3/JG3 Loss, 18.08.1940

[Joe Potter]

A Bf 109-4 is believed to have crashed near Bredhurst, Kent at 13.40 hrs on the 18.08.1940, any further info please.

[Chris Goss]

LCA says dived into ground 1340 hrs but no evidence to support this or even if it was German. Again, BofBCA says that it has been suggested this was Lt Edmund von Fonderen of III./JG 3 but again, no clear evidence

[Joe Potter]

Thanks Chris,
I have very vague info that the pilot may have been buried as an unknown, organized by RAF Detling, but how to check this out in any RAF records?

[Chris Goss]

BofBT&N says "believed to have crashed" which is repeated in the Hardest Day ("probably") and Jochen Prien's book. The latest book is BofBCA which disputes the crash and identification. Surely if there was an aircraft there it would have been dug in the ensuing years? If it was Detling who recovered anything, it might be mentioned in their ORB but they had quite a bit to do around then so doubt it

[Joe Potter]

So, its a none starter, best I drop it.

[srob48]

Hi Joe,
The VDK had the following information on Fonderen:
Edmund van Fonderen could not be recovered. According to the information available to us, he was lost at sea. The name of the members of the German Army and Air Force who found their final resting place at sea have been recorded by the Volksbund in a memorial book. It has been put on display at the Laboe Memorial near Kiel.