crash on 27 March 1944 between Pau and Lourdes

[Jim P.]

The Schönrock loss was the only recorded loss from a 'training' unit I had for that day, not that my list is anywhere near complete. I have two JG 2 losses for that day, but my knowledge of the geography of France is definitely lacking. Does anyone have the details for the Udo Wohlfeld loss?

Bf 109G-6, 110356, Stratmann, FhjOfw. Willi, , , 8., JG 2, , , , , 27-Mar-44, WIA due to Luftkampf. FSA., DKiG., FR, Ring, JG 2 loss list, p.22, , westlich Nantes, 100%, F, , ,
Bf 109G-6, 162018, Harnisch, Ltn. Wolfgang, , , 8., JG 2, , , RW+BS, , 27-Mar-44, WIA due to Luftkampf. FSA., , FR, Ring, JG 2 loss list, p.22, , Ancenis, 100%, F, , ,

[gilles collaveri]

Hi Jim,

Ancenis is close to Nantes, so not at all in the Pau/Tarbes area;

Here are the coins found on site. Dated 1924.

Moving items...

Best regards.

GC

[gilles collaveri]

more pictures of parts found.

FL20512-2 indicator can be Me109E or FW190A, right?

any idea on the other parts is welcome too.

GC

[gilles collaveri]

Hi guys,

it appears that the aircraft crashed during the night between the 27 and the 28th march, so it may be recorded the day after ie 28th March.

May I ask you (when you have some time) to have a look at your archives on the 28 march 1944 ?

thanks a lot and have a lovely sunday

GC.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Gilles,
I found a Mosquito XIII ( serial HK425 from 96 Squadron ) for a Fw 190 at sea on the night of 27/28 March 1944...but it seems rather "out of the picture" here....The other Mosquito claims for that night are twins and over Germany,etc...This Fw 190 also may have come from SKG 10...so out of picture here.
Could the year of the coin ( 1924 ) give us a clue about the birth date of the airman?
Let's see...
Yours
Adriano

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks for your efforts, Adriano.

year of the coin as an indication ? not sure it brings any clue: coins were circulating.

Now, I feel I definitely must find the actual answer, taking in consideration all the efforts provided by you all!

I may have some clues with a local elderly lady who has a part of the watch of the pilot, fragments of his glasses and other part of the aircraft.

I hope I shall be able to go there in a couple of weeks.

So, I keep you waiting but I assure that I shall let you know what I find.

All the best, & cheers;

GC

[gilles collaveri]

Hi Adriano, and Hi to the other readers too,

here is the latest news: the aircraft was an Arado96B3.

Look at the parts hereattached.

Pressure indicator, spinner portions, airframe parts, machine gun, all very carateristic.

So, we now have no doubt about the aircraft identity, we only have to find the date of the crash and the pilot name.

It clearly was beginning of 1944: if any of you has some information about a crashed AR96 Near Lourdes/Tarbes beginning 1944, I take it !

Thanks and have a nice friday.

GC

[RT]

6 3 44 2 JG101 Pontacq 7 km W Ossun A b, Nachtflug Bordw, Beschuß AR96B-3 964379 We22 100 x Wesser hans ofhr f

Rémi

[Matti Salonen]

This is the only possibility:
1944-03-06, 2./JG 101, Ar 96B-3, 964379, 22 weiße, Pontacq, 7 km westlich Ossun und 24 km südöstlich Pau, Absturz bei Nachtflug infolge Bordwaffenbeschuß. Bruch 100 %.
Flugschüler Ofhr Wesser, Hans, tot
Grab: Berneuil/Frankreich, Block 4, Reihe 28, Grab 1497

Matti

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks a thousand Remi and Matti,

A question: what do the following hereunder mean ?

"Absturz bei Nachtflug infolge Bordwaffenbeschuß"

"destruction during nichtflight following... ?? .. "

Now, if somebody has information about Hans Wesser or his family, I am interested (I would like to contact his family).

Have a good week-end.

GC