Amiot 143 n°94 shooted down - Flak 1/902

[Jerome Ribeiro]

Hello Everyone,

During the Phoney War or "drole de guerre", the Amiot 143M N°94 from Bomber group GB I/34,2nd squadron was shooted down by the Flak during the night on 16 October 1939. This Bomber landed in the wood around Mainz. The 5 crew members were interned.

I got one photo showing this A/C destroyed in the Mainz' wood. On the back of the photo, it is mentioned "1. geutwesseip? - luftgau XIII; Amiot abgeschossen sin 1/902 bei Taubreicht num 18.10.39" I don't speak german. Hence my problem to read this sentence.I will try to scan it.

I guess that the Flak is the 1/902 from the flak zone called XIII. Hence my question:

How we get details (report) on the 1/902 unit to obtain information about this event?
What kind of guns or cannon (20mm, 88mm) this Flak units used to protect the Mainz' area at this time?

Thanking you in anticipation
Best regards

Jerome

[Jerome Ribeiro]

Hello,

Following my message despatched yesterday, please find enclosed the comments on the back of the photo plus the A/C in the Mainz' forest after the flak blast.

if someone could help me to translate the german wordings for better understanding, it would be perfect!

thanking you in anticipation
Best regards

Jerome

[robert_schulte]

Hi Jerome,
the text reads as follows:
"1. Flakabschuß im Luftgau XIII
Amiot abgeschossen durch 1/902 bei ...... (unreadable)
am 18.10.39 2 45"
it translates into:
First flak kill in Luftgau XIII, Amiot shot down by 1/902 near ....
on 18. October 1939 at 2.45 am.

1/902 would be the first battery of heavy Flak-unit 902 (= schwere Flak-Abteilung 902). 1/902 was equipped with heavy guns (88 or 105 mm). This unit was stationed in Fürth near Nürnberg in 1939. Also the headquarter of Luftgau XIII was in Nürnberg, whereas Mainz would be part of Luftgau XII
So a place around Nürnberg, which is about 260 km east of Mainz, seems to be more probable.
Hope this helps
Robert

[Jerome Ribeiro]

Hi Robert,

Thank you for this information regarding this Flak unit 1/902. According to the person who held this photo, the location of the first battery of heavy Flak-unit 902 would be " bei Taubrecht".

Is this area is located near Fürth?

In parallel, do you know whether or not this flak unit have a "campaign report" which report A/C shooted down during the phoney war or drole de guerre, able to reveal more details on this A/C?
if yes, where this documentation could be read?

Thank you in advance
Best regards

Jerome

[robert_schulte]

Hi Jerome,

I made another look at the word and I am now quite sure that the spelling is "Taubenhof". There exists a village "Seukendorf" which has a district "Taubenhof", this is just 7 kilometers west of Fürth. So this would fit.
You can look at www.map24.com, type "Taubenhof" as Street name and "Seukendorf" as city and you will get a hit.
I have no additional info about 1/902 or this specific plane.
Best wishes
Robert

[Jerome Ribeiro]

Hi Robert,
Thank you for your information and advice regarding this flak area.
Best regards

Jerome

[Jerome Ribeiro]

Hello Robert,

I crawled the web to gather more information about this heavy Flak unit to obtain photos, details on 88 or 105 mm cannons as you mentionned or report concerning the hits on french Bombers.

I found this page http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/abt/s902.html I don't speak german but I am sure it is this flak unit as you did.

Maybe you or someone has more details on this unit or better links?

Regards

Jerome