Hermann Bolten

[WBSluis]

It is said that Hermann Bolten was a pilot on a Me 210 A1 when he made on july 31 1942 a crashlanding near Andel, a small village in the south of Holland. The plane could be from Erprobungskommando 210 that was stationed in that time at Soesterberg. Can anyone tell me more about this crashlanding?

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello,

I know nothing about this mr.Bolten but the Me210 A-1 with fuselage code 2H+DA crashed near Gorinchem, 90% damaged according to Petrick&Stocker Me210 / Me410 Hornisse page 53. I have my doubts about this 90% because there is also a report to Me 210 A-1 (110063) from 24.6.1943 when it was with the 9./ZG 1 and went missing (source: Gen.Qm. Abt.6 Luftwaffe losses, microfilm reel 10)

This Me210 crash at Andel is also mentioned in the loss register of the Dutch Study Group Airwar 1939-1945 (SGLO), see www.nimh.nl

All the best, Marcel Hogenhuis
Study Group Venlo Airfield in WW-2

[Chris Goss]

Bolten's Flugbuch states he had an engine failure in NT+CM near Neer Andel at 1115 hrs on 31 Jul 42. His unit was Erprobungsstaffel Me 210 and he was based at Lechfeld-on this day he had taken off from Soesterburg but he was only at Soesterburg for 2 days

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Chris,
This is a most interesting piece of information, putting the report in the Gen.Qm.Abt. 6 Luftwaffe losses reel into question: there it reads Werkenummer 110063 but if the Flugbuch reads Stkz. NT+CM, then the Werkenummer should have been 110069 and that would solve the unlogical fact that the 110063 is recorded twice with (almost) complete destruction.

Now we need a third source to verify what is correct: a flight with 110063 after 31 July 1942 would be nice!

All the best! Marcel

[WBSluis]

Assuming that on july 31 1942 the damage was 90% or more, it is impossible that on 24 June 1943 a Me 210A 1 with Werkenummer 063 was shot down in combat with a Spitfire NE of Cape Blanc. Crew was Uffz. Werner Guenther and Gefr. Hugo Ludwig, both MIA. So, the Me 210 A1 in Andel was 069. Source: Charles Bavaroise and Georg Hopp in 2004.

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

That's exact what I meant and if Chris as expert could give his opinion, we are all happy to have solved another discrepancy!

Just one request on behalve of the Dutch Study Group Airwar 1939-1945: I know they are in phase 2: to file all sorts of evidence in each filed crash whether it is a German document, Flugbuch entry and even pictures. Therefore: would it be possible to get a scan(ned excerpt) of that page of the Flugbuch which will be put in the file of this particular crash in the Netherlands. All the info is stored with the Dutch NIMH in The Hague(Netherlands Institute of Military History, the combined new department of the former historical sections of the Dutch Army, Navy and Royal Air Force)

Marcel
marcelhogenhuis[at]gmail.com

[Chris Goss]

There is no indication of how much damage NT+CM suffered so I cannot comment. I am afraid that I am not in a position to send a scan as I was passed a copy by a third party. I can quote it verbatim if you want

[WBSluis]

I spoke to an eye-witness and he told me that two persons were on board the plane. One was badly wounded and was transported with a truck to the village, the other still could walk. A day (or two) later the remainings of the plane were transported on a truck. One wing was deeply in the ground, the motors were lying away from the plane. Therefore I think that the damage was seriously and the plane was written off. I am trying to find other eye-witnesses.

[Stig Jarlevik]

WBSluis

The loss to Spitfires on 24.6.1943 was a Me 410A-1 2N+ST of 9./ZG 1
(Petrick/Stocker's book page 65)

Cheers
Stig

[WBSluis]

Marcel wrote : "....Me 210 A-1 (110063) from 24.6.1943 when it was with the 9./ZG 1 and went missing (source: Gen.Qm. Abt.6 Luftwaffe losses, microfilm reel 10)". This is also not right? Other persons wrote the same, for instance Georg Hopp, Charles Bavaroise.