The Eagles Over Europe Project

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

For the EoE a/c profile project, I have two photos of what must be the a/c of Maj. Ernst Ott, the Gr Kdr of I./ZG2. He was appointed Gr Kdr on 27.05.40 and shot down and killed on 11.08.40 during the early part of the Battle of Britain, presumably in this a/c, which was coded 3M+AB and carried two victory tabs on the fin, neither of which are documented in records for I./ZG2.

The first photo shows a fairly developed airfield facility, probably either very late in the Western/French Campaign, in Germany before the beginning of the Battle of Britain, or at a French airfield during the first weeks of the Battle of Britain. Someone may well recognize this place, which should allow us to accurately date this location.

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-L8f...-L8fTjf6-L.jpg

The second photo, which may be the same place or somewhere else, shows the same a/c in front of two hangars that are both painted with a forest of trees as camouflage. Never seen anything quite like this before this early in the war. This is distinctive enough that someone probably will recognize where this is.

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-8M6...-8M6Dmb9-L.jpg

The time line when I think that these must have been taken show the unit based at the following locations, all in France:

1) Neufchateau: 25.05.40 - 22.06.40
2) Toussus le Noble: 22.06.40 - 21.07.40
3) Caen-Carpiquet: 21.07.40 - 06.08.40
4) St Aubin-Thiberville: 06.08.40 - 28.08.40 (probably can't be after 11.08.40, when Ott was shot down.

Of course, these could have been taken at some other airfields, during a stop-over, commander's conference, etc.

Since neither of the two victory tabs on the fin of this a/c are documented in unit records, does anyone have any information when and where these refer?

This a/c clearly has a red lightning bolt, possibly outlined in white, on the nose of the a/c. This lightning bolt has also been observed on an a/c (3M+AA) of the Geschwader Kde of ZG2, Maj. Vollbrecht. A yellow lightning bolt was known to have been used early on by the Gruppenstab of II./ZG26. Does anyone know if the Stab of I./ZG2 used a red lightning bolt as a Gruppenstab insignia? Likewise did the Geschwaderstab of ZG2 use this as an insignia during the spring or summer of 1940?

Does anyone know of any other photos of Ott's a/c, 3M+AB, especially the starboard side, or any of the successor's a/c thorough the end of Sept, 1940, when the unit was dissolved and the personnel and a/c adsorbed into the forming night fighter units.

Ott's immediate acting successor, the 2 Sta Kap, Hptm Hans-Peter Kübel, was shot down and killed in 3M+MK, the very next day. He was replaced by Hptm Dr. Christians (acting), and apparently later in August Christians was replaced by Hptm Eberthard Heinlein. Photos of aircraft of any of these pilots, or photos of the men themselves would be most welcome.

Who can help with any of these questions?