Stuka lost in Gembloux (Belgium)

[legrosherve]

Hi ClinA,

I hear the same story about Pinteville. Atytyached is the (bad) picture of the aircraft beleived to be the Pintevelille one. Not very clear for idenification, I agree....

By the way, if someone else a better picture....

Hervé

[Larry Hickey]

Hervé,

Thanks for the two photos. It appears certain to me that the two photos are of the same aircraft, T6+DS. Although the prop blade is rotated to a different position the tail wheel on both are propped up on a box or cinder block so they are certainly the same. Was the second taken by a local resident, as opposed to a German? The first one indicates that numerous people had worn a path around the plane, indicating that it might have been there a while. This could still be Dill's a/c. We need more information to be able to confirm the details on this one.

Regards,

[Larry Hickey]

Hervé,

After reviewing your photos and other information, Peter Cornwell has concluded that evidence is sufficient to add this entry to our EOE Luftwaffe loss Data Base:

"15 May 1940: 8./StG2 Junkers Ju87B. Believed damaged by Hurricanes during attack on armour near Gentinnes and reportedly forced-landed on Ferme de Penteville, 2 km west of Gembloux, Belgium, at 2.00 p.m. FF Uffz Valerian Dill and BF Uffz Fritz Liebberenz both unhurt. Aircraft T6+DS damaged but repairable. (Photos)
This crew was picked up almost immediately by two other aircraft of the unit that landed nearby and returned to base carrying one extra crewman apiece.(TOCH 2/11 & Gillet RAF claims via Pieter H)"

Does anyone see any evidence that this a/c carried the 8 Staffel insignia on the forward fuselage? I don't see it in either photo.

I want to thank you again for posting these photos and Pieter Hooijmans for connecting these to the Uffz Valerian Dill information in Gillet's British victories book. Dill's FB for this period still exists, although I only have the Polish Campaign part at present. Once I obtain a copy of the Western Campaign part, this may resolve this question without any doubt. Someone else who has a copy of the Dill FB for 15 May, may post an entry here to resolve this, providing it gives us the a/c code.

Regards,

[ClinA-78]

In order to be clear,

This Stuka crash-landed some 800 m North of Pinteville farm.

Another Ju 87 seems to have crashed 150 m South of the same farm. At least, one airman was killed and a bomb unearthed in the crater made by the aircraft. I have found some tiny pieces, unfortunately not reliable to ascribe the Ju 87 identity.

Best regards

ClinA-78

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Thanks for the clarification. When you say "800 m N of Pinteville farm," do you mean the main farm buildings, but still on the same farm? Who owned the land where it actually landed? Did it come down on a farm field that was part of Pinteville farm or some other nearby farm?

Can anyone else (Hervé?) help with the identification of the second incident described above by ClinA-28?

Regards,



Regards,

[ClinA-78]

Hello,

Yes, I use the Pinteville farm ("la ferme de Pinteville", thus the main buildings) as a landmark on a quite flat area to localize the crashes. I don't know who owned the present field, even if it is the property of the Pinteville farm. The forced-landing area is situated at righthand of the road leading from Grand-Manil to Cortil-Noirmont.
The farm is itself situated near the 'table d'orientation de la Bataille de Gembloux'

[legrosherve]

Dear All,

many thanks for your support and the clear answers. I am very happy if I xould had help. I contacted Arnaud Gillet, but he doesn't have more info on that...

I hope that the pilot log book would be available soon to confirm the whole story...

Hervé

[legrosherve]

Second message : I have found other (very bad) pictures of aircraft believed to have been downed in the area of gembloux. May be some of them are in the database and could help to resolve the story of ClinA-78. i will have a look to what I have and post them. I also heart abpout this story of the other aircraft downed not far.

Hervé

[Larry Hickey]

ClinA-78 and Hervé, thanks for making available all your work in the Gembloux area. I'm sure that this will result in a much clearer picture of what happened in that area in 1940. I look forward to seeing Hervé's additional info & photos.

Warm regards,

[legrosherve]

Hello,

here are what I know :

According to the book of Fançois and Labarre, a Do 17 crashed near lonzee in 1940, may 11.

betwween 14-16 May 1940 :

Stuka 1 : crashed in german area afterbeing hit by DCA from I/2 RTM
Stuka 2 : damaged and landed in the french lines. pilot was salvaged by friendly aircraft before being captured by french troops (Dill's aircraft - knowm now)
Stuka 3 and stuka 4 : downed by DCA from CAB2 and 6 Company, French troops.
In the same book, Testimony of local people : a stuka badly damaged was found with the remains of 2 german body, in the small wood just behind Sart Ernage farm. The 2 crews were burried at the N-O corner of the wood and some days later, a german wife came on the graves.

attached 2 very bad pictures of unidentified stuka and Do-17, believed downed in the area.

If someone has info on the pictures or on the fate of the aircrafts described here above, please let me know... or if some better pictures exists....

Hervé