Crashlanded Bf.110, 23rd April 1944

[Hans Nauta]

Dear all,

There is a remote chance that this query can be solved, but perhaps someboy has a clue on file.

On 23rd April 1944 at 17.00 hrs a Bf.110 made a crashlanding near Slootdorp, polder Wieringen, North West Holland. According to a local report the aircraft was damaged and one of the two occupants slightly wounded.

This crashlanding is not mentioned in Deutsche Nachtjagd - Materialverlust in Ausbildung und Einsatz by Michael Balss.

It may have been a Bf.110 of III/NJG1 which were active in this region during that period.

Thanks in advance,
Hans Nauta

[John Beaman]

Hans:

Not sure where this location is, but is this a possibility?

Bf 110G-4, 730013, Laue, Ogefr. Willi, 2.NJG 3, 23-Apr-44, WIA by own Flak. 1 other WIA., Höhler, Deutsche Nachtjagd Personalverluste, p.68, Wiemeringhausen

[Hans Nauta]

Dear John,

What a quick reply!
Well, Wiemeringhausen is actually a real place in Germany, but I've experienced more than once that unknown foreign placenames, certainly when written in Sütterlin handwriting, were mistaken for existing German placenames: Wieringen/Wieringermeer <=> Wiemeringhausen, perhaps possible...

Could anybody else perhaps acknowledge whether the Bf.110 mentioned by John indeed crashed in Germany? If not, this may be a candidate for the one crashedlanded near Wieringen/Wieringermeer in The Netherlands.

Thanks a lot John, something to work on with!

Hans

[John Beaman]

Well, I thought as much. But there are also a couple of G-2s listed as crashed in Neusiedler See with one having WIA even though the machine is 100%. But, I do not know where Neusiedler See is.

[John Manrho]

Hans, the Bf 110 0f 2./NJG 3 crashed near Brilon/Germany, this is not your aircraft.

cheers,

John.

[Hans Nauta]

Hi John & John,

Thanks for your comments, obviously 730013 is not the one which came down in Holland.

Hopefully something else turns up.

Cheers,
Hans

[George Hopp]

Neusiedler See is on the border between Austria and Hungary. And, on that day, there was a 15th AF attack of 171 B-17s against Wiener-Neustadt, so that may be the reason for the loss of the 110Gs in Austria-Hungary.

Perhaps the loss over Holland was a ZG machine rather than an NJG machine, since the crew of a night-fighter by this time would normally have been three people, not two.

[Hans Nauta]

Hi George,

I considered that too, that possibly a ZG unit was involved, however in that period most Bf.110's were replaced by Me.410's and apart from that as far as I know, no Zerstörer Geschwader was based in Holland at that time.

Nevertheless this might be a clue to check. Perhaps one of our Zerstörer specialists might be able to shed a light on this?

Regards,
Hans Nauta