Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Does anyone have full crew of He 111 of Stab KG54 lost on 12.05.1940?
Thanks

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Pilot: Oberfw Gerhard KOPP died of wounds 30 May 1940, Observer: Lt Horst von GUNDLACH PoW to Canada, W/T: Uffz Karl-Heinz SCHULDT PoW later returned to unit, and Flight Engineer: Uffz Gustav BLOMBECKER wounded PoW later returned to unit. Lost during reconnaissance of roads around Ghent. Take/off 4.40 a.m. Last radio message received 6.09 a.m.

Herewith entry from my current work on the Battle of France Then & Now.
Stab KG54 Heinkel He111P. Shot down by Moranes of GC III/1 during reconnaissance of troop movements between Brussels and Antwerp and ditched in the Schelde at Royerssluis near Antwerp 6.30 a.m. Oberfw G. Kö pp reported died of wounds 30 May. Lt H. von Gundlach and Uffz K-H. Schuldt captured unhurt. Uffz G. Blombecker captured wounded. Aircraft a write-off.

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Thanks Peter, the book looks excellent.
I am afraid it is not an answer to my question as circumstances do not fit. The aircraft in question likely had codes B3+AB and was partially burned, thus excluding any ditching. It was downed by a groundfire.
BTW
One of the pilots who downed 'yours' aircraft is still alive.

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Peter
The new book sounds very interesting, when will it be out?

Juha

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Franek & Juha,

No publication date yet set - still very much a 'work in progress'. Codes you quote suggest Stab I./KG54 to me.

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Peter,
thanks for the info, so I'll wait patiently.

Franek
You probably know this already but according to Radtke's KG 54 history Ofw Köpp's a/c was Stab-St. only loss on 12.5.

Juha

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Hi Juha,

Forgive me for butting in on this thread.
Could you tell me whether Radtke's book is recommendable, ie. is there a good
deal of information regarding losses sustained by this unit?
with in particular tactical codes and werknummers listed.

Rgs,
Steve.

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Yes

it has some 30 pages of a/c loss tables, many losses with only partial info and on crews only Flügzeugführer's name is given when known and there are many losses without FF's name, even some 100% losses. But buy it if You can find one.
Tables give when known: Date, A/c type, WNr, Kennnzeichen, Verluststart, Damage%, FF, Verlustort. But as i said there is many ?s.
BTW its all in German.

HTH
Juha

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Many thanks Juha,

That sounds good enough for me.
Thank you for your views, i shall try to locate a copy.
Rgs,
Steve.

Re: Stab KG54 loss on 12.05.1940
 

Thanks for the replies, though I am pretty confused now. According to my data, the photo should have been taken between 10-12 May 1940 somewhere around Franco-Belgian border.
Hmm