Force Landing of "Black 7" of 2./JG76 May, 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Can anyone help solve this mystery? Recently on eBay, another photo of a Bf109E of "Black 7" of 2./JG76 was sold at auction <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fs earch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3 DR40%26satitle%3D130076518054%26fvi%3D1&item=13007 6518054&rd=1>). Being along a road, this is a well-photographed incident, including a very similar photo on P. 376 of Dr. Prien's JFV Vol. 3, and another view on the next page. This time there is a caption written on the back of the photo which translates, "a force landed fighter in the vicinity of Mont..." the latter part of the word looks like "...cheni" or "...chene." Does anyone recognize what this location is? or can identify anything about this location from the background, including the farmhouse in the background? A clue might be another photo of this aircraft came up on eBay a couple of years ago with the note that it was at or near "Raucourt," which I have noted is south of Metz about 12 miles. Raucourt is in the Ardennes area of France, which probably indicates a date very early in the French Campaign, somewhere between about May 10th through May 14th. I note that on 11 May, I./JG76 moved to Wengerohr, about 60-70 miles NNW of Raucourt. Can anyone shed any further light on this force landing? I'm trying to determine specific location, date and, if possible, the pilot and circumstances of the force landing.

Thanx. Any help would be appreciated.

[John Beaman]

Larry:

Does Sedan fit the geographic scenerio?

[Larry Hickey]

Hi,

Further to this discussion, I note that there is another view of this aircraft (Photo#4836), showing pretty conclusively that the prop spinner was tipped in red, posted on "Falcon's Messerschmitt 109 Hangar (the David Weiss website)" with the caption that it was taken in June, 1940, at Weiler near Markirch, which I think may be in Luxembourg. Doesn't fit the French location, but may be another clue. I note that many of the Luftwaffe and Allied aircraft that were forced down or crashed during the Western Campaign sometimes sat on site for a considerable period of time before being recovered for repair or salvage, so a June, 1940, date is not impossible, even in light of my previous comments about this likely having come down during mid-May, 1940.

Thanx for any help.

[Larry Hickey]

John,

It turns out that there are at least 3 places in France called "Raucourt." One is near Sedan: "Raucourt-et-Flaba," in the dépt Ardennes, about 10 kms from Sedan (direction unknown). I note that Lt. Rudolf Ziegler of 1. Staffel made a force-landing on May 14th near Sedan, but he is the wrong staffel. There are a couple of other E-1s attributed as downed on the 11th and 13th. It isn't clear whether this is an E-1 or and E-3 from the photos.

We're still not there yet.

Regards,

[hihotte]

Holá Larry, I attach a photo which I found in a Scale Aircraft Modelling Mag of September 1987. The quality is bad but the prescription is kind of interesting. As you already have closed out Lt Ziegler as the pilot it may be Bernd Schulten. Nothing said about the location in the Mag. Could you tell us in which staffel Ziegler flew at that time pls and from where you have got the info? I am working on my private history of JG 54 incl I.JG21 and I.JG76 and collect whatever I can. I think the precise info about this crash besides others can be given by Christian who is a member of this forum and comments here occasionally. Hope it helps.

Cheers
hihotte

[hihotte]

Sorry Larry, here is the photo,

hihotte

[robert]

Hi,


the same photo is on page 24 of Pierre Watteeuw book: Les Pertes de la chasse allemande de jour en Belgique 1940-1945. Caption tells that this f/l occurred in May 1940. It looks like there is one black victory bar on the tail fin? I have a few photos of this plane and this black bar is visible only on the enclosed photo, however the quality of your scan is not good. I think this is a E-1 version but I`m not sure for 100%.

Regards

Robert

[hihotte]

Holá robert,
I have mentioned the bad quality of my scan, but the print does not give me any other chance. The important thing was the prescription.
But if you have a better opportunity for the image, feel free to post it here for all of us.
Cheers
hihotte