ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 224412
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| Date: | Saturday 29 April 1944 |
| Time: | 15:20 approx |
| Type: |  Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4 |
| Owner/operator: | Stab/NJG 1 Luftwaffe |
| Registration: | |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Deelen Airfield, Gelderland -
 Netherlands
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | St Trond (Sint-Truiden) airfield, Belgium |
| Deelen airfield (NL) |
The Messerschmitt was force-landed with two 132 Squadron Spitfires in hot pursuit, Major Hans-Joachim Jabs and his crew scrambling free, the aircraft being shot up and burning out.
The following is taken from Wikipedia:
On 29 April 1944 Jabs paid a visit to fellow night fighter pilot Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer and his Gruppe at St. Trond, Belgium. In mid-afternoon through cloudy and foggy skies Jabs made the short trip back to his home base at Deelen. As Jabs approached Deelen he could see a small group of single engine fighters low over the airfield, which he took to be German. The aircraft, in fact, were from No. 132 Squadron RAF, led by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Page, who had taken a flight of Spitfires on a low level mission looking for enemy aircraft. The approaching twin engine fighter was just what Page was looking for. As Jabs continued his approach he saw the aircraft turn toward him. Realizing his mistake, he flew toward his attackers and through some cloud. Emerging on the other side he found himself approaching head on the Spitfire of New Zealander John Caulton. As the two aircraft rapidly closed both began firing, but Jabs' twin 30 mm cannon took effect first, ripping open the Spitfire's drop tank and putting hits on the engine and wing. Flying past, the undamaged Spitfires regrouped and turned to attack again. Jabs attempted to reach the cover of his airfield. As the Spitfires approached from behind, Jabs surprised them by turning into them again. Both sides were firing as they closed. For a brief moment one of the Spitfires was caught by the heavy forward guns of the Bf 110. It was engulfed in fire and crashed to earth. Jabs' aircraft had also taken several hits, and was losing power in one of the engines. He made an abrupt hard landing, and with the aircraft still rolling he and the crew scrambled for cover while the airfield's Flak batteries attempted to drive off the attackers. Despite the fire from the field's defenses, the Spitfires strafed the Bf 110, setting it ablaze.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Joachim_Jabs
LW Losses by Michael Balss
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1944 part two
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Apr-2019 13:56 | TigerTimon | Added |
| 01-Jan-2020 17:09 | stehlik49 | Updated [Operator, Destination airport, Operator] |
| 06-Apr-2020 15:56 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time, Operator, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 06-Apr-2020 15:58 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time] |
| 06-Apr-2020 15:58 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time] |
| 16-Jun-2022 02:39 | Ron Averes | Updated [Location] |
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