Date: 4th September 1940
Time: 13.50 hours
Unit: Stab/Zerstörergeschwader 2
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 110C-4
Werke/Nr. 2116
Code: 3M + AA
Location: Mill Hill, Shoreham Downs, West Sussex.
Pilot: Oberleutnant Wilhelm Schaefer (Geschwaderadjutant) POW
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier Heinz Bendjus POW
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was shot down in combat by combined attack from :- T.F. Dalton-Morgan & G.W. Jefferies of No.43 Sqn. H.T. Gilbert of No.601 Sqn. H.W. Moody of No.602 Sqn.
Aircraft "A" was the normal mount of the Geschwader-kommodore , Obstlt. Friedrich Vollbracht who allowed Schaefer to fly his machine on this day.
Detailed to escort bomber formations to targets related to the aircraft industry in south-west London.
I was not down to fly this mission, as my machine had been shot down in the Channel on 11th August.
On the morning of the 4th September as the aircraft of I. Gruppe were started up and II. Gruppe were moving to their take-off position, the Geschwaderkommodore suddenly gave me the "green light" to take part in the mission in his machine, in his place.
With my Bordfunker, Unteroffizier Heinz Bendjus, I arrived at the airfield ten minutes later and found that the Kommodore's machine had one wing uncovered. As both Gruppen had already take-off , there was no time to warm-up the engines. Already, on take-off, there were problems as the tail unit was malfunctioning and the cold engine was not functioning properly.
I was not successful in my hope of catching up the rest of my unit before reaching the English coast , and so my flight was a solo effort to England.
From afar, I could see that the Me110's were caught up in a heavy dogfight. Although my left engine was still not functioning fully. I hoped in the meantime to link up with my Geschwader on the return flight. As a result of my stuttering engine I was neither high enough nor fast enough to catch up with my returning Geschwader and shortly afterwards was attacked by several Spitfires. As my chances in the forthcoming combat were slim, I took my first chance to dive towards the coast, that was a mistake. As I flew over the coast, coming towards me from the Channel were two fighters that immediately engaged me in a low-level combat. Fired at from both sides, but without success, I was hoping that they would soon have to break off combat due to low fuel, when a third fighter appeared above me, in a firing position, and turning, the full side of my Messerschmitt presented a good target. In spite of several hits, I was still able to control the aircraft, until the left engine failed and I could no longer do so. In order not to crash in flames, I shut off both engines, and carried out a belly landing in a meadow. The place of the force-landing was Mill Hill , Shoreham Downs; the time was 13:50 hours on 4th September 1940. With that, the active war service for my Bordfunker and myself ended.
I myself was not wounded, Unteroffizier Bendjus was slightly wounded. Our aim was to set the aircraft on fire was not to be. We were soon greeted by Home Guard, and transported into captivity to a nearby village. On the way we were greeted by a British officer, who claimed to have shot us down. He apologised for not being able to take us for a drink at the officer's mess with him.
The wife of the village Policeman, in whose kitchen we spent the first night, provided us with hot tea, toast, fish and sausage, for which I am thankful even to this day. Unfortunately, I don't have the names of these wonderful people, so I wasn't able to contact them post-war.
CRASHED ENEMY AIRCRAFT A.I.2(g) Report 1940
Me 110. Crashed on the Downs, one and a half miles north of Shoreham on 4/9. Markings 5N + AA (all black) NOTE incorrect code letters stated! Spinners red ring. (Lebens Gefahr) in red and each side of nose. Fitted with DB.601 engines.
Aircraft crashed following fighter action. A number of .303 strikes in both engines indicate these had cut out. Condition badly damaged. Armament standard. Armour: semi-circular plate 10 mm thick behind 4 staggered MG 17's, twenty nine and a half inches by seventeen and a half inches radius. 1 ft in front of this and just behind the ammunition boxes there is another piece of armour plate 8 mm thick, twenty nine and a half inches across and fifteen inches radius and pilot's windscreen protected with bullet proof glass. Crew of two taken prisoner.
Former Me 109 pilot Oberleutnant Schaefer (via Ellis)
Schaefer's damaged Me 110 under guard at Mill Hill, near Shoreham (via Ellis)
Looking at the crash site today, not much has changed in the area. (via Ellis)
Research Clive Ellis - Compiled by Melvin Brownless (ARS) February 2009
