Seeking photos of 9./LG1 Ju88 FL in France on 18.06.40

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

It has recently come to my attention that photos exist of a 9./LG1 Ju88A-1, with a partial code of L1+?T, that FL at près du Leuré, Le Grouanec, France, France, on 18.06.40 after being seriously damaged by AA fire.

Our entry in the EoE LW Loss DB:

"18 June 1940: 9./LG1 Junkers Ju88A-1. Shot down by AA fire west of Brest. BO Major Dr Kurt Kranz and FF Oberlt Kurt Sodemann both captured wounded, BF Gefr [ ] Reschke and BS Gefr Rudi Scheidies both captured unhurt – all later released. Aircraft 100% write-off."

Does anyone know of photos of this a/c that would show the full SKZ code or any other views of this a/c? Also, does anyone know Reschke's first name?

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Chris Simmonds has provided two eBay auction-image photos of L1+FT being towed away on a large farm cart by a tractor for salvage. This could be the Sodemann a/c. Does anyone have any photos of L1+FT at the crash site? I don't know if this was the only Ju88 from 9./LG1 that FL intact during the WC or BoB, and so I don't know if L1+FT could only be the a/c I'm looking for. In any event, if the buyer of the two photos of L1+FT reads this board, I would sure like to hear from him about getting copies of these two photos, or any others of this forced landed a/c.

[Larry Hickey]

Update,

Göran Larsson has now sent me a series of images of another, different Ju88A coded L1+FT at the crash site being salvaged in France. It seems that the photos referenced above may have been from Norway, and another replacement L1+FT was, in turn, lost to a forced landing in France. Again, if anyone has the originals for the latest images, I would greatly appreciate hearing from them. They apparently date from an auction back at the end of 2008.

If anyone else has images of 9./LG1 Ju88s FL during the Western Campaign, please let me know.

We're making some headway here, or getting more confused. I'm not sure which.

[udf_00]

Guess it's coded L1+, belly-landed and riddled starboard elevator.
http://www.absa3945.com/Pertes%20Bre...juin_1940.html

[Larry Hickey]

udf,

Thanx for responding. That's the photo that sparked this thread, although I was't aware of this post. We've now confirmed that the 9./LG1 Ju88A in question (Sodemann) was L1+FT.

[Larry Hickey]

Update:

In post #2 above, I referred to a Ju88A coded L1+FT being towed away after a forced-landing for salvage on a farm cart pulled by a tractor. I no longer think that this one might have come down in Norway

I think that according to the EoE LW loss DB, those photos show this one:

"21 May 1940: 9./LG1 Junkers Ju88A-1. Crash-landed near Cambrai, France, and possibly that attacked by F/L Leathart of No.54 Squadron west of Boulogne 1.57 p.m. BS Gefr Herbert Rose badly injured - admitted to hospital in Cambrai, BO Uffz Gottfried Jakubowski, BF Fw Friedrich-Karl Meinshausen, and FF Uffz Richard Tilsner all slightly injured. Aircraft 100% write-off."

Does anyone have any other photos of this crash, or the originals of the one mentioned in the post above? There were apparently two losses of 9./LG1 Ju88s during the WC with the code L1+FT; one on 21.05.40 and another, its replacement, on 18.06.40.

Can anyone be of further help here with photos or information?

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Here are the two photos from old eBay auctions that I believe show the 9.(K)/LG1 Ju88A L1+FT, that force-landed near Cambrai, France on 21 May 1940. There are a couple of other possibilities for Ju88 losses from that unit during the WC, one of which came down near Düsseldorf, Germany. One piece of evidence that would help confirm where this crashed is whether the farm tractor was one of French manufacture, rather than German. If it is French, then we probably have the correct identification.

These were purchased last summer by someone with the eBay code 1***i. If that person, or anyone who knows who this is would contact me, I'd appreciate it. Are the power poles or houses suggestive of a country where these might have been taken?

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-Z3P...-Z3PQhcw-L.jpg

http://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-V6w...-V6w7RwJ-L.jpg

I'm really hoping to confirm my analysis on this one, so any photos or help would be appreciated. Someone may also have photos of this Ju88 down at the original crash site, and I'd very much like to know about it if these exist.

[edNorth]

Seems be .... (possibly UK made?) Ford Tractor 1939 or there abouts.
Possibly some unlucky owner losing his brand new tractor.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Ford...d+Tractor+1939
http://www.my9n.com/images/tommoore_40Ford9N.jpg

[Larry Hickey]

Ed,

Thanx. Not much question the tractor in question is a variation of "The Wimpster" only with double drive wheels in the back on both sides. Does anyone know if Ford built tractors in 1939 in Britain in France, or would this have had to have been imported from the U.S.?

I'd say you're right that some poor farmer has just lost his tractor to the German war effort.

Regards,

Larry