Fw-190 midair collision over Wevelgem

[Alain57]

On 30/04/1942 two Fw-190 from 7./JG26 collided over the airfield of Wevelgem ( Belgium ) during the landing. Both pilots lt Kessler Fritz and Fw Ehlen Karl-Heinz were killed. Can somebody can help me with the werknumbers of both aircraft ?

[Chris Goss]

Kessler FW 190 A-1, 074, White 3, Wulverdinghe
Ehlen FW 190 A-2, 5215, White 10, SW Merkeghem

[Alain57]

Thanks Chris

Alain

[DR40eghs]

Dear Alain,

according to my lists and the search at VDK, the accident happened already on 29-04-1942.

Regards,
Uwe

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

The correct date should be as DR40eghs 29.04.1942:

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=127981

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=127982

Regards,
Andreas B

[DR40eghs]

some additional info (from the VDK-Database):

Ltn. Fritz Kessler (7./JG 26)
* 31.01.1921 in Danzig-Langfuhr
+ 29.4.1942 near Wulverdinghe
final resting place: Bourdon (F), 32-9-346

Fw. Karl-Heinz Ehlen (7./JG 26)
* 30.6.1916 in Bremen
+ 29.4.1942 near Merkeghem
final resting place: Bourdon (F), 32-9-344

in Google-Maps (-Earth) Merkeghem is spelled Merckeghem. Both villages are located roughly 3 km's apart from each other, and to the east of Watten.

According to D.Caldwell's "JG 26 War Diary", the collision and subsequent crash(s) happened at 16:00.

But (!) - the crash place(s) is about 65 km's due west from Kortrijk-Wevelgem airfield ... so i don't think, that the collision happened "during landing at Wevelgem". JG.26 used quite frequently a/f St.Omer-Arques at this time - and Arques is only ~ 10 km's to the south of the crashplace(s). So i assume, that Kessler and Ehlen were on their way to Arques (and not Wevelgem) ...

Regards,
Uwe

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

Wonder if Kessler was promoted after his death? The original loss list list him as Fw, and I cannot recall what the NVM says. Or the original loss might be wrong with regards to rank.

Regards,
Andreas B

[Alain57]

Thank you all for the help

Alain

[DR40eghs]

Hi Alein, Andreas,
in Priller's JG.26 Chronicle, Karl-Heinz Ehlen ist listed as "Leutnant". Perhaps he was proposed for posthume promotion by the Geschwader. However, in the VDK-Database he is listed as Feldwebel.
Kessler is listed as Leutnant. To me, he seems to be quite new to JG.26 before his death.
Regards,
Uwe

[Alain57]

Thanks Uwe

Alain