Was there an order to destroy aircraft force landed in enemy territory?

[Hallvor]

Sorry for this silly question, but I could not find an answer to this. In case of a bomber being damaged over enemy territory and the pilot for some reason had to land it, was there an order that the crew attempt to destroy the aircraft to avoid it falling into the hands of the enemy?

[Clint Mitchell]

I understand that a few aircraft had devices installed that would allow a downed crew to render it useless to the new owners. So I presume that there was an order specifying that it was the downed crews responsibility to not let the treasure fall into enemy hands.

[Graham Boak]

The RAF had an explosive device attached to the magnetron valve in the H2S radars so that this advanced centimetric technology did not fall into German hands. The plan failed, one being recovered quite early from a crash near Rotterdam.

[Tony Kearns]

Originally Posted by Hallvor

Sorry for this silly question, but I could not find an answer to this. In case of a bomber being damaged over enemy territory and the pilot for some reason had to land it, was there an order that the crew attempt to destroy the aircraft to avoid it falling into the hands of the enemy?

Not a silly question Hallvor, Luftwaffe crews always tried to destroy their aircraft that landed in Neutral Ireland and usually succeeded in activating the destruct device. RAF and FAA crews usually destroyed or attempted in the case of the equipment ie radio and radar on board in accordance with instructions for landing in neutral countries. In the case of Ireland this was amended in 1944 to not destroy their equipment and that every assistance would be afforded to the crews and aircraft to get away or be dismantled and returned. We were neutral of course!
Tony K

[drgondog]

apparently my father had an incindiery grenade on board in his Mustang when he was shot down and rescued on August 18, 1944 - by Royce Priest.

It was a matter of record in the debriefing that he destroyed his Mustang before trotting over to another wheat field for pick up.

I do not know what the mil spec was for the device or whether it was SOP.

In most cases given time, once the pilot escaped, another fighter would strafe it to destroy it.

[leonventer]

Hi Hallvor,

In September 1940, the Luftwaffe issued a service regulation covering this subject, namely:

• D.(Luft) 4601: "Beschreibung und Bedienungsvorschrift für die Vernichtungsmittel von Landflugzeugen bei Notlandung auf Feindgebiet."

It's an illustrated, 12-page manual describing the equipment and procedures for destroying an aircraft forced down in enemy territory. This was done using either the Sprengbüchse 24 or geballte Ladung, together with a 2m-long fuse that provided a delay of 1.5 to 3.5 minutes.

Dimensions and weights:
- Sprengbüchse 24: 74 x 54 x 197 mm : 1.3 kg : 1 kg TNT
- geballte Ladung: 162 x 74 x 197 mm : 3.8 kg : 3 kg TNT

There's no mention of specific aircraft types. To avoid the possibility of sabotage, the fuse was to be taken along only on combat flights, and then removed from the aircraft after each mission.


FYI, for a listing of all Luftwaffen-Dienstvorschriften, visit this site:http://www.superborg.com. You'll see D.(Luft) 4601 listed on the following page: http://www.superborg.com/dluft4400.htm

Hope that helps,
Leon Venter

[Icare9]

Regardless of "Standing Orders" why would the crew NOT destroy their aircraft if at all possible? It's common sense to deny the enemy anything that may help them.
They were obliged to as PoW's to make life difficult, so it makes sense to apply it to their equipment too.

[Hallvor]

Thanks for the replies, and especially to you, Leon!

The reason I was asking was because of this thread: http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=21085

An eye witness thought that the surviving Germans set fire to the landed Heinkel He 111. Since this was in April 1940 and predates the official order, it may have been just an unwritten rule to destroy the aircraft as much as possible if forced to land. Unless there is something older than "Beschreibung und Bedienungsvorschrift für die Vernichtungsmittel von Landflugzeugen bei Notlandung auf Feindgebiet", that is.

Anyway, it only makes sense to destroy it as much as possible.

[Clint Mitchell]

I believe I have read somewhere as well that maps etc were also burnt/destroyed as best as possible or tried to on some occasions.

[James A Pratt III]

I have read at least one account of a USAAF airman after his bomber crashlanded firing a .45 automatic into the planes Norden bombsight to destroy it.