Forced landing ( May 1940) of a German warplane in DENDERHOUTEM (BELGIUM)

[REDCAP50]

Hello,
I am looking for details about German airplane - probably a HE 111- that made a forced landing in the surroundings of the city of NINOVE:
The crew was unharmed and captured in the village of DENDERHOUTEM.
The facts took place in the ‘early days of May 1940’.


What I already found in the book: ” 40’-45’ boven Schelde, Dender en Durme ” (Authors: De Decker & Roba) :
- On may 16th 1940 the JU-88 (4D+QL) made a forced landing on an arable field named ‘de Aalzak’ in the village of WELLE. Lt Rudolf BÜRNER and his crew were captured.

- However, on page 37 of their book, the authors mention also that “about” the same date, another German plane was hit by a British AAA-unit.
This machine made a belly-landing in an orchard situated EIGENSTRAAT in DENDERHOUTEM (nowadays a part of HAALTERT).
The crewmembers were captured, but the exact date of the accident and / or any names of them are not known !
I did have contact with a villager about this accident who assumed that it happened between May 10th and 20th , unfortunately there are no pictures taken of the crash-landing.

Does someone has detailed information about this accident (crewmembers, type of plane
et cetera) ?
Any information is very much appreciated.
Thanks and greetings to all on 12 O’clock High

redcap50

[Pieter H]

Hi roodkapje,

I think it might be this one (from Peter Cornwell The Battle of France Then and Now):

May 14: 3.(F)/122 Junkers Ju88A-1. Port engine damaged in attacks by S/L Parnall, F/O Royce, and P/O van Mentz of No. 504 Squadron during reconnaissance of airfields along north French coast and belly-landed at Aalst 6.15 a.m. BM Uffz Willi Reissmarm killed. BO Fw Friedrich Küttner, BF Fw Eugen Lauterbach, and FF Uffz Erwin Maxrath captured unhurt. Aircraft F6+BL a write-off.

(The green entries are my additions/modifications).
This is the only one I have in this area until May 20, but without other sources no 100% certainty. Furthermore be aware that the pilots reported that this a/c was shot down near the Albertkanaal, which is quite a different location then Aalst.


Regards, Pieter

[REDCAP50]

Hello Pieter,
Thanks for your reply,but .... I did spoke with two witnesses, and one of them was working on an field with his father when he noticed that the AAA-unit shot at the German airplane: 2 minutes later it made a forced landing in the village DENDERHOUTEM in the EIGENSTRAAT!! He regrets not remembring the exact date of the facts.
Next week, I hope contacting another witness . I hope somebody has a photo of the accident.
With kind regards
redcap50

[Jim P.]

The correct name for BM Uffz Willi Reissmarm is more likely Willi Reissmann -

[RudiS]

Hi Redcap,

from Peter Cornwell's The Battle of France Then and Now:
May 16 1940: Ju88A-2 of 3./KG30 - Port engine set alight in attack by P/O Parsons of N° 504 Sqn during attack on roads west of Brussels. Escaped into cloud and hit by AA and forced-landed at Ninove 1200pm. Olt Rudolf Bürner, Uffz Alois Henkel, Uffz Karl Schmitz & Gefr Dietrich Haase captured unhurt. Aircraft 4D+CL a write-off.
Furthermore I have: The a/c came down in the Aalzak-kouter in Welle, 250 meters from the road from Aalst to Ninove.

I have no info on the one in the Eigenstraat in Denderhoutem other then that it also took place on the 16th.

Regards,

Rudi.