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Messerschmitt BF 109F 13014 was shot down in Plymouth Sound on 16th May 1942.

Types

Messerschmitt BF 109F-4

History

On 16th May 1942 at 12:52 pm, six aircraft from 10/JG 2 made a low-level attack on warships at anchor in Plymouth Sound.  Two bombs near missed SS Torkel and one near missed BV 7.  HMS Brocklesby was machine gunned and HMS Wolverine near missed by two bombs, one rating on the Wolverine was killed and three slightly injured on the Brocklesby. Cleveland, Brocklesby and Wolverine all opened fire and shot down one aeroplane which crashed into the sea in Cawsand Bay.

The aircraft shot down was a Messerschmitt BF 109F-4 (13014) Blue 8 piloted by Lt. Hans-Joachim Schulz. The body of the pilot was recovered on 2nd June from the crashed aircraft and was buried with full military honours in Ford Park cemetery by RAF personnel from Mount Batten. In 1959 the bodies of most German servicemen who died on British soil were moved to the German CWGC cemetery at Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, where Lt Schulz is now buried in Block 7, Grave 117.

Author David J.B. Smith researched the story of the loss of this aircraft and you can read the full account here: The Battle of Cawsand Bay

Location

A local Plymouth diver Peter Hearn recovered the DB601D engine from this aircraft from Cawsand Bay in 1982 when working at RAF Mount Batten, they dismantled it and found that the serial number stamped on the crank could identify the engine type. The engine was later taken to Cornwall Aero Park where it became part of an aircraft exhibition, the engine was seen at the park in 2013 but has since disappeared.

Please note that all aircraft in UK waters that have crashed during military service are protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Last updated 04 Sept 2021

Position GPS: Redacted