He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Hello!

This plane went missing with its crew on a mission on the 8. or 9. April, 1941. They were declared dead on the 12. of March 1943
I believe the code is from the time, this unit was a part of KG1, and they have not yet changed it to F8 ?????

The type of mission and cause of crash was not known at the time of this A/Cs crash, but the unit was stationed in France!

Is anything further known today about this aircraft?

Thank You

Christian

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Hallo Christian

First of all there is nothing strange with the V4+xx codes. III./KG 40 was formed in March 1941 from I./KG.1 and the old code lingered on for a couple of months before switching to F8+xx

I cannot find this loss you mention in any of the standard works published, (at least not in those I have) so may I inquire what makes you so certain of the date the aircraft disappeared?

Cheers
Stig

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Christian/ Stig,
i have this a/c shot down by No316Sq Hurricanes coming down nr St Annes Head 09.50 hrs. P/Off. T Sawicz claiming the kill.

Lt Ludwig Rebensdorf and crew missing, III/ KG40 had set out to harass shipping in the Southwest.
Best regs,
Steve.

Source. The Turning Point Pt2 ( page 42 )

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Stig;

cbe2009 is right.

He 111 H3 3328 V4+CH of III/KG 40 (Luftflotte 3) ´Feindflug´ <missing unknown causes and location> 09.04.41 (F Lt. Ludv. Rebensdorf + 3 missing) see RL 2 III/753 Lfd. 18 von 11.4.41

I presume this was raiding / bombing England.

cheers
ed

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Stig is correct, I have a photo of an ex I./KG 1 He 111 H-3 that has an F8+GS belonging to III./KG 40 code but still carries the old I./KG 1 emblem.

Cheers

Chris

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Hi Stig!

I have the loss from Ob.d.L. Genst.Gen.Qu. and there it says the 9. of april. 1941. I thought it maybe was the night between the 8. and 9.

I had a feeling about the codes and thank You for confirming this.

Cheers

Christian

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Thank You all. I was busy with searching, so i didn´t realize that so many had commented on this question.
Best wishes
Christian

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Ahh
Of course. This was not a night mission but most probably an anti shipping strike. Thanks for the updates

Cheers
Stig

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

The crew of aircraft downed by Sawicz was taken PoW. If Rebensdorf and crew were killed, who they were?

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

It was on an armed recce(day) mission & crew were all missing-in addition to Rebensdorf there was Uffz Georg Petereit-B, Uffz Michael Franck-Bf & Fw Werner Fritzsche-Bm

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Okay Chris, but then who were airmen shot down by Sawicz and captured by the British? There is a letter confirming it, and Sawicz received few souvenirs.

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

7/KG 40 He 111 H-3, 6840, V4+HH Ofw Herbert Knaebel-F-POW, Ofw Erwin Wienroth-B-POW, Fw Karl Bucek/Bueck-Bf-+, Ofw Hans Salzsieder-Bm-+ which was apparently credited to Heyworth of 79 Sqn so perhaps it was the other way around as there was 5 minutes difference between both crashes one 2.5 miles SW St Davids Head and the other at St Annes Head

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Well, Sawicz in his combat report states that he saw his victim at 0945 and not realising it is an enemy aircraft in poor visibility and heavy ack ack, had seen it dropping bombs on a ship. After Sawicz's attack, enemy aircraft crashed into the sea, and two of the crew were rescued by a neighbouring ship.
The question is, of course, if the last bit was not added retrospectively, but generally it would fit. The aircraft was claimed by a destroyer as well, but crew made it clear, they were downed by an aircraft.
Any photos or accounts of the crew and their aircraft, by any chance?

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Nothing crew-wise I am afraid

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

S/Ldr Heyworth 79 Sqn. in his combat report mentions 8 miles west of St. Davids Head at 09.50hrs. Anybody know what P/O Sawicz writes in his combat report? I understand that Fw Bucek/Buech's body was washed ashore on the Pembroke Coast, sorry no idea where. Perhaps the location of the destroyer which picked up those mentioned, might be known.
Tony K

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Tony, you have all of this in my post No 13. The action occurred 3 miles west of St. Anne's Head.

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Thanks Franek, sorry the brain cells were not in the "on" position this morning.
Tony K

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Coffee or cold beer should help! Transcript of the combat report as well as related correspondence you can find at Poles in defence of Britain book.

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Thanks again Franek,
I will opt for the cold beer and if the book is in the Queen's English I will go for that too.
Regards
Tony K

Re: He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40
 

Never heard the Queen, only Prince William, so not so sure about it, but fluent English speakers should understand it.
Cheers then!