Date: 23rd August 1943
Unit: 9 Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 26
Type: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6
Werke.Nr. 20442
Coded: + 15 (Yellow)
Location: Hoornaar, Holland.
Pilot: Leutnant Gerhard Karl 59740/62 Killed (Born 29.01.1922 in Ahlsdorf / Merseberg.)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Believed shot down by Allied fighters during sortie to intercept incoming American bomber formation. A joint search and recovery operation was carried out by, Ed Ijsbrandij and his team from D.A.R.E (see our Links page) on the 19th September 2004.
Also helping the Dutch team was Melvin Brownless and David King of the "Aircrew Remembrance Society".
Hptm Klaus Mietusch presenting Hans Erbskorn the EKII, both
of these pilots would be killed by Autumn 1944. Lt Gerhard
Karl standing first left on photo. ( de Jong via Moeszner)
Construction label found at crash site Messeschmitt A.G.
8-109-333F
Parachute in very good condition recovered at crash site
One of the many Dutch and German banknotes found, this one
shows imprint from photo of the pilot
Ed Ijsbrandij of the DARE group visits the grave of Gerhard
Karl (July 2008)
Burial detail:
Ysselsteyn (Netherlands) Block BU Row 3 Grave 55.
