He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

All of the old eBay photos below have at various times been identified as Heinkel He 111 H-1, F6+HH, WNr.2117, 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 122. This aircraft force landed on Storvatnet lake nr, Trondheim, 22-04-1940. Conditions of war and the environment permitted more than one photo opportunity. After a not particularly successful attempt to destroy the aircraft by fire, the aircraft sunk into the lake. A partial recovery began in 1968.

However I am not totally convinced that this is the same aircraft in every photo. The first photo has a visible +H code, white prop hubs and what appears to be a DB 601 engine (He 111P). The other two photos, one of which also has a +H code do however seem to have a dark prop hub and Jumo 211 engine (He111H). Any comments (on my eye-sight) or alternative identifications will be much appreciated.


Cheers
Ian

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

Ian.

The first picture is a Heinkel that went down on lake Mjosa soth of Norway,some info found here:
http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/mjosa.html

The other two pictures could be the same aircraft,were this is I can't tell right now.

John fredrik

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

Here is the other :

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/storvatnet.html

John fredrik

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

Thanks John, you have indeed confirmed that these are two different aircraft. The first photo is then a Heinkel He 111P as the evidence suggested. The source indicates 5J+HM of 4./KG 4 lost on the 19-04-1940 for unknown reasons.

The loss records at http://www.rafandluftwaffe.info/lists/luftwaffe6.htm do not record this loss. According to these records II./KG 4 lost one aircraft on the 18-04 in a collision which is not this aircraft and another on the 20-04. This could be this aircraft. I wonder if our loss record experts could assist on this?

Ian

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

18 April 1940: II./KG4 Heinkel He111P-2. Wrecked in collision with Ju52s of KGrzbV.107 on landing at Oslo-Fornebu. No crew casualties. Aircraft 90% damaged – write-off.

19 April 1940: 4./KG4 Heinkel He111P-2. Belly-landed on frozen Lake Mjøsa, 100 km north of Oslo, following engine failure during armed reconnaissance sortie 11.20 a.m. No crew casualties. Aircraft 5J+HM 100% write-off.
This aircraft later sunk to the bottom of the lake and was salvaged for scrap in 1948.

20 April 1940: 5./KG4 Heinkel He111P-2. Returned damaged by AA fire over Namsos. BO Oberfw Walter Ponto wounded, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft under 10% damaged – repairable.

22 April 1940: 1.(F)/122 Heinkel He111H-2 (2117). Damaged during attack on British naval vessels and belly-landed on frozen Lake Storvatnet, Agdenes, north of Trondheim. No crew casualties. Aircraft F6+HH abandoned and later sunk - 100% write-off.
Wreck located in 1968 and a Junkers Jumo 211 engine, remains of engine mount, and tail fin and rudder recovered in August 1974. Tail fin and rudder now in the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

Thanks Peter

Cheers
Ian

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

Hi all

I always read WNr. 2117.
This WNr. belonged to an He 111 D (a leading-plane on base of He 111 P-2), not to a He 111 H !
The WNr. must be wrong.

best wishes
JoMe

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

Hi.

The original loss record for the aircraft on the 19.4.1940 as follows:

http://www.aviationhistory.no/ref_db...?lossid=141300

Regards,
Andreas B

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

18 April 1940: II./KG4 Heinkel He111P-2. Wrecked in collision with Ju52s of KGrzbV.107 on landing at Oslo-Fornebu. No crew casualties. Aircraft 90% damaged – write-off.

Now the Ju52 are known

N3+BY
CH+AQ
CF+IF
D-ADAR

Rémi

Re: He 111 at Trondheim mystery
 

Hi Remi

I have CH+AQ as Bu131 confirmed by pictures
CF+IF as a Fw200
D-ADAR as a Junker G31
Regards
Peter van Gogh