Messerschmidt Bf-109 G6 'Weisse 8' (WNr.412740) of 4/.JG 53 as flown by Lt. Harti Schmiedel from Vannes airfield on the 12th of June 1944. 

On that day, Lt. Schmiedel was shot down over the town of Le Rheu, west of Rennes, by 8th AF's 352nd FG 13 kills-ace Glennon Moran during an interception mission on B-24s. Harti crashed to his death in his plane, and was reported MIA since no wreck could be found. A farmer then reported he saw the plane go down, but local authorities could not find any evidence of the man's assumptions. The story was forgotten, Harti Schmiedel listed MIA, and the poor witness of the crash labeled crazy by other villagers, as he never agreed there had been no crash. He died without having ever been proved right. 

The plane and Harti's body were not to be found before 2004 when a local association located the crash spot and dug the plane out. The reason why no wreck was found in 1944 is that the plane crashed in a swamp area, which then dried, emprisonning Schmiedel and his plane. Reports of such crahes and dug-out planes are numerous around Europe. 
Along with Harti's remains, searchers found his personal diary and could contact his girlfriend of the time, Margot, still alive and who even in her 80s said she knew she'd hear from Harti again.  

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This skin was made by Nico, based on an original HR camo paintwork by DeanH and a 3dz Model by Illu.


Watch your Six !

Nico

 
 