Junkers 88 Crash, Blewbury, Oxon ?

Blade

Getting back to the beginnings of this thread, I am intrigued about this so-called Ju.88 blade made of steel.

Is there any chance that we could see a photo of it? I doubt it is from this aircraft as the ones in the pic are aluminium alloy.

Anon.

I am not aware of any such operations flown from Stavanger against Oxford by the 110-C4 and think it most unlikely – and I cannot think what unit may have been involved.

ZG76 with the D model were in Norway and flew escort sorties across the North Sea on operations against the NE coast covering bomber aircraft, but I am not aware they ever flew as far as Oxford – and certainly not bombing. I cannot think why they would.

But I stand to be corrected…

In a straight line that’s about 1,200 mile round trip. Just about within the radius for something like the Bf110 C4 fighter-bomber, but certainly not comfortable.

Moggy

Nolan

Herbert who?

And he bombed you in Oxford, flying Me 110s, all the way from Stavanger?

And there is no reference to the Mickey Mouse emblem you mention in the Air Intelligence ‘G’ Report, by the way.

JU 88/St.Giles,Oxford/11/40

This is very unusual. I had seen this JU 88 exhibited in Oxford. As a child, I was hoisted up into the cockpit. The aircraft looked in excellent condition…someone muttered that the tanks had been hit…..the pilot had made an excellent landing. BUT…here’s a real catcher..on the front of the aircraft was a Mickey Mouse symbol. Years later, connected to Oxford years I met an ex Luftwaffe pilot(Herbert H)who had bombed me..they were aiming for the Morris Works in Cowley. Herbert was in Stavanger, Norway, flying 110’s…small world.At that time, Herbert was a Sgt/pilot..they flew in rank formation…the co and adjutant in the lead. Consequently, when they were bounced by spits, they lower ranks dropped tanks and got away..the co and adj..well, you can guess they rest.

Andy;

Many thanks! I really do appreciate that. I’m afraid 3U+KR has become a bit of a personal obsession, and even though most of the jigsaw has been completed, there are still some pieces I would love to try and find.

A crew photo is one, but when John Vasco said he didn’t have one, I sort of gave up, with him being “Mr Zerstorer” and all! Of course, there must be some official intelligence photos somewhere too. The known photo of 3U+KR appears to be a snap shot. I had heard the RAF took photos from all four sides of downed Luftwaffe aircraft, but that the collection was largely missing. However, how true this is, I don’t know.

The other thing was any possible interrogation reports. I simply haven’t had the time to get to Kew to find out.

I’ll wait with baited breath for any new leads…and thanks again for the offer of help.

Regards;
Steve

I will be going through the September 1940 illustrations (Vol 3) with the publisher at the end of this month and I will give you the heads-up if anything new on your specific interest emerges from the photo archive selection.

…Well, just got my copy of Luftwaffe Crash Archive volume one. Not had a chance to read through it properly yet, but first impressions are very good. This looks like it will build into a nice collection for the bookshelf!

Might have to wait a bit until I get to the 3rd of September though to see if there is anything new on 3U+KR….that would be volume three at a guess!

Regards;
Steve

Steve

I think your theory may well have some merit.

Andy

To be honest Andy, I had always taken this part of the story with a pinch of salt too! As you say, it does seem to be a very similar and recurring story when downed Luftwaffe aircrew are concerned.

To add to this, the story goes that Hans Grau said that he had been educated at Oxford before the war. Whether or not this appears in the interrogation report I don’t know.

Might I theorise that this could have been said, by Grau and other downed Luftwaffe airmen, to maybe placate their captors immediately after capture? Maybe to break the ice a bit and lend a bit of common ground? I would imagine there may have been the knowledge of the possibility of a good beating, or worse still, a lynching after capture, and I wonder if these things were said to calm the situation?

Regards;
Steve

PS. Sorry! I think that I am hijacking this thread! Many apologies…

Steve

I’d be cautious about the “educated in England” story.

It is a VERY common story that runs through so many accounts of downed Luftwaffe aircrew. I have got literally very many DOZENS of them!!(Almost as common as buried and crated Spitfire stories 😉 ) Another common one is that the pilot/crew member knew exactly where he was because he worked as a waiter at a local restaurant before the war.

I have no idea how or why this tale is so prevalent right across the UK with so many downed aircraft. My theory is that this originated with the capture of crew(s) who spoke English and their halting “I was educated in English” became corrupted.

It is a mystery how this originated. Whilst there might, perhaps, be one that stacks up (I haven’t found it!) it is also worth noting that I do not recall seeing any such observations in the RAF “K” reports on captured crew.

Andy! I would be greatly indebted if you did find the K report! 🙂

I’ve been piecing together a short history of this Bf-110 and the events leading up to and after the crash landing for my friend. He was a small boy at the time, and the incident has stuck in his memory ever since. He witnessed the aircraft circle the field, and the subsequent crash landing…and the following evening, was allowed a close look at the Messerschmitt. His Dad was one of those on the scene to capture the crew, but of course, the Bordfunker was critically wounded and Hans Grau gave up without a fight! Apparently his English was perfect…telling them that he had been educated in England.

I still can’t believe that I had the chance to buy the altimeter from this aircraft at Beltring about 15 years ago for £40…..I didn’t have the cash on me!! 🙁

Regards;
Steve

Steve

I am sure there is a ‘K’ report.

I will try to dig it out.

3U +KR on 3 September 1940.

That would be this one then, Steve?

I have I feeling that I have crew photos for this one, but not sure. Am afraid my photo of this aircraft is not particularly sharp.

Yes Andy! That’s the one. A crew photo for this aircraft would be magic! It’s the one thing that I haven’t been able to nail down yet…Pilot was Hans Grau. Incidentally, my friend lived in one of the houses in the top left of the photograph. I might also point out that the “then and now” photo in BoB Then And Now of the crash landing site was taken facing the completely wrong direction! 😀

The one other thing I wouldn’t mind finding, if it exists, is the interrogation report….maybe a trip to Kew.

Thanks again Andy!

Regards;
Steve

3U +KR on 3 September 1940. That would be this one then, Steve?

Thank you. 🙂

I’m happy to concur with you as I don’t recall seeing a picture of the old range hut (renewed circa 1973 – closed circa 1974!).

The old range hut as I remember it had a flat concrete roof, having spent many a sunday trying to warm up around the tiny stove in there after a few hours of shooting practice on the range. I first would have been there in ’72, can’t remember it changing at all and we might have still used the range beyond ’74.
If only I’d known about the crash site I would have had a good look around back then.

3U +KR on 3 September 1940.

That would be this one then, Steve?

I have I feeling that I have crew photos for this one, but not sure. Am afraid my photo of this aircraft is not particularly sharp.

re the doubts about material of the blades. The later A-4 variant had wide-chord wooden blades, but this example is an A-1 and the photo clearly shows bent metal blades.

Hi Andy;

Thanks for the heads-up on the book! That one had slipped under my radar completely, and now duly on order. A series of books like this are long overdue and will be a great archive on the book shelf.

Looks like I will have to wait for volume three for the particular aircraft I’m interested in…as it came down on September 3rd (Bf-110 3U+KR). Can’t wait to see if any extra information comes up as a good friend of mine got up close and personal with this aircraft as it came down on his farm!

Regards;
Steve

Volume 2 is out in June.

I spent most of last Wednesday with the publisher going through photographs for that volume which runs up to 31 August 1940.