Description:

ME-109 ENGINE VALVE, SHOT DOWN DURING BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Complete engine valve with sprint and ring, approx. 5 in. long, recovered from the wreckage of Messerschmitt Me-109 E1, serial no. 4842, the aircraft flown by Lieutenant Erich Bodendiek of 4/JG 53. The valve is set on a fitted wood base with a typed descriptive label before it. The plastic cover for the label is aged and warped but the typed description itself is fine. From the decades-old collection of the British owner of a small aviation museum. Involved in a free-lance fighter sweep over Kent, the aircraft suffered technical problems with its new variable-pitch propeller. Lieutenant Erich Bodendiek became isolated from the rest of his group of 18 aircraft. Trying desperately to make cloud cover, he was engaged and shot down by Pilot Officer Robert 'Bobby' Oxspring flying a Spitfire of No 66 squadron. Hit in the fuel tank, Lt. Bodendiek baled out at high altitude and was badly burned. The aircraft crashed in flames in a hop field at Guilton near Ash, Kent at 17.05 hrs. Lt Bodendiek eventually came down in the sea some two miles off Folkestone and was rescued by a motor launch. Both pilots survived the war. Bodendiek had claimed three victories in the 1940 campaign and Oxspring was credited with 13 solo kills and two shared by the end of the war.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

June 27, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000