Stuka lost in Gembloux (Belgium)

[Pieter H]

I think the other Stuka that crashed near the ferme de Pinteville could have been the one from 9./StG2. This is what Peter Cornwell says about this crash (plus my addition on the crew names):

9./StG2 Junkers Ju87B. Shot down by RAF fighters during attack on armour near Gentinnes west of Gembloux 2.05 p.m. FF Uffz Fritz Urban and BF Obergefr Arno Brandt killed. Aircraft a write-off.

Again quoting from Gillet (VCB p206) and translated in English:

"[Dill] In the meantime I try to put my aircraft on fire using a 1 kg incendary bomb that I always had with me. Above me the air battle rages. A Stuka is shot down burning and crashes straight into the ground. At the moment of impact the petrol tanks in the wings explode. Everything is on fire".

Since Gentinnes is 2.5 km west of Gembloux this seems to fit. Plus the fact that the two crew members were killed in the crash. This would then mean, however, that the picture from the last post showing a burned Stuka is probably not belonging to this crash.

Pieter

[ClinA-78]

Nice observation Pieter, dat klopt!

ClinA-78

[Larry Hickey]

Hello all,

Based upon the information presented in this discussion Peter Cornwell has revised his entry in our EOE Luft DB for the 9./StG2 loss near Gembloux on 15.05.40 as follows:

"May 15, 1940: 9./StG2 Junkers Ju87B-1. Shot down by Hurricanes during attack on armour near Gentinnes and crashed in wood off Rue du Sart, south of Ernage, 2 km north-west of Gembloux, 2.05 p.m. FF Uffz Fritz Urban and BF Obergefr Arno Brandt both killed. Aircraft 100% write-off. (TOCH 2/11 & Gillet RAF claims via Pieter H)"

This now accounts for two of the at least four aircraft apparently referred to in this post thread. I agree with "ClinA-78" that the other Ju87B photo posted by "legrosherve" is probably not this loss, but is possibly one of the other Stukas referred to in the book by François and Labarre. Does anyone have any thoughts on the identity of this one or any of the others in that book? Does anyone have any further photos of the crashed Do17 tail, or suggestions of the identity of this loss other than perhaps a crash near Lonzee on May 11th?

We're on a roll here, and it would be great if we could identify all these photos and assign specific incidents to them. This just goes to show again that local knowledge and investigations often reveal, as would be expected, a great deal more than what is known from the Luft QM and other German records.

Also, does anyone have any photos of the remains of the Ju87B of Uffz Fritz Urban, down in the woods off the Rue du Sart, South of Ernage and near Gembloux? As far as I know, we have no photos of this one in the EOE Luft photo DB. This one was probably smashed to pieces, but there may have been some identifiable remains to photograph.

Regards,