May 1940 Bf 109E 14 + - crash landing in Belgium

[Lucky Luke]

Hi all,

I am intrigued by a Messerschmitt Bf 109E that I have seen in two different photos.

The aircraft first turned up on ebay in a photo of Goetsenhoven (in French Gossoncourt) airfield near Tienen (in French Tirlemont) in Belgium. It looks like it has no wings but part of it is hidden by the wreck of Koolhoven FK.56 trainer serial K-105 of the Belgian Military Aviation. The tail seems to have been separated from the fuselage. The markings are 14 + - ; no other markings seem to be visible. I am not very good at distinguishing the colour of the code. I will attempt to attach the photo copied from ebay.

To my surprise, what I believe to be the same aircraft turned up in a book about the war in the region between Maastricht (the Netherlands), Tongeren, Liège and Tirlemont in Belgium. The book concentrates on the ground war but it has a few paragraphs about aviation and aircraft crashes. One of these is Bf 109E 14 + - upside down in a orchard somewhere. It looks more or less intact but the tail may have broken off. Location or date of the forced landing is unknown.

I have looked in Pierre Watteeuw book about German fighter losses in Belgium 1940-1942 (Les pertes de la chasse allemande de jour en Belgique Tome I) but as he says in the introduction, the German archives for that period more often than not didn’t include codes and so none of the listed losses could be linked to the photos.

Is there someone for whom this rings a bell?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards
Luc

[Lucky Luke]

Apparently, attachements are not allowed.
Sorry, I didn't known so no attachement.


Luc

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Lucky Luke

Apparently, attachements are not allowed.
Sorry, I didn't known so no attachement.


Luc

Use a hosting site like Imgur to put up photos.

[ClinA-78]

It rings me a bell too ! But this very aircraft eludes me for years !
Not surprising if related to a material loss, even in the May '40 campaign.

ClinA-78

[bn785371]

Most probably 6./JG26 Yellow 14+-,with Ibex/Chamois (Mountain Goat) emblem

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Lucky Luke

Apparently, attachements are not allowed.
Sorry, I didn't known so no attachement.

Luc

It seems you missed this somehow: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=63061

[ouidjat]

Hi Luke,
Bf 109 E-1 of 6./JG26, "Gelbe 14 + -", Spring 1940 obviously. I have three photo of this machine including one Koolhoven FK.56 on three different pictures I suppose it's the one you're talking about. Place unknown by me.

[Lucky Luke]

Thanks to all who responded. At least I now have a probable unit. The search continues.


I can confirm that the location of the photo with the Koolhoven trainer is Goetsenhoven/Gossoncourt military airfield. The photo of the Bf109 upside down is very clear but close up and so nothing of house or landscape that could help determine the location can be seen.


If someone is willing to host the photo from ebay, so that it can be seen here by all, send me a private message so that I can mail the photo.


Best regards


Luc