Me 109 over England 1944

[DeH82A]

Seeking assistance from anyone holding records of Me!09 intruder/recce flights over England in 1944? How so? Simply I am hoping to find out more on an ME 109 that overflew my Southern England home in 1944.

It goes like this: As a nine-year old boy in the Spring of 1944, I had the great good fortune to see a Me109 roar over our house. The pilot,
in light brown flying kit-------a mere twenty metres above me----- clearly visible. The a/c carried no bombs and was going flat out. It looked great and I've never forgotten the moment.

I've often wondered, over the years, who he was and did he make it home? My home was at Beckenham, Kent, six miles from London. Not a
healthy place for a 109.

Life was exciting and lived at a fast pace in those days. I no longer have much of a clue as to even the correct month for this episode. Trying to
place it now is tough. My best guess thinking back to VI strikes in our road and nearby plus relocating to Scotland in August to avoid V2s, is
that it was probably circa May --July 1944. Maybe earlier!. It was a bright clear sunny day. Another guess, probably morning; And as I was
there ---- no school---a Saturday or Sunday?

Studying a map of the area, I guess that the 109 had come up the River Thames, had swung left as the City of London appeared
ahead, he'd then flown over Sidcup and our house and headed on South-West. Of course, he may have been zigzagging over much of England
for all I know. I can say however, that as he passed over me he was steering about 260°True.

Almost directly North, he was 8 km from the famous Thames river "U Bend" and on a straight line to the South of me, 9.4 kms from Biggin Hill. [Beckenham and my home sandwiched inbetween.]. If he continued on 260° he would have flown near Farnborough and Salisbury Plain and a left bank would have him exiting England in the Wiltshire/Southampton area.

I am probably a little mad asking for help on this but I don't think too many 109s were overflying England then. So perhaps after all, my query
is moderately easy. Hopefully data remains that will fit. And yes, I know I should tackle the Royal Observer Corps' files---if they exist--- but
I live in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Michael Irwin

[Bombphoon]

Sounds more likely it was a year or two earlier on the Hit and Run raids on the capital.

[Chris Goss]

The only Bf 109s over UK in daylight in 1944 would have been recce aircraft and they would not be flying over that part of UK at low level. If part of a tip and run attack, they would not be flying alone and in any case, they stopped flying 109s for such missions in May 1942

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by DeH82A

Seeking assistance from anyone holding records of Me!09 intruder/recce flights over England in 1944?

Michael Irwin

I wrote this last year, covering the pre-invasion period: http://www.ghostbombers.com/recon/Watch/intro.html

A Bf 109 coming up the Thames after D-Day would have belonged to 5.(F)/123 which flew occasional reconnaissances over the Estuary and the Dover Straits.

[Chris Goss]

...but surely not at low level over land which would have been suicide?

[Brian Bines]

5/F)123 did lose Ofw Friedrich Gouter on Tuesday 28th March 44 shot down over France returning from a recon. to Thames Estuary and London, but this was likely a high level mission.
The Home Office report for week ending 0900 hrs. on 10th May 44 states slight enemy activity confined mainly to recon. which were flown overland on 6 days and one night ( no locations given).
The daylight attack on London on Wednesday 20th Jan. 43 might be a possibility but this was a school day .

[Chris Goss]

...and 20 Jan 43 was a massed attack by Fw 190s not 109s

[jednastka]

Could it have possibly been one of the captured 109s being flown by a British airman?

Vic

[Chris Goss]

Daylight, late war, low level, unescorted highly improbable. It would have also been marked in roundels which would have been highly visible

[hanshauprich]

Hello,

maybee this:Run over from Ofw. Karl Winberger, 1./JG 102, 15. Mai 1944,
Bf 109G-12(!!!!!!!) DG+NR flew from Zerbst to GB, crashed at an RAF Airfield.
h.