WW2 Aviation Photos

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Battle of Britain period

28th August 1940, the 7th Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 were on a free-lance patrol over Dover when at 16,000 feet they were attacked by Hurricanes of No.56 Squadron.

Oberfw. Artur Dau (seen here taking a drink), flying Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4, Werke No.1523 and coded 14+ was shot down at 16.55 hrs by Sgt. George Smythe of No.56 Squadron, forcing Dau to bale out. He was captured unhurt near Hougham. His Messerschmitt Bf 109E dived into the ground on fire at Garden Wood, Poulton Farm, South Alkham.

Seconds later Sgt. George Smythe's Hurricane Serial No.N2523, was hit by another Messerschmitt Bf 109E, possibly Artur Dau's wingman, forcing him inturn to bale out. His Hurricane crashed into Ladwood, Ladwood Farm, Acrise.

Sgt. George Smythe wrote in his Combat Report:

'I was Green 2 when we were ordered to engage a fighter formation at 20,000 ft between Dover and Folkestone. I selected two Me109s and got on their tails. They were gradually pulling away from me after having dived on me.'

'I fired several long bursts at ranges between 300 and 400 yards. I was then attacked from the rear by another Me109. I fired a final burst at the E/1 to port and broke away. As I was breaking away a cannon or large bore bullet passed through the hood over my head, through my windscreen, the armour plated cowling on the gravity tank and the petrol tank itself. I was immediately drenched with petrol and was obliged to bale out and landed two miles from Hawkinge. On arriving at Hawkinge I was informed by the Duty Pilot that the pilot of the E/A I attacked baled out as well and landed in the vicinity of the aerodrome.'

'I received a few scratches on my face from the glass from the windscreen.'

These famous photographs were taken of the capture of Oberfw. Artur Dau and shown as a set of propaganda photographs depicting the welcome given to captured Luftwaffe pilots. It shows Artur being offered a cigarette and some whisky before being marched off into captivity.

Both the Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Hurricane crash-sites have been excavated by members of the Museum and both aircraft and airmen are commemorated in the Museum in displays of artefacts recovered from their respective crash-sites.

We were in contact with Artur Dau in the 1970s and early 1980s and photographs donated by him of his time training in Germany and later in Occupied France accompany his display in the Operation Block.
(Kent Battle of Britain Museum)

Churchill is seen in this photograph walking away from the crash-site of Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4, Werke No. 0941 of Stab 1/JG 3 which was shot down at 4.25pm on Wednesday 28th August 1940, eighty-two years ago today.

It was probably shot down by Sgt. Hamlyn of No.610 Squadron and Flt/Lt. Weaver of No.56 Squadron in combat over Dover. The pilot, Leutnant Landry, baled out and was captured severely wounded. He succumb to his wounds on 23rd September 1940. His aircraft crashed on Church Farm, Church Whitfield.

Items taken at the time, together with items excavated from the crash-site of Lt. Landry's Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4, can be seen on show in the Operation Block at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust at Hawkinge.

Winston Churchill visited the burning remains of the enemy fighter and asked: 'Is he one of their lads?'. On being told that he was, Winston Churchill is reputed to have replied: 'Good! That's another on the long list.'

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He111 in einer Montagehalle in einem Flugzeugbauwerk, wohl Rostock oder Neubrandenburg

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Bachem Natter Ba 349

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Stuka being dismantled near Tobruk, Libien, 1941

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He 111 over London, November 1940

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Hans Joachim Marseille with his mother. This photo was taken just one week before he died.

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Mai 1940 über Frankreich

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Diese Maschine mit der Kennung "weiße 13" ging am 01.01.1945 kurz nach 9 Uhr bei dem Unternehmen "Bodenplatte" verloren. Der Flugzeugführer Uffz. Herbert Maxis von der 13./JG 53 musste die Maschine nach einem Angriff auf Stellungen der 455th AAA batallion in der Nähe vom Oberfelsberg Bruchlanden und wurde daraufhin beim aussteigen aus seiner Maschine von amerikanischen Soldaten erschossen.

Im Jahre 1987 wurden von Raymond Wagner (Deutschland) an der Stelle der Bauchlandung diverse Überreste der Maschine geborgen, darunter die Tragflächen, die mittlere Rumpfsektion und einige andere kleinere Teile.

Für die Rekonstruktion der Bf 109 G-14/AS, (Slowakisches Technik Museum) wurden kleinere Teile der Maschine von Herrn Wagner verwendet.

Die Tragflächen der WNr. 784993 wurden von Herrn Wagner an Herrn K. Steiner nach Österreich verkauft. Dieser verwendete sie für seine Rekonstruktion einer Bf 109 G-6, (Kurt Steiner).

Die Rumpfsektion der WNr. 784993 wurden von Herrn Wagner an einen unbekannten Interessenten verkauft.

Herbert Maxis was born Nov. 20, 1920, in Berlin-Friedrichshagen, in the Treptow-Kopenick district of Berlin, Germany. When World War II came, he was married to Felicitas Maxis. He became a Luftwaffe pilot. On January 1st, 1945, he was flying as part of the German "Operation Bodenplatte" (Operation Baseplate), an attack on US and Allied airfields in France and Northern Europe. His group, IV/JG53, Squadron 13, was flying from the Stuttgart area of Germany, to attack the US airfield at Metz, France. He was flying an ME-109/G14/AS, tail number 784993, "White 13", for the large number painted on the side of the aircraft. In the early morning hours of that New Year's Day, he passed over the village of Ober-Felsberg, in the Uberherrn-Saarlouis district of the Saarland. For some reason, instead of proceeding on to the primary target airfield at Metz, some 20 miles further west, he peeled off to attack an American convoy traveling toward Ober-Felsberg from the nearly town of Ittersdorf. As he swung around into the attack, some 100 feet over the ground, American gunners began to fire at his plane and hits were scored. He also opened fire with his guns and wounded at least two American soldiers. Although men were firing machine guns and small arms fire at him from the ground and village, the credit for the shootdown went to Flenory Griggs of Battery 'A', gun crew #1, of the 455th AAA Bn., of Patton's Third Army, XX Corps. Maxis managed to make a perfect belly landing in the ME-109. Some say he was wounded as he opened his cockpit and stepped from the plane. Eyewitnesses say he stepped onto the wing, and raised his hands to surrender. Others say he reached into his flightsuit, as if to pull a pistol. Whatever the event, a nearby field artillery soldier shot Maxis in the head, killing him. He body lay across the wing of the plane. Many photos were taken of this aircraft. US soldiers came (from HQ) and removed the body. By that time, his flight gear had been taken as 'souvernirs'. Apparently, the dog tags (his ID # was 69-010-125) were taken as well. As a result, his grave has never been located and he is still listed as Missing in Action. He was 24 years old when he died...His plane, "White 13", was buried in a trench and re-discovered in 1987. The remaining parts of the airframe were restored with parts from other German aircraft and is currently on display in the AVIATICUM Museum in Werner Neustadt, Lower Austria.

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Montagehalle im Weser-Flugzeugbau, Tempelhof, 1943

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Falaise, Frühsommer 1940, I. Gruppe Stukageschwader 1

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Walter Krupinski, 197 victories und Erich Hartmann, 352 victories after receiving the Eichenlaub, March 1944

[Kenny Andrew]

They were both totally drunk in this picture,  Hartmann was reprimanded for trying to grab the Fuhrers cap    

[Gildwiller1918]

I guess if I had to fight in those conditions and deal with the bureaucracy, I would be hammered as well.

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Sightseeing at the Akropolis

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Walter Nowotny with his flak damaged Fw 190 on the Eastern Front

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Hans-Ulrich Rudel (1916-1982) with his radio operator/rear gunner, Oberstabsarzt Dr. Ernst Gadermann (1912-1972)
Both flew more than 800 missions together