Aircraft Details
Type: Dornier Do17Z, a twin-engine German reconnaissance bomber nicknamed the "Flying Pencil"
Unit: Aufklärungsstaffel zbV (Reconnaissance Squadron for Special Purposes), under Luftflotte 2
Code: B4+HA, identifying the specific aircraft within its unit
Mission: Reconnaissance sortie over Belgium during the German advance in the Battle of France
Incident Summary
Date: 25 May 1940
Cause: Shot down by British anti-aircraft fire, possibly from the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment
Crash Site: Residential buildings at 115–117 Rue Verte (Gruenstraat) in Luingne, now part of Mouscron, Belgium
Impact: The aircraft embedded into the roof and structure of the homes, causing severe damage
Casualties
German Crew (all killed):
Lt Herbert Mögelin (pilot)
Fw Günter Dorowski
Uffz Hans Metzger
Uffz Johann Steinhagen
Civilians: Two Belgian civilians also died in the crash
Burial: Initially buried in a field grave near the site, the crew was later reinterred at Deinze Cemetery and ultimately moved to the German War Graves Cemetery in Lommel, Belgium
Photograph Context
The image is a colorized version of a black-and-white original taken shortly after the crash
It shows the Dornier Do17Z embedded in the roof, with visible Luftwaffe markings
The photograph has circulated in historical forums and discussions, often cited as a dramatic example of aerial warfare's impact on civilian areas
Historical Significance
Highlights the vulnerability of reconnaissance aircraft during the rapid German advance in 1940
Illustrates the civilian toll of air operations in populated areas
Serves as a visual artifact from the early phase of World War II, often used in educational and commemorative contexts
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