Mission: Free-lance fighter sweep over Tunbridge, Kent.
Date: 27th October 1940
Time: 9.40 a.m.
Unit: 7 Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 54
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1
Werke/Nr. 3576
Coded: 13 + (White, bordered black)
Location: Near Lydd water tower, Lydd, Kent.
Pilot: Unteroffizier Arno Zimmermann (51577/Nr.13) POW. Born 26.10.1919 in Duisburg.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Engine damaged in combat with No.605 Squadron Hurricanes during free-lance fighter sweep over Tunbridge Wells.
Possibly that attacked by Sgt E. W. Wright. Aircraft belly landed on beach near Lydd water tower.
A.I.(k) Report No. 815/1940 states the following:
Started from Guines with the whole Gruppe at 08.35 hours, on free-lance patrol. The formation was flying at 23,000 feet on the return flight from London, when they saw a Squadron of Hurricanes below them. Some aircraft dived to the attack, but without success. As this aircraft was climbing again, a Hurricane got on to its tail and fired a burst through the engine. The pilot made for the coast, but the engine faltered badly, and the cockpit filled with smoke, so he was obliged to make a forced landing.
At the outbreak of war, this pilot was in Fliegerausbildungsregiment 11 at Schünwalde, where he was attending the Flugzeugführerschule A/E. He was then a Gefreiter. On the 15.02.40 he obtained his pilot's certificate, and on the following day he was transferred to Jagd Fliegerschule 3 at Stolp-Reitz. On the 08.05.40 he was posted to 2/JG21, which later became 8/JG54. On 01.08.40 he was promoted to Unteroffizier, and on the 01.09.40 transferred to the 7th Staffel. A week later he was awarded the EK.II (Iron Cross 2nd Class) by Fliegerkorps II.
Arno Zimmermann had made many war flights during the French Campaign and had taken part in 34 raids on London. A mark on the tail of the aircraft indicated that he claimed one victory against British aircraft.
A.I.(g) Report detailing the damage sustained during forced landing. (NA)
Above left: Uffz Arno Zimmermann (via A. Saunders). Right: His intact Me 109E on the beach at Lydd (via A. Saunders)
Armed sentry guarding the wreck to deter souvenir hunters!
Research: Melvin Brownless A.R.S. (2009)
