Airbattle over Simrishamn
{{Orphan|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = The Airbattle over Simrishamn
| place = Simrishamn, Sweden
| date = 3 April 1945
| territory = German retreat from Swedish airspace
| result = Inconclusive
| combatants_header = Belligerents
| combatant1 = {{flag|Sweden}}
| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}
| strength1 = 2 fighter pilots
| strength2 = 1 fighter pilot
| casualties1 = 1 killed
| casualties2 = None
| partof = World War II
| units1 = Reggiane Re.2000
| units2 = Dornier Do 24
}}
The Airbattle over Simrishamn, or Airbattle of Simrishamn (3 April 1945) was an aerial incident that occurred during World War II where a Swedish fighter pilot, named Harry Nordlund, went down in an attempt to repel a German aircraft violating Swedish territory.{{Cite web |title=minnen |url=https://minnen.se/tema/platser/9519 |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=minnen.se |language=sv-SE}} The German three-engined Dornier with three machine guns ended up retreating after another Swedish pilot, Sven Brise, showed up and repelled it from Swedish airspace.{{Cite web |last=Klinthage |first=Jörgen |date=2005-04-28 |title=Svensk jaktflygare sköts ner av tyskarna |url=https://www.sydostran.se/solvesborg/svensk-jaktflygare-skots-ner-av-tyskarna/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Sydöstran |language=sv}}
Prelude
On the 2 April 1945, as Nordlund was out on patrol, he came across a German plane, flying over Sweden violating its airspace. Nordlund tried to repel the Germans from Swedish airspace, which led to a heated aerial battle between the two aircraft. The incident happened just a few weeks before the war eventually ended.{{Cite web |title=Minnet av den nedskjutne flygaren Harry Nordlund (Motion 2016/17:1146 av Peter Jeppsson (S)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/minnet-av-den-nedskjutne-flygaren-harry-nordlund_h4021146/ |publisher=Riksdag |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}
Shelling
When the German aircraft noticed the Swedish aircraft attempting to repel it from the Swedish airspace, the battle broke out. The German Dornier started firing shots at Nordlund's aircraft and his plane engine eventually caught fire. Nordlund did not have enough time to manage to jump out of the plane, the aircraft eventually exploded, and Nordlund died with it. Nordlund's second in command, Sven Brise, was too late to witness what had happened, but afterwards he managed to repel the German intruder. It was only when he had returned to his airfield that he understood what had happened to his comrade. Harry Nordlund is known for being the first Swede ever dying in air combat over Swedish territory, and his intervention was for the protection of Swedish neutrality.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-19 |title=Minnesmärken över omkomna - SFF |url=https://flyghistoria.org/for-flygintresserade/forteckning-flygminnesmarken/minnesmarken-over-omkomna/ |website=flyghistoria.org |access-date=2024-10-26 |language=sv-SE}}
See also
- Skirmish at Sövde - an aerial incident between Sweden, a German and an American plane.
- German-Swedish skirmishes in Lapland - a series of confrontations between the Swedish and German militaries during World War II.
- Sinking of SS C.F. Liljevalch - a torpedoing by the Soviets of a Swedish steamboat near Västervik.