The Eagles Over Europe Project

[udf_00]

I paused the film at 01:28, and it looks like the pic, just taken nearer the buildings.

[F19Gladiator]

Comparing with the film at 01:28 I'd say it is a match with the photo in Post#1! Several building details can be recognized on both photo and film.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Thanx for all of your comments and help. So it appears pretty firmly established that the photo of L1+XB was taken at Villacoublay. Now my problem, for profile sequencing, is when. This couldn't be earlier than the latter part of June, 1940, after the airfield was captured, or later than the beginning of September, 1940 (pilot shot down and KIA 27.09.40 and white noses by early Sept on unit aircraft). Does anyone have any photos of this area of Villacoublay right after it was captured? My presumption is that at least for a while there would be evidence of the defeated French Air Force on the field, but I don't see any sign of that. There is at least a two-month time window here when damaged or destroyed French aircraft could have been cleared from the airfield, and at least preliminary repairs could have been made to bomb damage to make the field suitable for bomber operations during the BoB (I think part of KG55 was based there). The question comes down to is this late or end WC/FC (06.40) or early BoB (07-08.40)?

Any further evidence or thoughts?

Regards,

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

We have just revised our EoE Loss entry for this incident:

"7 December 1939 Home Front Amend: 3./KüFlGr.906 Heinkel He59 (0840). Crashed on third attempt to take-off from Norderney on night mine-laying sortie when port float hit a wave 7.30 p.m. BO Oberlt zur See Klaus Toball (Staffel Ia), [...] Coenen, BF Uffz Kurt Mommertz, and [..] Sobotta all unhurt. Aircraft 8L+UL 60% damaged but repairable."

Can anyone supply the first names and crew positions of Coenen and Sobotta. I presume that one of these was the pilot? Our information source is the unit KTB, which we've just translated.

We have the same problem with the first name of the BM Fw [...] Burzlaff of 8L+OL, WNr.2603, whose He59 from the same unit overturned at Norderney on 8 December.

Also, does anyone know of any photos of these incidents, or photos of these a/c at times other than the loss/damage events? This includes a 50% damaged 8L+SL, W.Nr. 2595, of the same unit that was also damaged by hitting a sandbank on 08.12.39 at Norderney. No crew info for this a/c is known.

Thanx for any assistance.

[Matti Salonen]

Olt Werner Coenen, Flugzeugführer
Fw Franz Sobotta, Bordmechaniker

Matti

[Larry Hickey]

Matti,

Thanx. Will revise our entry.

Nothing on first name of Fw Burzlaff?

[Seaplanes]

The W.Nr. of 8L+UL was 1840. It was an Arado-built He 59D that was received by Walther Bachmann Flugzeugwerke in Ribnitz on 13.01.1940 for conversion to full He 59N ASR configuration. This work took about seven months.

[Larry Hickey]

Seaplanes,

Thanx. I'll make sure that Peter C. picks this up.

Do you know of photos of any of these planes?

[Chris Goss]

This is a photo taken by a recce crewman and on the back of the original says Villacoublay. Take your pick!

[Merlin]

Larry,

It looks like that Villacoublay did not receive large destructions during the FC. From 16.06. to 23.06.40 two groups of JG 26 were based there to be followed by the whole KG 55 on 23.06.40 and the staff of V.Fliegerkorps. Furthermore a repair shop for Ju 88 aircraft was established by Junkers at the same time within the large hangars, this company delivered the first repaired aircraft during early September.

Wasn’t V./LG 1 subordinated to V.Fliegerkorps and Liensberger was there for a meeting at Korps level?