Need help identifying photos of crashed 4./ZG76 Bf110C M8+FM during the WC/FC May-June, 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I've got 3 photos from the ECPA Luft Coll which show a crashed Bf110C in open country coded M8+FM, obviously near a Luftwaffe airfield based upon numerous Luftwaffe personnel, including several officers, standing around. One came to the site on a bicycle indicating a close proximity to an airfield, although there are no hangars or other a/c visible in the photos. At least some of the crew could have survived the crash, although the front of the nose back to the front of the cockpit is badly crushed and both engines are torn away, indicating a fairly violent crash. The landing gear sheared away as the plane hit the ground. The W.Nr. painted on the rear fuselage appears to be 3129, although this is a little shaky.

This is almost certainly one of these two incidents:

12 May 1940: 4./ZG76 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Believed hit by ground fire but possibly damaged in combat with Moranes of GC 6/3 over Avesnes 6.10 a.m. Starboard engine failed and stalled on landing approach at Zissenheim. FF Lt Otto Krause killed, BF Uffz Fritz Auerbach slightly wounded admitted to hospital in Bonn-Hangelar. Aircraft 100% write-off.

2 June 1940; 4./ZG76 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Crashed on landing, both engines damaged in fighter attack over Haynecourt, north-west of Cambrai. FF Oberlt Godborg Christiansen slightly wounded - admitted to hospital in Munich, gunner unhurt. Aircraft 100% write-off.

Has anyone got any information that would help us eliminate either one of these incidents or specifically directs us to one as the source of the photos relating to this incident?

Thanks for your help.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[Bertrand H]

Larry,

These prints (DAA539L17, 18 and 19) have been taken at Haynecourt. We can think that the pilot try to land at Cambrai-Epinoy but was not able to gain the airfield and crashed not so far.

HTH

Bertrand

[Bertrand H]

Larry,


I note that you write the number of French unit backwards. It is exactly like in the book of Peter Corwell where we found too many bad writings.

GC 6/3 does not exist ; instead GC 3/6.

I hope that in your forthcoming books you will have a FRENCH reviewer caution that Ramsey/After the Battle did not do before to publish his "Battle of France, T&N" book which is not definitive book....

Bertrand

[Larry Hickey]

Bertrand,

Thanks for your comments and info. What is your source of information about the photos showing the crash at Haynecourt? Do these photos match some place near Cambrai-Epinoy AF or do you have other photos of this crash, perhaps with the date and place? Peter Cornwell favors the June 2nd date as well.

Regarding your other comment we're aware of this criticism of his "Battle of France: Then and Now" book. We'll be making a decision on that in the future, but haven't yet revised many of our records that mention French units.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[Bertrand H]

Larry,


Compared to photos "ebay" removed one by one photo albums and lose any idea of the story progression through time or towns, the archives of the ECPA are presented in the order, photo blurry or not and the order of photos did. If you browsed serie DAA539 you notice pictures made between Cambrai and Arras. Haynecourt is very close this road. Unstoppable.

Bertrand

[Larry Hickey]

Bertrand,

That methodology makes sense to me, which is one of the reasons why we acquired over 2200 Luft photos from the ECPA for the 1939-40 period, including many of the photos that just add context or help provide locations for other photos. I don't have all of the photos in the DAA539 series in our DB, but I'll take your word for it since you've obviously studied this photo series carefully to determine the location. I'm sure Peter C. will be pleased, since that was also his assessment. So we have the June 2nd loss of Christiansen documented photographically. You have my thanks!!!

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator