Seeking photos and ultimate fate of 2./JGr152 Bf109D-1 flown by Gefr A. Hesselbach SD & POW on the German-French border near Sarreguemines on 24.09.39

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm seeking photos of 2./JGr152 Bf109D-1 flown by Gefr A. Hesselbach SD & PoW near Sarreguemines, France, about 2km E of Sarreguemines, France, on 24 September 1939. There was a big air battle in the area on that date, which resuted in three planes from JGr152 down in French territory. and 2-3 others that FL in German territory.

According to our EoE Luft Loss list:

"24 September 1939: 2./JGr.152 Messerschmitt Bf109D-1. Shot down by Sgt Combette of GC I/3 and forced-landed 2 km north-east of Rimling, east of Sarreguemines 12.50 p.m. FF Gefr Adolf Hesselbach captured unhurt. Aircraft Red 9 + 100% write-off. (GC I/3 doc via RS)
This aircraft was made serviceable for evaluation by the French but crashed on a test flight at Nancy on October 6. It is believed that it was subsequently repaired and passed to the RAF on 22 December, being flown from Coulommiers to Tangmere, en-route to the A&AEE Boscombe Down, by W/C J.F.X. McKenna. Grounded at Tangmere by weather and refuelling problems it never arrived at Boscombe Down and its ultimate fate is unknown. Hesselbach returned from French captivity on June 30, 1940."

This was apparently "Red 9," and there should be photos out there somewhere of this downed a/c, which I would like to profile. Can anyone supply photos of this incident or know what ultimately happened to this Bf109D-1?

Does anyone have any other photos of a/c lost on the German side that day? I have one photo of Yellow 12, from 3 Staffel, which is the same one published on P.97 of Peter Cornwell's "The Battle of France: Then and Now." This was the a/c of Lt Rosenkranz. Would appreciate additional photos of this a/c, and any others, including those down in German territory, if any are known.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator