In Second World War some Luftwaffe planes need to land in Switzerland. Also some of them crashed.
But did any pilot or crew member used parachute over Switzerland in those days?
Luftwaffe over Switzerland
Re: Luftwaffe over Switzerland
According to http://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm on 16.5.1940 two jumps from a He 111P and on 8.6.40 one successful and one unsuccessful jump from Bf 110s.
Markus
Markus
Re: Luftwaffe over Switzerland
Hello to all 
; taken advantage of this thread........................
From dogfights to sabotage
On seven days of fighting between May 10 and June 8, 1940, the German Air Force lost eleven and the Swiss Air Force three crew members and as many aircraft. In addition, several airmen were wounded and aircraft were damaged. For more than eight months, the Swiss fighter pilots had had to watch idly as foreign planes flew over own airspace, but on May 10th the duel in the air began, which ended on June 4th and 8th in bitter dogfights with up to 29 German combat planes and 15 Swiss fighter planes engaged. The anti-aircraft defense with their cannons was also involved.
The military and diplomatic authorities became aware of the dangers of protecting neutrality in the airspace when the actions of the air police shifted to the political level. Was the Reich government's hidden threat intended to start a war? How could you save face and be compliant at the same time? On the one hand, German saboteurs were sent to Swiss military airfields, on the other hand, we released German aircraft crews from internment, brought German flight material back to Germany and had to avert a threatened coal blockade; Finally, even our air force was no longer allowed to fight, because the protection of neutrality in the air was restricted. Politicians got involved, and even Hitler got involved.
Who faced each other?
The German Air Force flew west from southern Germany to destinations south of Paris to Marseille. As a result of these flights, the Germans got over Swiss territory and thus within the field of fire of our defence. When Göring wanted to sell parachutes in Dübendorf, Switzerland, in 1927, he wrote in the guest book of the officers' mess: "I saw here with admiration what Swiss energy and prudence had achieved. May Dübendorf always remain the bastion from which the bold Swiss aviators soar to the glory and honor of their fatherland». At that time he did not yet know what would happen to him later as Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.
First it was the combat Kampfgeschwader "Boelcke" 27, "Legion Condor" 53 and "Greif" 55, equipped with Heinkel He-111 bombers, which used Swiss airspace for transit flights, with some damaged combat aircraft being followed by Swiss fighters on the return flight and by them, in some cases by Flak, were shot down. Angry about this, the German Air Force sent Zerstörergeschwader 1 with the Messerschmitt Bf-110 over French-Swiss airspace with the clear order to teach the Swiss a lesson and shoot down as many of them as possible.
The Swiss air force could only oppose them with the Messerschmitt Bf-109 equipped companies (Staffeln) 6, 9, 15 and 21 and the Morane company 13. All other aircraft were unsuitable for this or outdated. The anti-aircraft defense, which was only just beginning to be built up, had to contend with major material, technical and personnel difficulties, but was nevertheless able to intervene sporadically in the battle with 20 mm and 7.5 cm cannons.
On the Friday before Pentecost, May 10, 1940, the German offensive against the west began at 05:35 hours. For this deployment, Air Fleet 2 under General Kesselring and Air Fleet 3 under General Sperrle had over 3,000 aircraft at their disposal. Among them were about 1,000 Messerschmitt Bf-109 E-1, E-3 and the newly introduced E-4.
Viewed as a whole, the readiness for war of the Swiss Air Force was not optimal. Only 8 units were equipped with about 70 more or less up-to-date aircraft, but never all of them were available. This was in stark contrast to the high morale of the pilots and ground crew.
Sources: Duell der Flieger und der Diplomaten.
https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=a ... %3A%3A1338
https://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm
Cheers. Raúl M
.
; taken advantage of this thread........................From dogfights to sabotage
On seven days of fighting between May 10 and June 8, 1940, the German Air Force lost eleven and the Swiss Air Force three crew members and as many aircraft. In addition, several airmen were wounded and aircraft were damaged. For more than eight months, the Swiss fighter pilots had had to watch idly as foreign planes flew over own airspace, but on May 10th the duel in the air began, which ended on June 4th and 8th in bitter dogfights with up to 29 German combat planes and 15 Swiss fighter planes engaged. The anti-aircraft defense with their cannons was also involved.
The military and diplomatic authorities became aware of the dangers of protecting neutrality in the airspace when the actions of the air police shifted to the political level. Was the Reich government's hidden threat intended to start a war? How could you save face and be compliant at the same time? On the one hand, German saboteurs were sent to Swiss military airfields, on the other hand, we released German aircraft crews from internment, brought German flight material back to Germany and had to avert a threatened coal blockade; Finally, even our air force was no longer allowed to fight, because the protection of neutrality in the air was restricted. Politicians got involved, and even Hitler got involved.
Who faced each other?
The German Air Force flew west from southern Germany to destinations south of Paris to Marseille. As a result of these flights, the Germans got over Swiss territory and thus within the field of fire of our defence. When Göring wanted to sell parachutes in Dübendorf, Switzerland, in 1927, he wrote in the guest book of the officers' mess: "I saw here with admiration what Swiss energy and prudence had achieved. May Dübendorf always remain the bastion from which the bold Swiss aviators soar to the glory and honor of their fatherland». At that time he did not yet know what would happen to him later as Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.
First it was the combat Kampfgeschwader "Boelcke" 27, "Legion Condor" 53 and "Greif" 55, equipped with Heinkel He-111 bombers, which used Swiss airspace for transit flights, with some damaged combat aircraft being followed by Swiss fighters on the return flight and by them, in some cases by Flak, were shot down. Angry about this, the German Air Force sent Zerstörergeschwader 1 with the Messerschmitt Bf-110 over French-Swiss airspace with the clear order to teach the Swiss a lesson and shoot down as many of them as possible.
The Swiss air force could only oppose them with the Messerschmitt Bf-109 equipped companies (Staffeln) 6, 9, 15 and 21 and the Morane company 13. All other aircraft were unsuitable for this or outdated. The anti-aircraft defense, which was only just beginning to be built up, had to contend with major material, technical and personnel difficulties, but was nevertheless able to intervene sporadically in the battle with 20 mm and 7.5 cm cannons.
On the Friday before Pentecost, May 10, 1940, the German offensive against the west began at 05:35 hours. For this deployment, Air Fleet 2 under General Kesselring and Air Fleet 3 under General Sperrle had over 3,000 aircraft at their disposal. Among them were about 1,000 Messerschmitt Bf-109 E-1, E-3 and the newly introduced E-4.
Viewed as a whole, the readiness for war of the Swiss Air Force was not optimal. Only 8 units were equipped with about 70 more or less up-to-date aircraft, but never all of them were available. This was in stark contrast to the high morale of the pilots and ground crew.
Sources: Duell der Flieger und der Diplomaten.
https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=a ... %3A%3A1338
https://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm
Cheers. Raúl M
.- Attachments
-
- Alarm start! Pilots rush to their Bf-109...................
- image090.jpg (23.1 KiB) Viewed 997 times
Re: Luftwaffe over Switzerland
Hello to all ; more......................
The duels in the air.
Duels in the air.
On May 10, Captain Hörning and Lieutenant Ahl of Fliegerkompanie 21 had learned in time that a Dornier Do-17 had flown over Les Brenets-Burgdorf and they took off from Dübendorf to open fire on the intruding aircraft between Bütschwil and Altenrhein. The Do-17 crashed badly damaged and with injuries on board in the Austrian territory behind the border. After eight months of waiting and despite many air traffic control limit violations, it was the first successful attack on active duty.
On May 16, in a snowstorm, a He-111 of the German 9./KG 27 Squadron was lost and attacked between Dübendorf and Greifensee by Flab Detachment 34 (20mm guns) and the two Bf-109s of First Lieutenants Streiff and Kisling of the 21st Fliegerkompanie who had taken off from Dübendorf. The shells hit the He-111 exactly, the report recovered by German crew member Scholler dramatically specified. Radio operator Herzig and gunner Hobbie jumped out with their parachutes, were seriously injured and found. Pilot Riecker and his observer Scholler fled after abandoning their wrecked plane during an emergency landing at Kemleten, Illnau, but were apprehended near Kemptthal.
On June 1, several air space violations that day. Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor" was warned when the order was issued to drop bombs on railway junctions in the Grenoble area: "Be careful when flying over Swiss territory! Attacks by Swiss Bf-109s are to be expected». A staffel of He-111s flew over Switzerland. The Fliegerkompanie 6 with Captain Roubaty and Lieutenant Wächter fired at a Heinkel bomber at an altitude of 3000 m, which crashed near Lignieres (Yverdon). The five-man crew died.
An hour later, three Bf-109 patrols from Companies 6 and 15 took off as a staffel of Heinkel bombers flew over St-Imier on their return. Fighting broke out over Pruntrut. One He-111 had to make an emergency landing in Oltinque (France), three others were damaged. The German pilots "vowed revenge for the unjustly shot down comrades".
Sources: Duell der Flieger und der Diplomaten.
https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=a ... %3A%3A1338
https://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm
Cheers. Raúl M.
; more......................The duels in the air.
Duels in the air.
On May 10, Captain Hörning and Lieutenant Ahl of Fliegerkompanie 21 had learned in time that a Dornier Do-17 had flown over Les Brenets-Burgdorf and they took off from Dübendorf to open fire on the intruding aircraft between Bütschwil and Altenrhein. The Do-17 crashed badly damaged and with injuries on board in the Austrian territory behind the border. After eight months of waiting and despite many air traffic control limit violations, it was the first successful attack on active duty.
On May 16, in a snowstorm, a He-111 of the German 9./KG 27 Squadron was lost and attacked between Dübendorf and Greifensee by Flab Detachment 34 (20mm guns) and the two Bf-109s of First Lieutenants Streiff and Kisling of the 21st Fliegerkompanie who had taken off from Dübendorf. The shells hit the He-111 exactly, the report recovered by German crew member Scholler dramatically specified. Radio operator Herzig and gunner Hobbie jumped out with their parachutes, were seriously injured and found. Pilot Riecker and his observer Scholler fled after abandoning their wrecked plane during an emergency landing at Kemleten, Illnau, but were apprehended near Kemptthal.
On June 1, several air space violations that day. Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor" was warned when the order was issued to drop bombs on railway junctions in the Grenoble area: "Be careful when flying over Swiss territory! Attacks by Swiss Bf-109s are to be expected». A staffel of He-111s flew over Switzerland. The Fliegerkompanie 6 with Captain Roubaty and Lieutenant Wächter fired at a Heinkel bomber at an altitude of 3000 m, which crashed near Lignieres (Yverdon). The five-man crew died.
An hour later, three Bf-109 patrols from Companies 6 and 15 took off as a staffel of Heinkel bombers flew over St-Imier on their return. Fighting broke out over Pruntrut. One He-111 had to make an emergency landing in Oltinque (France), three others were damaged. The German pilots "vowed revenge for the unjustly shot down comrades".
Sources: Duell der Flieger und der Diplomaten.
https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=a ... %3A%3A1338
https://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm
Cheers. Raúl M
.Re: Luftwaffe over Switzerland
Hello to all ; more......................
The duels in the air.
Duels in the air.
June 2nd
A bomber from the German Staffel 8 of Kampfgeschwader 55 did not reach the target, Lyon airfield, because of an attack by a French fighter. As instructed, the pilot wanted to fly his He-111 back to Germany via Switzerland. The immediately alarmed Captain Lindecker and Lieutenant Aschwanden from Company 15 forced the Heinkel bomber to make an emergency landing near Ursins (Fig. 3) with gunfire. One of the three injured died in hospital as a result of a shot in the head.
June 4th
For the first time there were dogfights, which were turbulent. This time the German Air Force acted on clear orders to oppose the Swiss Air Force. To this end, it used Zerstörergeschwader 1 with 28 Messerschmitt Bf-110s and one Heinkel He-111. "The order was to fly up and down the Swiss border, challenge the Swiss fighters to air combat and shoot down as many of them as possible".According to a German pilot. The result: the Germans lost two Bf-110s, some wounded crews, a Swiss Bf-109 was shot down and the pilot killed, numerous aircraft suffered damage on both sides.
The German combat group shifted over French territory to the area north of La Chaux-de-Fonds and tried to lure the Swiss across. When they didn't succeed, they flew to Switzerland. The fighter pilots of Fliegerkompanien (Air Companies) 6, 9, 13 and 15 with a total of 13 Bf-109 and Moraine D-3800 climbed out as if from a startled wasp's nest. Between 5000 m and near the ground the most dogged dogfights developed in the area of Le Locie to St-Ursanne. No Swiss pilot saw how one of their own, Lieutenant Rickenbacher, was hit and crashed at Boecourt. As is often the case in aviation circles, Field Marshal Göring had a wreath laid at the funeral, but the population then tore into small pieces.
A German Bf-110 crashed near Maiche (France) as a result of the Swiss fighter pilot mission, the crew was killed. Another Bf-110 had to make an emergency landing at Le Russey (France).
Sources: Duell der Flieger und der Diplomaten.
https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=a ... %3A%3A1338
https://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm
Cheers. Raúl M.
; more......................The duels in the air.
Duels in the air.
June 2nd
A bomber from the German Staffel 8 of Kampfgeschwader 55 did not reach the target, Lyon airfield, because of an attack by a French fighter. As instructed, the pilot wanted to fly his He-111 back to Germany via Switzerland. The immediately alarmed Captain Lindecker and Lieutenant Aschwanden from Company 15 forced the Heinkel bomber to make an emergency landing near Ursins (Fig. 3) with gunfire. One of the three injured died in hospital as a result of a shot in the head.
June 4th
For the first time there were dogfights, which were turbulent. This time the German Air Force acted on clear orders to oppose the Swiss Air Force. To this end, it used Zerstörergeschwader 1 with 28 Messerschmitt Bf-110s and one Heinkel He-111. "The order was to fly up and down the Swiss border, challenge the Swiss fighters to air combat and shoot down as many of them as possible".According to a German pilot. The result: the Germans lost two Bf-110s, some wounded crews, a Swiss Bf-109 was shot down and the pilot killed, numerous aircraft suffered damage on both sides.
The German combat group shifted over French territory to the area north of La Chaux-de-Fonds and tried to lure the Swiss across. When they didn't succeed, they flew to Switzerland. The fighter pilots of Fliegerkompanien (Air Companies) 6, 9, 13 and 15 with a total of 13 Bf-109 and Moraine D-3800 climbed out as if from a startled wasp's nest. Between 5000 m and near the ground the most dogged dogfights developed in the area of Le Locie to St-Ursanne. No Swiss pilot saw how one of their own, Lieutenant Rickenbacher, was hit and crashed at Boecourt. As is often the case in aviation circles, Field Marshal Göring had a wreath laid at the funeral, but the population then tore into small pieces.
A German Bf-110 crashed near Maiche (France) as a result of the Swiss fighter pilot mission, the crew was killed. Another Bf-110 had to make an emergency landing at Le Russey (France).
Sources: Duell der Flieger und der Diplomaten.
https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=a ... %3A%3A1338
https://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm
Cheers. Raúl M
.- Attachments
-
- Fig. 3: The Heinkel bomber forced to make an emergency landing near Ursins...........
- image169.jpg (26.33 KiB) Viewed 748 times
Re: Luftwaffe over Switzerland
Hello to all ; more......................
The duels in the air.
Duels in the air.
June 6th
On a clear night, a German fighter aircraft, the type of which could not be precisely determined, flew from the north-east over the position of Anti-Aircraft Detachment 80 near Laufen. The projectiles from the 7.5 cm guns hit the plane in such a way that its crew had to bail out over France.
June 8th
No one knew in advance that the last major dogfight would take place on that sunny day. Again, the 1st Destroyer Squadron (1. ZG) was tasked with taking revenge on the Swiss. The order read: "Free hunting in the area above the Jura. All single-engine airplanes are adversaries». It all started with the shooting down of a Swiss C-35 reconnaissance aircraft. Two Bf-110s broke away from one squadron and fired at the C-35 until it hit the ground. Lieutenant Meuli (pilot) and Lieutenant Gürtler (observer) from Fliegerkompanie 10 died.
After that, the three destroyer squadrons 4, 5, and 6 formed three defense circles at 2,000, 4,000 and 6,000 m altitude with the staff wing in order to lure the Swiss fighters into this easily defendable tower position. These defensive circles spilled over into Swiss territory. The downing of Rickenbacher two days earlier, and now the C-35 crew, gave the Swiss pilots additional fighting spirit. By their own decision, the commanders of companies 6, 15 and 21 launched all Bf-109s that were ready to fly, 15 in number. From Ölten, Thun and Dübendorf they flew towards the Bf-110 and repeatedly attacked single-flying destroyers from an altitude of 7000 m. A wild dogfight raged in the Saignelegier-Oensingen - St-Ursanne area and tore the destroyer unit apart.
Captain Hörning: «It was a fight with unequal means. Once we got into the tower in the attack, we should find that at least 1 or 2 swarms (section of 4 planes) from higher floors came down and fired on us. So, for better or worse, we would have to stop firing forward and find a downward exit in the vertical combat maneuver that we had diligently practiced in the sweat of our brow as a disengagement against an opponent who was in a more favorable position. Such disengagements have been made up and down».
Casualties: Lieutenant Hornberger received 34 hits in his Bf-109. He himself was seriously injured by shots in the lungs, back and pelvis, but was able to make an emergency landing in Bözingen with the greatest willpower. Several Swiss aircraft were damaged by gunfire. A German Zerstörer landed badly damaged near Rechesy (France), another was pursued by our fighters to Friengen and shot down there (crew dead). In addition, two German crew members were wounded, who died on the return flight or shortly afterwards. At the same time, Flab Detachment 80 in Laufen fought a wrecked Bf-110 with its 7.5 cm cannon and forced it to make an emergency landing near Oberkirch (Fig. 4).
Sources: Duell der Flieger und der Diplomaten.
https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=a ... %3A%3A1338
https://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm
Cheers. Raúl M.
; more......................The duels in the air.
Duels in the air.
June 6th
On a clear night, a German fighter aircraft, the type of which could not be precisely determined, flew from the north-east over the position of Anti-Aircraft Detachment 80 near Laufen. The projectiles from the 7.5 cm guns hit the plane in such a way that its crew had to bail out over France.
June 8th
No one knew in advance that the last major dogfight would take place on that sunny day. Again, the 1st Destroyer Squadron (1. ZG) was tasked with taking revenge on the Swiss. The order read: "Free hunting in the area above the Jura. All single-engine airplanes are adversaries». It all started with the shooting down of a Swiss C-35 reconnaissance aircraft. Two Bf-110s broke away from one squadron and fired at the C-35 until it hit the ground. Lieutenant Meuli (pilot) and Lieutenant Gürtler (observer) from Fliegerkompanie 10 died.
After that, the three destroyer squadrons 4, 5, and 6 formed three defense circles at 2,000, 4,000 and 6,000 m altitude with the staff wing in order to lure the Swiss fighters into this easily defendable tower position. These defensive circles spilled over into Swiss territory. The downing of Rickenbacher two days earlier, and now the C-35 crew, gave the Swiss pilots additional fighting spirit. By their own decision, the commanders of companies 6, 15 and 21 launched all Bf-109s that were ready to fly, 15 in number. From Ölten, Thun and Dübendorf they flew towards the Bf-110 and repeatedly attacked single-flying destroyers from an altitude of 7000 m. A wild dogfight raged in the Saignelegier-Oensingen - St-Ursanne area and tore the destroyer unit apart.
Captain Hörning: «It was a fight with unequal means. Once we got into the tower in the attack, we should find that at least 1 or 2 swarms (section of 4 planes) from higher floors came down and fired on us. So, for better or worse, we would have to stop firing forward and find a downward exit in the vertical combat maneuver that we had diligently practiced in the sweat of our brow as a disengagement against an opponent who was in a more favorable position. Such disengagements have been made up and down».
Casualties: Lieutenant Hornberger received 34 hits in his Bf-109. He himself was seriously injured by shots in the lungs, back and pelvis, but was able to make an emergency landing in Bözingen with the greatest willpower. Several Swiss aircraft were damaged by gunfire. A German Zerstörer landed badly damaged near Rechesy (France), another was pursued by our fighters to Friengen and shot down there (crew dead). In addition, two German crew members were wounded, who died on the return flight or shortly afterwards. At the same time, Flab Detachment 80 in Laufen fought a wrecked Bf-110 with its 7.5 cm cannon and forced it to make an emergency landing near Oberkirch (Fig. 4).
Sources: Duell der Flieger und der Diplomaten.
https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=a ... %3A%3A1338
https://www.kczum.ch/aviation/content_1940.htm
Cheers. Raúl M
.- Attachments
-
- Fig. 4: The Zerstörer Bf-110 in Oberkirch was hit by anti-aircraft shells and made an emergency landing......................
- image293.jpg (26.4 KiB) Viewed 638 times