Date: 8th July 1940
Time: 3.45 p.m.
Unit: 4 Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 51
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3
Werke/Nr. 1162
Coded: 4 + (White)
Location: Bladbean Hill, Elham, Kent.
Pilot: Leutnant. Johann Boehm. POW.
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was damaged in combat by Sergeant E. A. (Boy) Mould in a Spitfire of No. 74 Squadron and forced to land at Bladbean Hill. Pilot taken prisoner. Aircraft captured damaged. This was the first German fighter to be shot down over the UK.
COMBAT REPORT: Sgt. E. A. Mould 08.07.1940.
I was Red leader of A flight No. 74 Sqdn, with No. 2 of Blue Section also in company. The four of us were on interception patrol over Dover when I sighted four Me 109s flying in line astern on my starboard beam. I gave the order, Line astern and turned to starboard, climbing up under the tail of the rear Me 109. I gave him a short 30 degree deflection shot and he immediately half-rolled and dived to ground level followed by Red 2.
In trying to follow him I blacked myself out and lost sight of him, but I saw another Me 109 also flying at low level so I dived on him from about 3,000 feet. He immediately dived to ground level and used evasive tactics by flying along the valleys behind Dover and Folkestone, which only allowed me to fire short deflection bursts at him.
After two of these bursts smoke or vapour came from the radiator beneath his port wing and other bursts appeared to enter the fuselage. He eventually landed with his wheels up as I fired my last burst at him in a field near Elham. The pilot was apparently uninjured and I circled round him till he was taken prisoner.
Extract from A.I.(g) Dated 09.07.1940.
Messerschmitt 109 brought down by fighter action at Elham, Kent. This aircraft had only a few 303 bullet holes, but the vital shot pierced the petrol tank which was not self-sealing. The pilot did a crash landing in a field with the undercarriage retracted, and the aircraft is in fair condition. The fuselage complete with wireless, instruments and gun site is being forwarded to R.A.E. Two 20mm cannon guns and two 7.9mm machine guns were fitted. No armour plate was fitted.
Leutnant. Boehm being taken into captivity.
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 Wnr.1162 Bladbean Hill (via King)
Researched by Melvin Brownless and David King A.R. Society.
