The Eagles Over Europe Project

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm trying to ID this Ju87B crash, reported to be in the Monthrme area, in the Ardennes, probably early in the Western Campaign of May, 1940. Does anyone know this crash or have additional photos of the severed rear fuselage that would help ID the a/c codes?

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-QnC...-QnCp62f-L.jpg

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-xk5...-xk5zHDk-L.jpg

Any help would be appreciated.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

For the EoE Project, I'm looking for photos that document the crashes of these four V.(Z)/LG1 losses early in the Western Campaign in France. Can anyone help?

11 May 1940:

14.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Badly damaged in attack by Lt Zerovnicky of GC I/8 during escort sortie over St-Mihiel. Caught fire during return flight, abandoned over Lenoncourt, and crashed at Cerville, France, 6.35 a.m. BF Uffz Willi Fabian killed. FF Lt Hans Leickhardt baled out and captured badly wounded – later released. Aircraft 100% write-off.

16 May 1940:

15.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Shot down by Lt Bouysse of GC I/8 in combat over La Fère during escort for reconnaissance sortie and crashed west of Rogécourt 5.55 a.m. FF Lt Georg Schwarzer and BF Obergefr Fritz Petrich both killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.

17 May 1940:

14.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Shot down in combat with Hurricanes of No.1 Squadron 10km west of Reims during escort for KG2 10.35 a.m. FF Uffz Friedrich Schmitt and BF Obergefr Heinz Schmidt both killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.

14.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Shot down in combat with Hurricanes of No.1 Squadron 10km west of Reims during escort for KG2 and believed crashed at Rosnay 10.35 a.m. FF Oberlt Werner Methfessel (Staffelkapitän) and BF Uffz Heinz Resener both killed. Aircraft L1+LK 100% write-off.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Can anyone provide photos of this aircraft? It turns out that we don't have copies of the photos of this a/c in the EoE photo DB, and this will likely be a color profile. At least three photos exist of the cockpit area taken while it was at the RAE for evaluation, and there are at least two other photos of it known while it was at Oaklington being readied for transport to Farnborough.

Here is the "G-Report" on this incident:

19 September 1940:
"Ju.88A/1. Crashed at OAKLINGTON, LONG STANTON Aerodrome, near CAMBRIDGE (Map reference L.88686) on 19.9.40 at 1600 hours. Identification markings 7A+FM (F black, outlined in white). Made by Junkers Werke, DESSAU. Acceptance date 7.8.40. Crest, an owl wearing spectacles perched on red pencil. Aircraft force landed and is little damaged. Port engine probably failed. A few .303 bullet holes in port engine and in cockpit. Engines Jumo 211. Armament 6 MG.15's. Standard armour plating fitted. Crew 4, prisoners. Three cameras fitted in bomb compartment in fuselage operated from bomb aimers position. No bomb sights and no bomb selector gear fitted. No external bomb racks or dive brakes. In usual position of bomb sight, 3 message tubes are fitted."

Any help would be appreciated.

[Chris Going]

Larry two of the photographs you refer to are published in S J Peskett (1981) 'Strange Intelligence. From Dunkirk to Nuremberg' ISBN 0709189788. I remember them being exterior shots of the a/c being towed or pushed across the airfield, once its undercarriage had been lowered (it bellied in). I don't have a copy so can't answer but they will be credited there. A bit of a long way round but someone may give you the ref...


best

Chris Going

[John Vasco]

Larry,

Luftwaffe Crash Archive, volume 4, pages 459-461.

[Larry Hickey]

Thanx John,

We discussed this on the phone.

Larry

[Chris Going]

Just to be accurate it is, of course, RAF OAKINGTON.

[Larry Hickey]

Chris,

Thanx. Noted and corrected in my files. Still looking for good source of high-res scans of these photos.

[Larry Hickey]

Chris Going,

Thanx for pointing me at "Strange Intelligence." One of the best photos of the FL is in that book, and was not published in the "Luftwaffe Crashes" volume. I've now got scans of these SI images. This will surely be one of our Ju88 color profile a/c. Again, thanx. Would have never been aware of that one unless you'd pointed this one out.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

This unit was nearly wiped out on this final raid over England on 27 Sept 1940. I have photos for the crashes/FL of L1+XB and L1+LL but I'm seeking to document photographically the wreckage of these four other losses that day, for which photos may exist:

"13.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110D-0 (3304). Engaged by fighters over Redhill during sortie to London and shot down in repeated attacks by S/L E.A. McNab and F/O B.D. Russell of No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron, and P/O C.F. Currant of No.605 Squadron. Dived into the ground behind ‘The Gale’ at Chelwood Gate in Ashdown Forest 9.40 a.m. Probably also that attacked by F/L J.M. Strickland and F/L J.E.J. Sing of No.213 Squadron. FF Fw Adolf Bruns and BF Gefr Franz Gröbl both killed. Aircraft L1+CH 100% write-off.
Originally buried in All Saints churchyard at Danehill, Adolf Bruns was repatriated to Germany for reburial postwar. Site excavated by the Wealden Aviation Archaeological Group in 1973. Remains of Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine recovered with manufacturer’s badge. Bullet-scarred propeller blade recovered in 1940 also donated by a local resident. Site investigated by the London Air Museum which excavated a propeller boss with one blade and a map box containing remains of four charred maps. Propeller blade and map box now in the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.

14.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C-2 (3548). Engaged by fighters over Redhill during sortie to London and believed that which exploded under attack by F/O A.F. Eckford of No.253 Squadron and crashed on Coppice Farm at Three Cups, Dallington, near Heathfield, 9.50 a.m. Possibly also that claimed by P/O A.G. Lewis of No.249 Squadron. FF Fw Friedrich Lindemann killed, BF Obergefr Artur Hübner baled out but parachute failed and killed. Aircraft L1+CK 100% write-off.
Site investigated by the Wealden Aviation Archaeological Group in 1975 and mainspar recovered from nearby ditch.

15.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110D-0 (3147). Intercepted by fighters during free-lance sortie over Redhill and attacked by many pilots including F/O P.W. Lochnan of No.1 (RCAF) Squadron, Sgt R.D. Hogg of No.17 Squadron, Sgt H.J.R. Barrow of No.213 Squadron, and P/O W.P. Hopkin of No.602 Squadron. Pursued at low level over Gatwick aerodrome where engaged by ground defences and crashed in flames and exploded 10.00 a.m. FF Oberlt Ulrich Fr von Gravenreuth (Staffelkapitän) and BF Fw Otto Reinhold both killed. Aircraft L1+BL 100% write-off.

15.(Z)/LG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C-2 (3849). Engaged by fighters during free-lance sortie over Redhill and starboard engine set alight and gunner killed in attacks by P/O D.C. Leary of No.17 Squadron, F/O W. Urbanowicz of No.303 Squadron, S/L H.A.V. Hogan of No.501 Squadron, and F/O P.P.C. Barthropp of No.602 Squadron. Abandoned aircraft crashed and burned out at Horham Manor Farm, near Horam, 9.50 a.m. Believed that also attacked by P/O W.B. Pattullo of No.46 Squadron. FF Uffz Hans Bechthold baled out and captured slightly wounded, BF Uffz Hans Koch killed. Aircraft L1+GL a write-off.
This was a 14 Staffel crew flying a 15 Staffel aircraft."