Loss of StG 2 Ju 87 BofF

[Chris Goss]

I have two photos which show a crash-landed Ju 87B code T6+F? (presumably A) with the Stab red and white badge on the nose. Wk Nr is 422-any suggestions as to a loss?

[rof120]

Mostly they say that 123 out of 342 Ju 87 "Stukas" were lost in the French campaign, not including the heavily damaged ones. French fighters accounted for 42 "victoires sûres" on Stukas, which means "probables" not included. British fighters probably destroyed about the same number of the type. Allied anti-aircraft including Belgian and Dutch certainly destroyed a number too. So you have quite a wide choice except if you succeed in finding more precise details on yours.

As you can see the great vulnerability of Stukas appeared very clearly as soon as the fighting started in earnest on May 10, 1940, over the Benelux countries and France, not first in the Battle of Britain, where British fighters slaughtered them again.

[Chris Goss]

I would say a Wk Nr and code is pretty precise so far-now just need a date and location

[Jim P.]

I don't have any loss specifically for a St.G. 2 Stab machine during the BofF. Which would suggest it wasn't reported or, if it was, either the report was inaccurate or was made with a very generic description, which happened all too frequently at the time.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Jim. Undercarriage has sheered & prop bent so maybe they forgot to list this one

[Merlin]

That's the WNr. 422 T6+FR from 7./StG 2 after an undercarriage failure during the FC.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Gerhard so another mistake in publications where the badge is said to be Stab./StG 2 when in fact it is 7./StG 2. So possibly 12, 25 or 26 May 40

[Merlin]

The difference was: the Stab has had a white shield with a black cross and 7. Staffel a red schield with a white cross.

[Pieter H]

Chris,
this is how I have this loss:

May 12: 7./StG2 Junkers Ju87B (422). Forced-landed at Ordingen, east of St Truiden, damaged by S/L Dewar and F/O Mitchel of No. 87 Squadron during sortie to attack armour near Gembloux 9.30 a.m. Crew both believed unhurt. Aircraft T6+FR a 100% write-off.


Cheers, Pieter

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Pieter