Re: III/KG 53 5 Jun 43
 

Sorted this at last. He 111 H-16, Wk Nr 160436 coded A1+AR took off from Pleskau 1030 hrs 5 Jun 43 to drop 32 SC50s in the Wolchow Estuary. It lost its port engine to Flak and force-landed 15 kms behind the front line, 8 kms south of Lesje (presumably Nowa-Ladoga) at 1255 hrs, suffering 50% damage. The crew were Lt Siegfried Jessen (pilot), Uffz Helmut Fett (B), Uffz Hermann Fresken (BS) and presumably Uffz Gerhard Schmitt (BF). The last 3 were reported wounded and when Jessen started flying again 2 Jul 43, his BO was Oblt Hans Grossendorfer (+17 Nov 43). Jessen must have also been wounded (but not reported) as he was awarded the wound badge 3 days after this incident