Gefr. Rudolf FRANKE (JG 26)'s unknown crashplace

[ClinA-78]

Hello,

I would like to know the right crashplace of Gefr. Rudolf FRANKE (2./ JG 26), killed on the 18/03/44 during a bombing training mission.

In the VLM and Honor book, the crashplace is written as "ACHENY" sic. However this location doesn't exist.
This strange name may be a mispelling for "ACHÊNE" in Belgium or "ACHERY" in France (+/- 130 km between).

Franke was firstly buried in Heldenfriedhof Dinant (Houx) in Belgium. So we can presumed he crashed in Belgium even if there are exceptions to the rule.
A village named "Achêne" is situated roughly 15 km SE of Houx which should be a tempting location.
Mr Caldwell quotes the practice bombing mission near Namur (B) BUT the loss occured on a place mentionned as "Münster-Achery', adding some confusion!

Another source wrote also that Franke crashed ON the training range of ACHERY from a low level.

61st FS P-47's claimed also some FW 190's from Cambrai to Givet, the global combat area thus matches.

Is anyone willing to enlight his crashplace and/or confirm the bombing range near Achery cause I am a little bit lost...?

Matching is indeed a match.

I thank you beforehand of your attention and send my best regards.

ClinA-78

[ClinA-78]

In order to reanimate the post, please note "Acheny" is quoted in the honor book.

Am I wondering if Matti or someonelse has another guess?

Best regards

ClinA-78

[Matti Salonen]

I have Achêne, 9 km östlich Dinant.

Matti

[ClinA-78]

Hello Matti,

May I ask you where comes from that particular location (from P. Watteeuw for instance?) ?

Thanks

[Matti Salonen]

From Pierre.

Matti

[ClinA-78]

Thanks Matti. I am afraid this is the case 'snake bitting its tail' as I talked to Pierre about this possibility long time ago. Nothing news from him?

Here another document adding some confusion and stating "Achery".
So you may understand my problem now.

ClinA-78

[Matti Salonen]

To be sure we should have a wartime German map of Belgium and France. However, for the time being I believe, that Pierre's intepretation is correct. There is no logic, that the body had been transported from France so far northeast when Heldenfriedhöfe were available near Achery in France. Also, the 2./JG 26 was located at Florennes and again it is difficult to understand, that training bombing mission would have been flown far from the base.
Sorry, but cannot help more as a "non-expert Finnish".

Matti

[ClinA-78]

I do hope it crashed in Achêne. Nevertheless all my attemps to find witnesses (the few remaining) were unsuccessful but I still carry on.

Flying in rotte, It seems Gefr. SANDOZ was also attacked by the 61st FS P-47's, which claimed at least two low-level flying FW 190's. It should have been a material loss (if really occured) as Sandoz seems to escape the fight unhurt.

Best regards

ClinA-78