Major Gordon Gollob  of 2nd group 3rd Fighter Squadron (Stab II./JG3) after returning from a combat mission sees a hole in the fuselage of his fighter Messerschmitt Bf.109F-4. 



Lucky escape

The wreck of “Rot 2” (Red Two), an Italian-built Reggiane Re.2002 of the Luftwaffe’s Fliegerzielgeschwader 2 (Fl/ZG2) abandoned at Lyon-Bron airport after the arrival of the Allies, September 1944. The Fl/ZG2, or Geschwader Bongart, from the name of his leader, Oberst Hermann-Josef Freiherr von dem Bongart, was a Luftwaffe’s specialized unit for air missions against the French partisans and equipped with the Re.2002, an Italian fighter bomber produced by Reggiane and Caproni. See also http://www.ww2incolor.com/d/661496-3/RE2002LW. Victor Sierra

“Rot 2”

On the 16th of May 1940, this Dornier Do17Z of 9./JG76 was badly damaged by ground fire during a low-level attack on Allied motorized columns near Avesnes and possibly, also attacked by Moranes of GC III/2. As a result it crashed at 12:30pm near a railway level crossing at La Graveline, a hamlet north of Beaumont, Belgium, with one of the crew members, Uffz G. Elterich KIA.
The 9th Staffel of KG76 was a low-level attack unit, their Dorniers Do17Zs being specially adapted for the role with extra armour protection fitted and a fixed 20mm MG FF cannon mounted on the nose.