He111 through ice on Svalbad/Spitzbergen.
 

Hi all

Currently reading Arctic Airmen by Ernest Scholfield and Roy Conyers Nesbit.Very interesting book covering the Catalina's but also bits on the recon Spitfires and Hampden torpedo bombers.


In it there is some nice photos of the He111, port wheel having gone through the ice and then fully belly down on the ice. I am assuming it went right through and went to the bottom of the fiord.

This is the loss from http://www.luftwaffe.no

18.05.42 Wekusta 5 He 111 H-6 4909 1B+OH Adventsfjord at Svalbard F 100 Went trough the ice None personal injury

I am assuming there was no salvage. Was wondering if there were any thoughts of its recovery? I am assuming the ice now is no-where near what it was like in 1942 and assuming the airfield was on a seasonal pack ice.

Just a thought. Not sure what the condition would be like - very cold sea water. Has any sonar photos every been taken?

So there are still aircraft out there.

regards

Mark

Re: He111 through ice on Svalbad/Spitzbergen.
 

Mark,

There is a nice photo of 1B+OH on page 96 or Selinger and Kington's "Wekusta" - the photo caption indicates that the accident happened on 14 May 1942 however.

Pilot Lt Karl Boedecker with Weather Frog Wd Ass Dr Erich Etienne.

Incidentally, when the Bansoe station on Svalbard was evacuated the Germans also left behind an unserviceable Ju 88D-1 1B+GH which was captured by Norwegean forces.