much clearer the first houses of Menningen on the higher hill.

On the photo with the ail-section, you can see the church of Rehlingen.

Now go and have a look at Google-Earth !

On my opinion, no doubts, that this Do-17 landed at Rehlingen/Saar.

Best regards !

Horst Weber

[Bf 110]

Although I'm not Matti , I have to say danke Horst for your reply.

Regards,
Bf 110