Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
WorldWar2.ro Forum > WW2 in General > Pilots & plane identification


Posted by: Alexandru C. September 20, 2012 01:15 pm
In 1944 my mother (9 years old) and grandmother have gone out from Bucharest in refuge, in the village Poiana de Sus, Prahova county. On 28 July 1944 a german airplane fell in the area of the locality. I have a small piece of plywood from that plane, taken by my mother. On the excerpt is written: german airplane fell to Poiana de Sus, in the air battles, on 28 July 1944, at 11.30 a.m.
I did not find the place on the map, from what I know is between Bucharest and Ploiesti, probably an older name.
Do you think we can identify the pilot and the fighter airplane?
I also have a piece of aluminum from the fuselage of an american plane, not understand well the name of the locality (probable near Poiana), I’ll come back with details.
Many thanks,
AC

Posted by: Florin September 21, 2012 01:15 am
Can you try some digital photos of the pieces you have, and attach them here using ImageShack ?

Posted by: Cantacuzino September 23, 2012 07:06 pm
QUOTE
n 1944 my mother (9 years old) and grandmother have gone out from Bucharest in refuge, in the village Poiana de Sus, Prahova county. On 28 July 1944 a german airplane fell in the area of the locality. I have a small piece of plywood from that plane, taken by my mother. On the excerpt is written: german airplane fell to Poiana de Sus, in the air battles, on 28 July 1944, at 11.30 a.m.
I did not find the place on the map, from what I know is between Bucharest and Ploiesti, probably an older name.
Do you think we can identify the pilot and the fighter airplane?


Are you sure that this place was in Prahova county ?

On that day ( 28 July'44) german fighters ( JG53, JG77) did all the fight over Dambovita county ( in the Titu area).

There is a Poiana village in Dambovita county ( between Potlogi and Lunguletul) where a german plane crashed on that day. The Bf 109 G6 Wnr 165685 "white 13" was shot down by Mustangs from 31FG. The pilot Ofw. Johan Pichler ( 7./ JG 77) jumped but opened to late the chute (trying to avoid Mustangs shootings) and broke his legs, ending his career as a pilot.

Posted by: Dénes September 24, 2012 05:12 am
QUOTE (Cantacuzino @ September 24, 2012 01:06 am)
The pilot Ofw. Johan Pichler ( 7./ JG 77) jumped but opened to late the chute (trying to avoid Mustangs shootings) and broke his legs, ending his career as a pilot.

Pichler was picked up by Soviet soldiers from his hospital bed in Bucharest and taken into captivity, despite his illness.

Gen. Dénes

Posted by: Alexandru C. September 24, 2012 06:15 pm
I’ll come back with pictures, but in a few days.
In the notes appears only Prahova county.
However, from what you say the data lead to Dambovita, where there are two villages: Poiana (found also as Poiana de Sus) and Poienita.
On the other hand, I looked on the map and found a village with name that looks like the name written on the american plane fragment. This name is Crovu and is located also in Dambovita, nearby Poiana.
On that fragment is written: "American plane 2107000 crashed on 15 Apr. 1944 in the Crovu village".
AC

Posted by: Cantacuzino September 24, 2012 08:07 pm
[QUOTE]On the other hand, I looked on the map and found a village with name that looks like the name written on the american plane fragment. This name is Crovu and is located also in Dambovita, nearby Poiana.
On that fragment is written: "American plane 2107000 crashed on 15 Apr. 1944 in the Crovu village". [QUOTE]
AC

The info you have it's true and the fragment is from :

B-17G S/N 42-10700 "Princess No No" , 99BG, 347BS, 3 KIA, 7 POW Com. Crovu, Jud Dambovita, pilot 2Lt.Walter Petrokovich Downed by fighters on 15 april 44

Interesting among the two german pilots who claimed a B-17 shot down on 15 apil was Pichler ohmy.gif ( probably a shared victory with Gunther)


15.04.44 Ofw. Johann Pichler 7./JG 77 B-17  55 522 at 3.500 m. 12.55 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.143
15.04.44 Fhj.Ofw. Günther Schmitz 7./JG 77 B-17  55 449 at 5.000 m. 12.55 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.142

Posted by: Alexandru C. September 25, 2012 10:11 am
These are great info! What an extraordinary coincidence, hunted and hunter have fallen almost in the same place at a distance of a few months. “The puzzle” was solved, we can say smile.gif

Posted by: Alexandru C. November 27, 2012 06:38 pm
Finally smile.gif.
B17G : http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5200/b17g.jpg
Me109: http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5001/me109.jpg
Me109 probably: http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1210/foto0012hn.jpg

Posted by: Radub November 27, 2012 07:24 pm
I am not sure those parts come from a Bf 109.
Radu

Posted by: Alexandru C. November 27, 2012 09:01 pm
On the piece of plywood, on the reverse side, is written: “german airplane fell to Poiana de Sus, in the air battles, on 28 July 1944, at 11.30 a.m.” (mentioned in the first post)
On the second piece nothing is written, I suppose this because of the letter “ü”, It sounds more German, but who knows!
Alexandru

Posted by: horia November 27, 2012 10:04 pm
QUOTE (Alexandru C. @ November 27, 2012 09:01 pm)

On the second piece nothing is written, I suppose this because of the letter “ü”, It sounds more German, but who knows!
Alexandru

The second piece is from a Heine propeller

http://woodenpropeller.com/forumvB/showthread.php?t=2355

Posted by: Ferdinand November 27, 2012 10:20 pm
Maybe from small training aircraft? i have seen on net FW propellers were grey, BF109, Ju 88, 87...were black. Also were made by VDM. From what i saw....

Posted by: Ferdinand November 27, 2012 10:25 pm
looking in internet i found on this site that Messerschmitt Me 323D-2 Gigant had 2 blade wodden propeller made by Heine.

http://scilib.narod.ru/Avia/Lerche/photos.htm

Posted by: Radub November 27, 2012 10:26 pm
The German WW2 propellers were usually painted RLM70 Schwartzgrun. The Bf 109 had metal propeller blades.
I presume these parts come from a lighter plane.
Radu

Posted by: Alexandru C. November 28, 2012 09:37 am
Maybe is part from the vertical rudder unsure.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_variants

Posted by: Cantacuzino November 28, 2012 10:43 am
QUOTE
Maybe is part from the vertical rudder 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_variants




QUOTE
Bf 109 G6 Wnr 165685 "white 13"


The serial number of Pichler Bf 109 should be with metal rudder version.

Posted by: Radub November 28, 2012 02:41 pm
QUOTE (Alexandru C. @ November 28, 2012 09:37 am)
Maybe is part from the vertical rudder  unsure.gif
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_variants

The wooden parts were introduced on a limited number of aircraft in late-1944. There is no chance that any Bf 109 over Romania had wooden parts.
I think these parts come from a lighter aircraft, such as a trainer or a liaison aircraft.
Radu

Posted by: Alexandru C. December 01, 2012 02:10 pm
Of, of, ok... Maybe part from the tool box smile.gif . Just a joke!
Thanks, Alexandru

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)