In a book I am reading at the moment "Landfall Ireland" it makes reference to the Swiss Air Force fighting against the Luftwaffe who viiolated their airspace, in some cases you had Me109's v Me109s over the Swiss Alps. Owen very kindly dug this info up on it for me: Feldgrau.net • View topic - Luftwaffe vs Swiss air force?! And here also: History of the Swiss Air Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
also found this... In May 1940, three Heinkel He-111s that had strayed into Swiss airspace were shot down by Swiss-flown Me-109Es. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring reacted by deliberately sending France-bound bomber formations over Switzerland with an escort of Me-110s. The clashes that ensued resulted in the loss of seven more German and three Swiss aircraft, after which Göring prudently relented Messerschmitt Me-109 » HistoryNet
The Swiss Air Force had a great track record against their German counterparts from what I remember reading. They reacted whenever possible to German or other nations planes overflying their territory. Regards Tom
Just dug out my reference book on the theme. Hurricane and Messerschmitt. by Haz Bowyer and Armand Van Ishoven. Grange Books. A whole chapter called, Defending Neutrality. I will post some photos from the book when I have scanned them, one shows a He 111 shot down by Bf 109E's of Fl. kp 15, near Ursins in May 1940. Regards Tom
Well done lads on the pics and info. By all accounts the Swiss gave as good as they got especially in 1940.
me109 Bf 109E-3a Werk Nr.2422 J-355 Swiss AF museum, Dübendorf, in swiss markings. More on Swiss Me 109. Me-109 Switserland J-355 again.
Remember the sayings of some veteran Swiss pilots. They had actually an inferior airforce. In number and in 'quality' - the best planes were the few 109E. But despite this and despite the success of the "Unbeatable Luftwaffe" they were keen to get in 'touch' with them. After the above mentioned incidences, there was quite a enheated correspondence on high level. The Swis airforce was ordered then to stay back by the gouvernment because the alternative announced by th Germans would have been a massive bomber attack on Swiss targets. Neutrality forced the Swiss pilots to intercept Allied bombers if the violated the Swiss airspace. This was done in a rather reluctant way and I believe that there was no allied bomber shot down. Many crippled allied planes did an emergency landing in Switzerland. The village I live and several other places in Switzerland were actually bombed by the Allies. The view of today says clearly that these were mistakes - but in 1944/45 some people used it to make propaganda against the Allied "Terrorbombers".
les Messerschmitt 109 Suisses A site dedicated to the Me109's in Swiss service. Its in French but is easily navigated.
Remember the sayings of some veteran Swiss pilots. They had actually an inferior airforce. In number and in 'quality' - the best planes were the few 109E. But despite this and despite the success of the "Unbeatable Luftwaffe" they were keen to get in 'touch' with them. After the above mentioned incidences, there was quite a enheated correspondence on high level. The Swis airforce was ordered then to stay back by the gouvernment because the alternative announced by th Germans would have been a massive bomber attack on Swiss targets. Neutrality forced the Swiss pilots to intercept Allied bombers if the violated the Swiss airspace. This was done in a rather reluctant way and I believe that there was no allied bomber shot down. Many crippled allied planes did an emergency landing in Switzerland. The village I live and several other places in Switzerland were actually bombed by the Allies. The view of today says clearly that these were mistakes - but in 1944/45 some people used it to make propaganda against the Allied "Terrorbombers". If I recall correctly Göring had to be reeled in from starting a campaign against the Swiss Air Force. That says a lot for the Swiss Pilots who engaged the Luftwaffe when overflying Swiss airspace. Regards Tom
The number of "incidents" was pretty high one source puts it at 6.501 and planes actually landing (or crash landing) in Switzerland at 168 US, 58 German, 13 British, and 8 Italian. Both Hitler and secretary of state Cordell Hull made protests (at different times) about the interceptions of the "trespassers". Planes actually shot down are reported as six US two British and around ten Germans. Following pics show a collection of US bombers at a Swiss Dubendorf airfield and of interned crews at the Chaumont grand hotel. About 1700 US airmen were interned in Switzerland. But my favorite pic remains the Me 110-G4 on a wooden trestle to point it's nose up to test it's radar .... View attachment 30462