KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Either the night of 14-15 Aug 40 or 15-16 Aug 40, a He 111 of KGr 100 crashed on the beach at Hourtin in western France. Some records say it was 6N+CH of 1 Staffel and the commander was a Lt Lochbrunner-he and his crew were reported missing then confirmed safe.

I have a Fw Oswald Lochbrunner a beobachter who was lost over Narvik 5 May 40 (with Uffz Helmut Pflugmacher, Uffz Werner Schmallfuss & Fw Feodor Roos) but he and his crew returned 2 days later. Lt Oswald Lochbrunner was then lost over Russia almost exactly a year later.

Can anyone confirm the date of the Hourtin crash and the crew?

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Hi Chris

I expect you have a copy of Kenneth Wakefield's "The First Pathfinders". He states that 6N+CH carried out an emergency landing on the beach at Haurtin on 14/15 August.

Cheers
Brian

A belated welcome home and Happy New Year!

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Brian

HNY to you. I am aware of KW's book but this is one of the contradictions

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Chris, i have Lochbrunners a/c of 5.5.40 as 6N+OH could you confirm this?
Rgs,
Steve

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

I have not researched the 5 May 40 crash so cannot confirm-nothing in the NVM

Chris

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Chris,

Sorry to be 'late on parade' with a response - pre-occupied with Coastal Command strike losses. I have the following KGr.100 losses currently listed on the night of 14/15 August 1940:

1./KGr.100 Heinkel He111H-3 (6873). Returned damaged after signal flare accidentally ignited inside aircraft causing fire during night sortie to attack Dunlop Works at Birmingham 4.30 a.m. BS Uffz Friedel Dörner baled out and captured unhurt at Balcombe, FF Fw [ ] Kaufmann unhurt, Lt [ ] Seebauer and Fw Adalbert Knier both slightly burned hands. Aircraft 6N+BH 45% damaged but repairable.

1./KGr.100 Heinkel He111H-1. Failed to return from night attack on Dunlop Works at Birmingham, cause unknown. Lt [Oswald] Lochbrunner and three NCOs reported missing but later returned unhurt. Aircraft 100% write-off.

3./KGr.100 Heinkel He111H-1. Belly-landed on beach at Hourtin, north-west of Bordeaux, after night attack on Dunlop Works at Birmingham, cause not stated. Crew unhurt. Aircraft 6N+CH 100% write-off.

3./KGr.100 Heinkel He111H-3. Forced-landed near St Brieuc following night attack on Dunlop Works at Birmingham. Crew unhurt. Aircraft 6N+DL 100% write-off.

They are listed thus in Lw records but I recognise the (slim) possibility of a duplication caused by an up-dated report ?

Steve,

I have the following for the KGr.100 loss on May 5, 1940:

1./KGr.100 Heinkel He111H-1. Shot down by naval AA fire over Evenes during attack on warships in Ofotfjorden and crash-landed west of Bjerkvik, 18 km north of Narvik. FF Uffz Helmut Pflugmacher, BO Fw Oswald Lochbrunner, BF Uffz Werner Schmalfuß, and BM Gefr Feodor Roos all unhurt – later returned. Aircraft 6N+EH 100% write-off.

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Thanks Peter. Is is possible that 6N+CH was Lochbrunner's as opposed to a 3 Staffel machine as all ? It would be nice to know what exactly happened to him and his crew

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Hi Chris and Peter, thank you for your information. This clears up the id of the 5.5.40 incident.

Best regs,
Steve.

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Chris,

Yes, as I said, it is entirely possible that the two entries detailing H-1 losses are one and the same aircraft. The only thing against this is that they were both reported together so (IMO) unlikely that one was an amendment of t'other. KTB would be helpful - anyone ?

Re: KGr 100 Loss Aug 40
 

Friedel Dörner never had a license for He 111, but for Ju87.