Hi all, Is anyone aware of a way of tracing aircraft details/pilot names of German aircraft that were shot down by light anti-aircraft batterys? For context, I have been researching my grandfather's history for the last 5 years or so. He was in the 109 (Royal Sussex) LAA, RA. Having gone through the regimental War Diaries, it records that his battery got a shared Cat 1 (shot down) ME 109 on 4th July 1944 (the diary also provided map reference for where it crashed). If possible I would like to find out information about the pilot and aircraft. In the past I had information from 2 TAF records, but I suspect that as this was shot down by LAA, that it is not likely to be listed in this (it also does not tend to provide info about the shot down plane, rather who shot it down). Is there another way of tracing German aircraft details? Many thanks as always for the help! Ian
This is probably the best source for information as a large number of Luftwaffe researchers post on it: Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum - Powered by vBulletin I'm a member there as are a number of other people on this forum too. I'd be happy to repost your query there and see what results come up. The only further information that would be a help would be any location information you can provide to narrow down the search area. Cheers Mark
Hi Mark, it would be great if you could repost my query for me, thank you. The War Diary gave the the coordinates of 922784 and the LAA battery were based at Lantheuil, Normandy. Having played around with a coordinates translator website, I think the prefix to the numbers would be VT 922784 which then translates to 49'16'13N, 0'31'08W which looks to be in the right sort of area, but I am not sure how accurate that translation is. Thanks, Ian
Doesn't look like anyone on the 12 o'clock high forum had the info but thanks for trying. If anyone else has any ideas on how I might be able to track the aircraft and pilot, please let me know. Many thanks and kind regards, Ian.
Here's another two site that gives details of lost Luftwaffe aircraft that I have found useful in the past. Main Page - Luftwaffedata Aircrew Remembered: world's premiere aviation personal history site
I know nothing about these two other than the two pilots below were posted as missing/ died and I wouldnt have a clue about co-ordinates but these might give someone something to work on? Gfr Franz Rehsler`s body was recovered as recently as,I think, 2005? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unit;- 10./JG 27, Aircraft ;- Bf 109 G-6, Serial :-? Date of Loss 04/07/1944 Location , Raum Caen, Reason;- Unknown Damage ;- 100 %. Pilot;- Uffz Max Binder, Fate;- Killed Burial/Commemoration ;-La Cambe/France, Section 16, Grave 235. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unit;- 15/JG-27, Aircraft ;- Bf 109 G-6, Serial :- 413561 Date of Loss 04/07/1944 Location , Lasson, Calvados /Invasion Front Reason;- Unknown Damage ;- 100 %. Pilot;- Gfr Franz Rehsler, Fate;- Killed Burial/Commemoration ;-La Cambe, Section 47, Row 7, Grave 280 c ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. There are others however I think (unsure) they were listed as lost in aerial combat? If anyone has the full book "La Luftwaffe face au débarquement allié." Messerschmitt 109 G and Focke Wulf 190 A losses in Normandy and the surrounding area, 6 June till 31 August 1944 Published on 1 May 1999 by Jean-Bernard Frappé and can read French then this publication may hold the answer to your question. Regards Kyle
Having looked at the above pilots, I am inclined to think that Gfr Franz Rehsler might be the one. It is not concrete as there is a discrepancy between the war diary co-ordinates, and the location given in the above record, but the two towns are very close so potentially the wrong town name was recorded? Anyone got thoughts on that? (although the other pilot's location was Raum Caen translates to "around Caen" so it could also be them!) I have attached the relevant war diary page, as well as the co-ordinates translator and google maps image which shows where Lantheuil and Lasson are.
Kyle, do you have any further information/articles, or remember how you heard about the recovery of the body? Regards, Ian
Hello Ian, I`m not 100% about this but I believe he was recovered from a field grave which was west of Lasson Church ? The original file was FOREIGN AND ALLIED AIR FORCES (Code B, 92): German dead overseas: burial returns (RAF Form 1755) AIR 2/ /8737 but where the reburial info originated I`m not sure.Sorry. Franz Rehsler was born Hainburg an der Donau on 02nd December.1923. Kyle
For some unknown reason (maybe Continental Drift!) the Coordinates Translator systematically shifts the correct location by a couple hundred yards northwardish. For accuracy's sake the Map Reference should be drawn on a period map. It is somewhat closer to the village than calculated. MR922784 is the blue square on this extract from France 1-50,000, GSGS 4250, 7F-1 - Caen, 2nd edition 1943: Michel
Thanks Michel. I will be heading to Normandy next week and depending on the weather will be heading to this area. If I'm really lucky there might be a local that knows something.
