I./KG 26 crash in Norway, Nov. 4, 1940
 

Good evening!

This was a He 111 H-3 with Wnr. 3171. The plane crashed in Hevdland, Norway after a mission, killing all crewmembers, I have their names and rank.
1) What was their mission this night, London or Industries in Midengland?
2) Is it possible today to establish the code on this aircraft, 1H + ??

Thank You
Christian

Re: I./KG 26 crash in Norway, Nov. 4, 1940
 

Hei Christian.
I have this Heinkel with code 1H+HK in my list, but the list may contain some errors.

It crashed near Sandnes, south of Stavanger:
http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/sandnes.html

regards Kjell

Re: I./KG 26 crash in Norway, Nov. 4, 1940
 

Thank you very much for these highly valuable information and pictures Kjell.
Best wishes
Christian

Re: I./KG 26 crash in Norway, Nov. 4, 1940
 

Now that is interesting.

For 20 years I have been trying to find the details of a He111, believed to have been from 1/KG26, that attacked and bombed the railway junction in Hornsey, North London and machine-gunned the surrounding streets, during the day (about 1pm GMT) on Sunday 3rd November 1940.

Do you have any information as to the identity of this crew or its aircraft, thereby solving a 20 year personal mystery? I'd be very grateful!!

Re: I./KG 26 crash in Norway, Nov. 4, 1940
 

A He 111 of KG 26 (no crew or Gruppe) took off at 1316 hrs on 3 Nov 40 to attack a railway target at "Crouch End" with 4 x SC250 and 2 x Flam 250 bombs which it did at 1425 hrs from 300m altitude. It then headed west, attacked an airfield at Feltham with MG fire (setting an aircraft on fire) before heading towards Aldershot where it shot up a barracks before machine gunning vehicles on the road between Aldershot and Portsmouth. Quite a successful day for this crew!

Re: I./KG 26 crash in Norway, Nov. 4, 1940
 

Hi Chris

Thanks, as ever, for your input! Do you think this is a different a/c to the one Christian says crashed on the 4th? He says the date might be different because of German/UK timings? Or does the fact that there is a detailed report of the KG26 attack on England mean that it IS a different a/c as the crew must have survived to give this debrief report? For such a specialised mission, would it have been a Stab or I/KG26 a/c? So many questions!

Thanks

Austin

PS Seriously looking forward to your SKG10 by night book... any ETA?

Re: I./KG 26 crash in Norway, Nov. 4, 1940
 

Austin: Looking at the take off and attack time, my guess it would have been a He 111 based down south as opposed to up north in Norway and with 24 hours difference, it cannot be the same aircraft & crew-transiting from Norway to attack London in daylight would have been risky if not suicidal. Stab & I were meant to be at Beauvais, II Gruppe Amiens & III Gruppe Poix at this time but I do know that at the end of the Battle of Britain, Stab & III was at Gilze, I Gruppe Moersbeeck/Courtrai and that elements of I Gruppe were up in Norway. So in asnwer to your question, without a logbook or more detailed diaries, I cannot say but the Luftflotte report for this attack was quite detailed as you can see! Coastal Command reported some contact with He 111s-3 Nov, 248 Sqn claimed a probable at 1146 hrs east of the Shetlands and the next day, 269 Sqn claimed the same at 1550 hrs. Luftwaffe records say Mendler's He 111 was lost 4 Nov so if he was shot down, 269 Sqn are possibles.
SKG 10 book is with the publishers-no idea when it will be on the shelves!

Re: I./KG 26 crash in Norway, Nov. 4, 1940
 

Hmmm. Presumably the crew survived (due to the Luftflotte report)? (The postwar Hornsey local history said it was 'shot down by our gallant fighters' !!)
Austin