Looking for a german A/C crash in 9/43 in Merville South of France

[gilles collaveri]

Good evening,

I am looking for information about a german aircraft that crashed in Merville (15 km north of Toulouse, France) while doing aerobatics on a thursday in September 1943 (therefore 2 or 9 or 16 or 23 or 30 Sept. 1943).

It slammed a barn next to a house, killing one elderly grandfather and several animals.
Pilot was killed as well.
Aircraft likely to be a FW190 but I am not sure.

Any information ?

Thanks 1000

GC

[Frans A]

Hello Gilles.
I have Ogfr. Otto Berger from 4./JG 2 who was KIA on 43-09-23 at Merville (F)
4./JG 2 flew Bf 109 at that time as far as I know.
Frans.A

[gilles collaveri]

thank you Frans.

GC

[Laurent Rizzotti]

As Obgfr Otto Berger is buried in Bourdon, NW of Amiens, and so in northern France, it is almost certain that he was killed in another place called Merville in northern France.

A loss in Toulouse area in September 1943, especially doing aerobatics, would probably be from a school unit, or a test pilot flying one of the aircraft built/repaired in nearby factories (producing at least D.520). So the first place to watch IMHO will be the losses of rear area units of the Luftwaffe.

[gilles collaveri]

You are right, Laurent.

So I am puzzled now.

There are two Merville in France: one in the north and one in the south. Confusion might come from there.

My local witnesses is very affirmative, saying this event took place on a thursday (he had no school !) at the end of september 1943.

So, the BF109 of Otto Berger would match.

In order to delete any doubt, I would need details about the Otto Berger crash:
are the circonstances of this crash mentionned ?
are there more details on the crash report ?
I would be very interested to have any additional info about this crash to try to crosscheck.

Thanks for input.

GC

[Laurent Rizzotti]

As one civilian was killed, there should be a trace in French papers, either in the city archives or in the church (for the burial). Or given the size of Merville, you will rather have to search them in departement archives.

[Brian Bines]

Berger was shown as on a 'H' flight crash by Merville probaly due to Brennstoffmangel. Another 4/JG2 pilot is shown as falling in combat on the 21st.Sept by St.Juist, however there appears to be a lot of these,

Regards

Brian Bines

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks gentlemen,

"Brennstoffmangel" is equivalent to "short of gas" ?

GC

[Matti Salonen]

This would fit, except that it was on Wednesday:
1943-09-15, 1./JGr. Ost, FW 190A-3, 5399, 5 weiße, Merville, 20 km nordwestlich Toulouse, Absturz um 10.43 Uhr nach Hindernisberührung infolge Bedienungsfehler. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Geißler, Erich, tot
Dagneux/Frankreich, Block 37, Grab 262

Matti

[gilles collaveri]

"Merville 20 Km Nordwestlich Toulouse":
this is the one I am looking for at 99%.

Thanks a lot Matti

GC