The Eagles Over Europe Project

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

For captioning and profile dating purposes, I'm trying to ID the large industrial complex visible below the Bf110 in these photos. The plane is L1+XB of Hptm Horst Liensberger, the Gr Kdr of V.(Z)/LG1.

This could be a practice flight over Germany during the spring of 1940, or later during the Western Campaign or the Battle of Britain. However, I suspect that this probably was in Germany as it would seem suicidal for a heavy fighter to be overflying at such low level what would have been a heavily defended target in France or Britain. Nevertheless, does anybody recognize this very large industrial facility?

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-tzB...-tzBDrJf-L.jpg

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-GHr...-GHrTFrM-L.jpg

[Horst Weber]

Good evening Larry !

In the front of the photo, you may see something like a river or a canal. In the center, before the industrial complex start, you see a huge coal dump. Between the coal dump and the industrial buildings, probably rail tracks are visible.

The scene looks like a steel-work with a considerable large coal-mine close to.

It could be in May+ 1940, since the trees are in full leafe.

It is possible, that the photo shows a steel-work in the northern part of the Ruhrgebiet (Germany) with free visibility to the flat landscape of the Münsterland in the North of the Ruhrgebiet.

Best wishes !

Horst Weber

[Larry Hickey]

Horst,

Thanx for your observations. You may be right about this being a steel plant in Germany. The large "coal pile" may also be a giant slag heap from the steel production process. I've seen something similar adjacent to a large steel plant in southern Colorado here in the USA.

If it is a steel plant someone ought to be able to recognize it.

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by Larry Hickey

Horst,

Thanx for your observations. You may be right about this being a steel plant in Germany. The large "coal pile" may also be a giant slag heap from the steel production process. I've seen something similar adjacent to a large steel plant in southern Colorado here in the USA.

If it is a steel plant someone ought to be able to recognize it.

Well , Larry forgive me,

It could also be a flight, departed at Mannheim-Sandhofen, still climbing and watching the BASF chemical-works at Ludwigshafen-on-the-Rhine. Would make more sense. But still no building ore chimney identified.

Best regards

Horst Weber

[Larry Hickey]

Horst,

That would make a lot of sense, as V.(Z)/LG1 was based at Mannheim-Sandhofen AF from 11.39 to 13.05.40. The markings on the aircraft are consistent with what I would expect for the beginning of the WC.

There must be photos of such a famous wartime plant available that would allow us to confirm the location.

Who can confirm this location?

[Kutscha]

Aerial view at the bottom of the article,
http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/...925-1944/index

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I've had several people email me photos of BASF at Ludwigshafen in 1939, and they don't seem to match the photos posted above, especially the row of four smokestacks in a row. Can't find them in those photos. So it doesn't seem to be the BASF plant.

So, it must be another place, perhaps a German steel mill. Any more suggestions?

Regards,

Larry

[lilsis]

Hi,

Maybe it is something like leuna Werk Oil from coal



http://www.naumburg-geschichte.de/bilder/leuna/silo.jpg

[AndreasB]

I think the angle would fit very well with a north-westerly take-off from Sandhofen, with the BASF works to the left after crossing the Rhine.

All the best

Andreas

[Larry Hickey]

lilsis,

Unfortunately I don't see the big cooling towers in the photos with the plane.

Andreas,

The angle might work on BASF, but we still need to locate those five smokestacks all in a row, which I don't see in 1939 photos of the facility.