Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U2, (Wk. Nr. 412951), coded "White 16" of I./JG 301, RAF TP814. This aircraft was captured when its pilot, Lt. Horst Prenzel, Staffelkapitan of JG 301, landed at RAF Manston by mistake, following a Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) sortie over the invasion area against night bombers on 21 July 1944. Another Bf 109 also attempted to land with him, but crashed.
In the early hours of the morning of 21st July 1944, two Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 fighters landed at Manston airfield. Both were from the same unit and carrying out a mission against Allied night bombers.
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U-2 Werke/Nr.412951, ‘White 16’ (pictured) piloted by Leutnant. Horst Prenzel of 1./JG 301 made a safe landing at Manston at 0240hrs after a ‘Wilde Sau’ sortie, thinking he was landing at a German airfield. Pilot uninjured and taken POW. Aircraft was initially evaluated at RAE Farnborough before passing to RAF Wittering. The Messerschmitt was written off after a take-off accident on 23 November 1944, the pilot unhurt. Leutnant Prenzel had twenty-five War Flights to his name.
Feldwebel Manfred Gromill of 1./JG 301 belly landed his Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 from 1./JG 301 at Manston at 0245hrs or 0300hrs (unconfirmed), due to lack of fuel. The pilot apparently made a good landing but thought he was going to overshoot the landing strip so raised the undercarriage thus causing considerable damage.
On 21st July 1944 at 02.40 Lt Horst Prenzel, Staffelkapitan of 1./JG 301, landed at RAF Manston thinking it was an airfield in Northern France. Two hours earlier he had taken off from Epinoy in Belgium on a Wild Sau mission.
It was sent to RAE Farnborough where it was tested by S/Ldr R J Falk. After eight test flights it was transferred to AFDU at RAF Wittering on 31st August 1944. At the AFDU it flew comparative performance trials with a Mustang Mk III, Spitfire MK IX and XIV. Similar tests were planned with a Tempest V but on 23rd November it crashed at Wittering during take off. The pilot was injured and the aircraft written off.