An Me.108 that crash landed at RAF Stn. FORD.

[SMF144]

On 11 September 1943 a Me.108 crash-landed at RAF Station Ford and was destroyed but the two occupants survived. Can anyone enlighten me on this event?

Thanks.

Stephen

[Hans Nauta]

Hi Stephen,

From The Blitz Then and Now Volume 3, Winston Ramsey, page 295:

September 11
Geschwader Stab/KG40
Messerschmitt Bf.108B-1 (2014). Either flown by defectors or became lost while on an internal flight. Intercepted by a Mosquito which panicked the pilot who crashed attempting a belly landing with undercarriage up at Ford Airfield 4.55 pm. Uffz J. Suppinger killed. Uffz V. Packer taken prisoner injured. Aircraft F8+CA wrecked.

Curious event, though!

Regards,
Hans Nauta

[Brian Bines]

Hi Stephen,

I beleive this has been reported as a planned desertion,the aircraft took off from Chateaudon and crossed the English coast at Selsey Bill firing red and wight flares. It then flew over RNAS Ford firing flares but was chased by a Mosquito which opened fire but did not hit the 108. This apparantly unerved the pilot Uffz Jonni Suppinger who failed to lock the u/c in the down position causing the 108 to crashland. Suppinger was severly injured and died a few hours later at Fords sick quarters while Uffz Victor Packer was taken prisoner with light injuries,

Regards
Brian Bines

[David Pausey]

Originally Posted by SMF144

On 11 September 1943 a Me.108 crash-landed at RAF Station Ford and was destroyed but the two occupants survived. Can anyone enlighten me on this event?

Thanks.

Stephen

Hi Stephen

The Mosquito which panicked the pilot into a crash landing was from 29 Sqn and was flown by F/L Read. I have a copy from the ORB for 29 sqn but can not find it!
If I do find it I will post it here.

Regards
David

[David Pausey]

Hi Stephen and any one else interested.

Well its only taken about five months! to find 29 Sqns ORB but better late than never.

AIR27/ 29 Sqn ORB
10-9-43
There was some excitement on the aerodrome this morning, an alert being sounded before 7am F/L Read of “A” Flight was scrambled to intercept two hostiles approaching from the sea and followed one over the coast. It turned out to be an Me108, unarmed and containing two German under officers (with, rumour says, suitcase and English primer). They were fied at by F/Lt Read not, it is believed with lethal intent and also by two Typhoons and the ground gunners. The result was that they did a wheels up belly flop with accent on both the belly and the flop. The plane became Cat B and both under officers were removed to hospital, Cat unknown. The other hostile disappeared.

Regards

David

[SMF144]

Dave, it's never too late - thanks very much for the information, and to the rest who responded. To be honest, I totally forgot that I had posted this query until your post brought it up from the depths.

Stephen