Fw Thier I/NJG1

[Brian]

Marcel wrote in connection with I/NJG1:
The first cruel setback inflicted on the Gruppe was the loss of Feldwebel Thier who was shot down near Paderborn by a Bf110 flying a lone night fighting sortie. It appeared that Thier had suffered radio failure and as there was zero ground visibility at Rhein, he had elected correctly to divert to Paderborn. With his navigation lights illuminated he found himself easy prey for a pilot doing a little "moonlighting" in the air. An over-ambitious single-engine pilot from the field at Paderborn was also airborne on his own initiative on a "night-fighting" sortie; as ever in such cases his first and only victim proved to be the brave crew of one of our own aircraft in difficulty.

Can anyone provide a date for this incident, and any additional details? PS: I believe the date of the incident was 23 June 1940. Was Thier killed? And what off his crewman?

Cheers
Brian

[Matti Salonen]

1940-06-22, 2./ZG 1, Bf 110, 1 km östlich Fl.Pl. Paderborn, Absturz infolge eigener Jägerbeschuß. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Fw Thier, Martin, +
Bordfunker Fw Brutsche, Adolf, +

Matti

[Brian]

Hi Matti

Once again you've come up trumps - many thanks as always.

Cheers
Brian

[Peter Cornwell]

2./ZG1 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Crashed 1 km east of Paderborn airfield during night sortie. FF Fw Martin Thier and BF Fw Adolf Brutsche both killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.
Thier had reportedly suffered radio failure and with zero ground visibility at Rhein elected to divert to Paderborn. Flying with navigation lights on they fell to a freelance night fighter from Paderborn.

[ianatheling]

Originally Posted by Brian

Marcel wrote in connection with I/NJG1:
...Feldwebel Thier who was shot down near Paderborn by a Bf110 flying a lone night fighting sortie. ... An over-ambitious single-engine pilot from the field at Paderborn was also airborne on his own initiative on a "night-fighting" sortie;

I am slightly confused, the beginning of this quote clearly refers to the guilty fighter as a Bf110, but it is then described as a 'single engine' aircraft, so presumably a night-fighting Bf 109.

Is there any information on the source of friendly fire?

Ian

[Brian]

Hi Ian

I believe Marcel intended to write "in a Me110" and not "by a Me110".

Does anyone know that Bf109 nightfighter responsible, presumably one operating from Paderborn?

Cheers
Brian

[Theo Boiten]

Hi Brian,

Literal quote from the unpublished history of I./NJG1: The first cruel setback inflicted on the Gruppe was the loss of Feldwebel Thier who was shot down near Paderborn by a Bf110 flying a lone night fighting sortie.

So, it was a Bf110, and not an Me109! I, too, would be very interested in the identity of the offending friendly fighter, which operated from Paderborn.

Cheers, Theo

[ianatheling]

The last part of the same quote still refers to a single-engined aircraft. I believe that NJG 1 did indeed have Bf109E nightfighters, but not sure about I./NJG 1?

Ian

[RT]

Elements of the JG26+2 operate also at night at that time


Rémi