Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Hello all,

At the Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces part of this TOCH, there is a thread about a He219 wreck in the Skagerak, just north of the Danish northern coast line.

A rough estimate about its likely crash date, would be "after September 1944" because this wreck has tyres with (copied) US type profile.

My question is therefore if anyone knows of Allied (daylight?) claims over this area related to a He219 ? It might be that such a claim is known for years but - without a documented loss - has been put aside all those years as 'uncredible'. Perhaps there is a match.

All the best, Marcel Hogenhuis (He219 research project)

For confidential replies: marcelhogenhuis[at]gmail.com

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Might also have been claimed as a 110...

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Hello Mark,

Could be possible but at daylight recognition should be expected better I guess...

All the best, Marcel

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Consider how many Allied aircraft were shot down by other Allied aircraft. Aircraft recognition was not as easy for a wartime pilot as it is for us chairbound enthusiasts. The He219 cannot have been a well-known type to the Allies.

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Here a recognition sheet of the RAF of the He 219 issued June 1st, 1944.
It was the second issue.
Although the drawing was not 100% perfect, the type was known with the crews.

Jaap

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Hi,
The skies of the Skagerak were a fairly busy place in late 1944. Due to heavy German shipping activity, the allies flew numerous anti-shipping missions in the area. A hapless He219 (on transit to/from Norway) could have been caught in the middle of this.
bregds
SES

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

From the extensive site "Air war over Denmark" by Soren Flensted, on 21 May 1944 a He 219 was shot down by a Mosquito on a Day Ranger and claimed as a "LeO 45".

The only two other He 219 listed on this site were lost due to accidents without enemy action.

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Dear Jaap, Michaël and Laurent,

Many thanks for your thoughts and comments: as this He219 wreck has been found in the shallow waters of the northern coast of Denmark, it bears no relation to the crashes already known which makes it quite a challenge to find its identity.

We will keep the TOCH and other forums informed! All the best, Marcel

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Here are some of the basic details.

Two Mosquitoes VI of No.418 Squadron, RCAF along with 8 Mustangs of No. 19 Sqdn., RAF as escort carried out a Day Ranger to Aalborg and Grove airfields in Denmark, time up/down: 1358 - 1830. They put in a claim for one LeO 45 destroyed and one LeO 45 shared with the Mustangs. Time of attack 1630. Place/area of attack: South of Herning, Denmark.

Stephen

Re: Allied daylight claims of a He219 ?
 

Hi,
Thanks a lot, but it does not match the location of the wreck. which is located in the Skagerak more than 100 km away.
bregds
SES