1943-08-19 Bf109G-6

19.08.1943, 19:25 h, North Sea (Hoek van Holland), Bf109G-6, 20525, 7./JG1 Uffz. G. Schulze

(SGLO Loss Register)

Me 109 makes a crash landing.

In the south of the Netherlands fierce air battles unfolded. The Luftwaffe lost several fighters and on the allied side several B17 and escort fighters were lost. It is known that a 109 crashed on or near "De Beer" on the Island of Rozenburg. The pilot saved his life by using his parachute. (L. Prooi)

19.08.1943, 19:25 h, North Sea (Hoek van Holland), Bf109G-6, 20525, 7./JG1 Uffz. G. Schulze. (Source: SGLO Loss Register 1943)

Schultze, Gustav Fw 7/JG-1 2/5/1916

Bf 109G-6 # 20525 Work (lost 8/19/43)

Bf 109G-6 # 15363 Work (dissolves 09/10/1943)

Bf 109G-6 Update # 411 029 White 24 "(lost 08/02/1944)

Operational Fighter Clasp KIA February 8, 1944 in an aerial combat with a P-47, crashing near Arlon, near the French-Belgian border (L. Wiegels Hunter Blatt & 5 & 6, 2003). No known grave.

His 109 crashed Into the North Sea at Hoek van Holland on August 19, 1943, disposition unknown cause and pilot, an Uffz at the time.

His 2nd 109, Wk # 15 363, crashed at the airfield Eelde, Holland on 10 September, 1943, disposition unknown cause and pilot. (Deswarte)

The pilot is killed on 02.08.1944 and therefore survived the crash of August 19th.1943 as stated by the eyewitness that mention he bailed out and saved himself by parachute.

Possibly hit by the return fire of B17F (42-5392) of 303BG/427BS of 2nd. Lt. LH Quillen (42-5392) that also crashed in the same area near Hoek van Holland that day and possibly at almost the same time. the difference in time may be explained by the one hour time difference between German and UK time making the two crashes happen only 7 min. appart.

An Airial photo of the southern part of "De Beer" taken after the war in 1963 at the time the Europort was being digged which totally destroyed the original landscape.

source: http://www.natuurmonumentdebeer.nl/

August 19, 1943

Mission 85 - and 4.BW 1.BW attacks at the airports in Vlissingen (alternatively for Evere), Gilze-Rijen and Woensdrecht.

These attacks were carried out in phases as follows.

• 1. 58 B-17's 1.BW - composed 92, 305 and 306 BG - flew with a GP bomb loads of 880 x 300 lbs. to airport Flushing, accoording to schedule had to be bombed at 17.56 hours.

  2. 38 B-17's 1BW - a combination of 91, 303, 351 and 381 BG - flew towards Gilze-Rijen. Between 18.02 and 18.14 hours in total 519 x 100 lbs GP. Frag x 1220 and 20 lbs. were released.

  3. A combined force of 45 B-17's of 4.BW had destination airport Woensdrecht, because of cloud and fog the attack was broken off. They continued to Gilze-Rijen attempting to bomb the airport as an alternative target - the formation was taken under heavy fire by 2. / - And 3./665 which fired a total of 76 shells 8.8 inches - and then they continued onwords to Haamstede airport but eventually had to return empty-handed.

All FG's were present at full strength! 48 P-47's 4 P-47 FG and 49 FG's of 78 provided the penetration escort, 51 P-47's and 42 of 56 FG P-47's from the FG 353 withdrawel escort!

RAF Fighter Command had 41 Spitfires (Nos.303, 316, 331 and 332 squadron) that planned to rendezvous at 17.43 hours northeast of Ostend with the bombers that had Flushing airport as intended target, at about 18.00 hours another 73 Spitfires (Nos.129, 222, 341, 403, 421 and 485 squadron) intended to secure the safe return of the bombers.

Altogether more than 300 fighter planes, no wonder that it was assumed a typical milk-run! How different reality would be with 5 shot down B-17´s (with 51 crew members) and a forced landing while still forming formation.

In addition, a further 50 machines were damaged by Flak and enemy fighters with nine injured crew members! Also there was a P-47 escort lost.

The deployment of the Luftwaffe in Zeeland

The Luftwaffe was very much involved in the defense of this attack. Besides I / - and III. / JG 1 were also III. / JG 2, I. / JG 3, I. / - and III. / JG 26 more than 130 Focke-Wulf and Messerschmitt's. Above Zeeland - North of Knokke - came the first hard encounter between the Spitfires of the withdrawel cover and parts of III. / JG 1 in which no fewer than nine Messerschmitt's were lost!

JG 26 lost - mostly over the North Brabant - 4 Fw 190 and 3 Bf 109's, six as a result of engagements by both the P-47s and B-17 formations.