I/ZG1 on 26.5.40

[Dean M. Wick]

Gentlemen: Looking for help on a Question regarding bf110 ops. this date. While going over Peter's new book (outstanding work by the way), I note that I/ZG1 suffered very heavy losses around 1500(German time), possibly in action against 605 Sqn. I had previously assumed, wrongly it would seem, that these losses had occurred in the early AM, against 54 Sqn., who had made some rather large claims against '110's. I've no reason to doubt Peter's research. But I'm wondering if anyone knows who 54Sqn. may have been in action against that morning, as no bf110 losses this day match their claims.Also, Peter, did you find any "official" damage info on Wolfgang Falck's plane for this date? Several sources Quote him as stating he sustained something like "40 hits" (possibly from Muirhead of 605 Sqn.?) but managed to escape. Any comments appreciated. Cheers! Dean.

[Evgeny Velichko]

Hi!

For 26.5.40 I have 4 maches:

Stab./ZG 1, F, Calais, LFK J, BF110C, 100%,-, -, -, 2, AE26ZAA, I./ZG1 vm liste
Stab./ZG 1, F, Calais, LFK J, BF110C, 100%, 1, -, 1,-, AE26ZAB, I./ZG1 vm liste
2./ZG 1, F, Ostende, X, BF110C, 100%, -, 1,-, 1, AE26ZAC
2./ZG 1, F, Ostende, LFK J, BF110C, 100%, 1, 1,-, -, AE26ZAC
3./ZG 1, F, Neufchateau, BR, BF110C, 100%, 2, -,-, -, AE26ZAF

This list is also a big question for me, for example I dont understand what AE26ZAF or 2, -,-, -, mean...

[Peter Cornwell]

Hello Dean,

I regret that I know of no official damage report for FALCK’s aircraft on May 26, 1940, the Lw General Quartermaster Returns seem to make no mention of it. But I can confirm that when John Vasco and I interviewed him during preparation of Zerstorer (1995) his recollection was that ‘three out of four of his Stabsschwarm were shot down on their first sortie over Dunkirk & he only just managed to escape at low level’. Unfortunately, he had no documents for the period so further details were lacking, (we were also mainly concerned with his subsequent role in founding the German night-fighter arm), but this was clearly a reference to operations on that date.

Don’t be too hasty in thinking that you are wrong simply because I’ve arrived at a different conclusion. The evidence for doing so, though it exists, is not overwhelming by any means. Like you, I long suspected that his opponents that day may have been No.54 Squadron, simply by virtue of the fact that the number & location of their claims compared to known Bf110 losses suggests so. The long-distance pursuit of one Bf110 ‘to Lille’ & claimed as ‘damaged’ by F/Lt M. C. Pearson’s section also offered a compelling match for the circumstances described by FALCK. However, I was eventually dissuaded from this by the number of No.54 Squadron claims reporting enemy aircraft going into the sea suggesting to me that the action took place over the Channel off Dunkirk. There were also other factors that I took into consideration.

Unfortunately, information is scarce on Bf110 operations for this period though great strides in addressing this are now being made by Larry Hickey & his team. However, I am not aware of any claims filed by I./ZG1 which would give us the exact time of their sortie(s) on this date, & the only Flugbuch evidence is that of Uffz Willi DIETRICH of 1./ZG1 who was not involved in any combat. However, German War Graves records confirm that both casualties suffered by I./ZG1 that day, Oberlt Konrad MARTIN & Lt Georg WŐLFLE, were killed at or near Bourbourg which is 6 miles inland. At least that much is evident. I also had a note that I./ZG1 had been escorting Ju88s of III./KG4 on the sortie in question & the Namentliche Verlustmeldung for III./KG4 reveals that their sortie over Dunkirk was timed between 14.35 – 15.00 hours (GST). So as Nos.32 & 605 Squadrons are the only RAF fighter units to have reported any engagements over Dunkirk at this time 13.15 – 14.25 hours (BST) you may understand why, on the balance of the only real evidence available, I concluded that they were involved. However, this conclusion can easily be overturned if someone has more reliable information on the precise times of I./ZG1 sortie(s) on that date. Anyone ?

Thanks for your question & your comments on the book, Dean.

[Dean M. Wick]

Evgeny and Peter: thank you for your prompt reply to my inquiry. Peter, I had wondered about the F/L Pearson/ Wolgang Falck possibility as well. On re-reading some of my sources I did note that Falck mentions that he fled North. Which doesnt seem to sit well with Lille, which appears a bit more South-East. But.. St. Trond, where he states he was able to land,appears about equal distance from the coast near Ostend, and Lille. Anyway, some interesting possibilities we may never be able to know with any certainty. Again, Thank you. Dean

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Just an added note on the May 26th action with I./ZG1. We now have all of the victory claims, both unconfirmed and confirmed, for ZG1 during its entire history upto its disbanding in June, 1940. However, we don't have times for all of the claims, although we do for about half of them. It is interesting to note there were no claims by any I./ZG1 crew recognized from that action.

Just another piece to the puzzle, although negative in nature.

Regards,

[Dean M. Wick]

Hi Larry: Thanks for your comments. I won't be so bold as to pry you for your I/ZG1 info. as I understand that you have a work in progress. But.. could you perhaps humour me just a bit, by letting me know the number of claims they made during the FC? Peter's book certainly brings to light the fact that, during the FC at least, the Zerstorer units were still taking a pretty heavy toll on allied AC. Cheers. Dean.

[Evgeny Velichko]

Robert - wasnt his name Hptm. Wendelin von Müllenheim-Rehberg?

Also, what was the fate of Hptm.Horst Lehrmann, StaKa 2./ZG 1? KiA on 6 Sept. 39?

[robert]

Hi Evgeny,

Lehrmann was not killed in Polish Campaign. He even claimed two victories during the Western Campaign.
BTW I have Wedelin but of course I`m not sure.

Regards

Robert