Messerschmitt Crash 1940

[Mr Schmitt]

Hi

Anyone know the details of the Messerschmitt crash of Coulsdon Golf Course, also post crash excavations. Thanks

[Heuser]

Good evening,

Bf 110 C-4, Werknr. 2146(?) „U8+CL“ of 3./ZG 26 on 6th of September 1940.

Uffz. Christoph Kiehn killed, BF Uffz. Egon Neuß POW after aerial combat.

Not sure abot the Werknummer, as 2146 is also reported for a Bf 110 of 2./ZG 2 on 03.09.1940.

Regards,

Heuser

[ghostwriter]

in different sources you find this number:

On the morning of 6th September, 1940, the 3rd Staffel of Zerstoerergeschwader 26 were escorting ErproGr./210 on a bombing raid. Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4, Werk Nr. 2146, Code: U8+CL, was attacked and shot down by Hurricanes, possibly from No.111 squadron. It crashed at Cannons Hill Golf Course, near Coulsdon, at 9.30am. The photograph shows a factory data plate recovered from this aircraft.

source: https://www.kenleyrevival.org/conten...110-data-plate

best tegards
ghostwiter

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Heuser

Good evening,

Bf 110 C-4, Werknr. 2146(?) „U8+CL“ of 3./ZG 26 on 6th of September 1940.

Uffz. Christoph Kiehn killed, BF Uffz. Egon Neuß POW after aerial combat.

Not sure abot the Werknummer, as 2146 is also reported for a Bf 110 of 2./ZG 2 on 03.09.1940.

Regards,

Heuser

I'll give my thoughts on this W. Nr. conundrum.

On 6th September, the same day that W. Nr. 2146, U8+CL, was lost, ZG 26 lost another Bf 110 C-4, 3U+CA, of the Geschwaderstab. 3U+CA had the W. Nr. 2145.

Given that aircraft were usually despatched in batches to a particular unit, I think the balance of probabilities lies with U8+CL being 2146, with 3M+BK of 2./ZG 2 having an incorrect W. Nr. sent up the line to the Quartermaster's section.

Furthermore, in Luftwaffe Crash Archive, Volume 3, page 365, information from an intelligence report on Zerstörergeschwader2 is given, which shows all the W. Nr. of I./ZG 2 Bf 110s as at 12th August 1940. 3M+BK is shown as having W. Nr. 2070.

So, I believe U8+CL is W. Nr. 2146 on 6th September, and 3M+BK was W. Nr. 2070 on 3rd September.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Excellent points John

A very good chance you cleared up this mystery for good!!

Cheers
Stig

[Matti Salonen]

There is also:
1941-01-27, III/ZG 76, Bf 110 C-4, 2070, M8+FN, Kjevik
Flugzeugführer Gefr Matthias
Notlandung auf See infolge Motorbrand. Bruch 100 %.

Matti

[Stig Jarlevik]

Darn Matti

When everything looked so good....there you come and spoil things....

Well John, back to the drawing board, or do you have another ace up your sleeve?

Cheers
Stig

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Matti Salonen

There is also:
1941-01-27, III/ZG 76, Bf 110 C-4, 2070, M8+FN, Kjevik
Flugzeugführer Gefr Matthias
Notlandung auf See infolge Motorbrand. Bruch 100 %.

Matti

Which throws everything up in the air again.

One might therefore argue that the 3M+BK that was a 100% loss on 3rd September was not W. Nr. 2070.

That at some time between 12th August and 3rd September, 3M+BK, W. Nr. 2070 was damaged to the extent that it went to a repair facility and was then reissued to ZG 76.

That the 3M+BK that was lost on 3rd September had a W. Nr. that was not 2146, but will have have to remain unknown.

I am happy to stand corrected on my previous post.