The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Hi...

The undernoted link takes us to a photo of an He111, coded 1H+JA, from Stabskette/KG26, brought down on 28/10/1939 by Nos 602 City of Glasgow and 603 City of Edinburgh Squadrons, RAF. This was the first aircraft to crash-land on British soil in WW2, coming down near the hamlet of Humbie, hence the nickname.

The photo is very small, but shows the machine from the front, with the nose turret having become detached, lying in front of the wreck. I have laboured under the illusion for many years that this was an He111P. I know exactly what publication led me to think this - I will be gracious and not name it - but this evening was the first time in almost forty years I'd seen the view from the front... and one thing leapt out at me staright away. The air intake on the cowling is on the right side (as the aircraft faces forward), which can only mean that it is, of course, an He111H... !

The W.Nr was apparently 5449. Could one of you gents please confirm to me that this number was indeed allocated to an He111H, and perhaps that it was this machine which was brought down over he Lammermuir Hills in Scotland on the above date...?

I have a terrible feeling of foreboding that I will need to rework a very precious model in my collection which I have held in high regard for many years... boo hoo... ! :cry:

Thanks in advance...


http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/reco...-000-128-530-C

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Here you go.

Regards,
Mike

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

What is painted in front of the last two letters of the fuselage code (JA), a dog perhaps?

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Best I can do.

Regards,
Mike

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Mike/Dénes ...

Thanks for the photo... I don't think there's anything ahead of the fuselage code, to be honest. I think it's simply where the fuselage buckled after the crash-landing.

Can either of you, or anyone else, confirm that it was definitely an He111H, from the Werk Nummer...?

Thanks...

Paul

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Hi,

Yes, an H-2, built by Heinkel, Oranienberg according to my records.

Regards,

David

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

David...

Many thanks... refurbishing my model can now begin... :).

Thanks for your prompt response, and to all other contributors.

Regards...

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Please advise if any other pictures of this He 111 exist?

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

For those who may care, I have in my possession (although misplaced) a copy of Aircraft Engineering magazine (c. 1942) that illustrates the wiring diagram for this very aircraft including many of the devices along with the various component values. I guess that's just in case someone wants to build their own!

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

I stumbled upon this interesting period description of the event (with photo) in Flight magazine from 11/39:

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchi...0-%201138.html

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Hi,
I have some old books at home written during the war and with many pictures. This aircraft features in it with some big pictures from several views.
I shall try and dig them out.

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

I have these, I hope they help! Note the double wing balkankreuz.

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Hi...

Thanks to everyone who has recently added more contributions to this thread.

ChrisS, many thanks for the great 'up-front' photo; Tapper, would be very interested to see pics you might have, especially from up near the front of the machine, if possible. And to Stephen, I only have two other pics that haven't been shown so far, and they're attached here... :D.

Thanks again, guys.

Kindest regards...

Paul

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Chris, Paul:

Thank you very much for sharing those pictures. Imagine the mood and talk around that airplane that day! Here's a bit of surviving evidence from the event. Hopefully it will add further knowledge to the historical record for that particular He 111.

Best regards,
Steve

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Stephen...

Thanks for the 'plate'... very interesting... :D. Glad you liked the pics.

Regards

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Folks, in the Flight link, you will note that there are thumbnails of other pages from Flight. If you scroll through you will see the second page which has a similar frontal photograph. Thought I'd mention it if no one else spotted the second page......

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Was not this the crash that inspired the wartime song 'Run Rabbit Run Run Run' when a dead rabbit was found under the wreck. There is a photo of the B Ltn Rolf Niehoff standing with a police officer despite having severe back injuries needing four months in Woolwich Hospital. Niehoff later served in the Bundes Luftwaffe becoming a Major ( this was in After The Battle magazine issue 42 if my notes are right). One other thing many years ago in the Exchange and Mart Magazine (the old E-Bay) Niehoff's flying suit was on sale for something like £5, which I could'nt afford it at the time, I think the suit subsequently appeared in a museum.

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Yes Brian I think you are correct and if i remember right it still had perspex fragments in the pockets. Also, is not an MG15 and magazine in a museum from this crash...maybe Edinburgh castle?

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Icare9...

Thank you for pointing out the additional picture in the 'Flight' link. I hadn't noticed it, and it was a very interesting one as well. Much appreciated... :D.

Regards...

Paul

Re: The 'Humbie Heinkel' - 28/10/1939
 

Hi Brian,

I was just wondering if there is a link to the photo you mention of "B
Ltn Rolf Niehoff standing with a police officer" and if that photo was
taken at the crash site.

I believe my grandfather (Hugh Harris) was the first police officer on
the scene and I'd be interested to see if he is the police officer in
the photo you mention. My family has always been told that he is in the
photo below, taken at the crash site. I've also attached a close up of
him.

Apparently my grandfather 'acquired' a small brass? bell from within
the aircraft before the military turned up, but no-one in the family
has it anymore, so not sure what happened to it, or even if such an
aircraft would have a bell, can anyone help with that?

Anyway, really interesting thread, I grew up in the area so have known
about it for a long time.

thanks in advance for any help

Steve Harris