ID of L4093 in Norway 1940; a Hampden?

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Who can ID this crash for me on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...T#ht_500wt_984

Thanks,

[Andrei Demjanko]

Hampden I L4083 - 50 Sqn, shot down by Bf109E of II./JG 77 and crash-landed on a small island off the Norwegian mainland 12.04.1940, F/O M.W.Donaldson PoW, P/O F.D.Middleton PoW, Sgt J.Greet KIA, Cpl A.C.Henry Inj, PoW
The mission was an attack on German shipping reportred in Kristiansand Harbour and docks in Kristiansand.

[Larry Hickey]

Andrei,

Thanks! Exactly what I needed.

Regards,

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Does anyone know the fuselage codes for this aircraft? Also need the specific name of the "small island" off the Norwegian Coast, and reference to some town on the mainland (like __ km SW of X town.)

Thanx,

[Larry]

L4083

The RAF crew were rescued by fishermen who rowed out from Tregve, South Norway. There are many hundreds of islands in the area so I doubt you will get a name.

NB were you aware that the pilot 'Weasel' Donaldson was taken by the Norweigans to see a Bf109 that had landed out of fuel near Mandal and after being refueled with car petrol he attempted to fly it to safety with himself and two other crew members - but sadly he crashed it on the third take off attempt when one wing hit a tree?

[wellss]

The Hampden File has the crash landing as being on an island off Tregve.

50 squadron code is VN
Aircraft letter = unknown

[Knut Larsson]

Hi Larry

The Hamden I, L4083 not L4093, forcelanded on a island just off Tregde, not Tregve, off the Norwegian mainland in the Agder area. Tregde is a very small village about 7km E of Mandal. The island is most probably Skogsøy 8km SSE of Mandal.
It is correct that F/O Donaldson was shown the Bf 109 E "Gelbe 14" from Jagdgruppe II./JG77 who also had force landed near Mandal on the mainland. However I can not confirm that this pilor was allowed by the Norwegians to fly it. The German aircraft belonged to Fw. Ertel of Jagdstaffel 6./JG77 and it was damaged in the air combat the same day with the Hamdens from 44 SQN and 50 SQN from RAF Bomber Command.

Greetings from wintercold Norway
Knut Larsson

[Larry Hickey]

Thanks all,

Knut, regarding the 6./JG77 Bf109E captured near Mandal, are any photos known of this aircraft?

Thanx,

[Knut Larsson]

Hi Larry

In Prien/Stemmer/Rodeike/Bock
"Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934-1945 Teil 3"
you will find 2 photos of this aircraft.

New info correct my stating that this aircraft forcelanded on the mainland.
It also forcelanded on an island near Mandal (unknown). This island was not in German hands until 17th April 1940. The pilot was a Norwegian pow until this date. The aircraft was then dismantled, repaired and handed back to Jagdstaffel 6./JG77 in the spring/early summer.

I very much doubt the British "escape story".

Regards from wintercold Norway

Knut

[paulmcmillan]

To avoid anyone else trying to ID "Cpt A C Henry" who was badly burned in this incident and I believe later repatriated he was Cpl Alexander Campbell Henry 621154 (later Warrant Officer)