He 59 vs. Swedish fighters 17.5.40
 

Hi,

on 17.5.40 German air sea rescue He 59 aircraft (D-AROO) had been attacked and forced down by Swedish fighters. I wonder if there is any account from Swedish side? Which Swedish unit was involved?

Regards

Robert

Re: He 59 vs. Swedish fighters 17.5.40
 

Robert,

From what I can find out from Bo Widfeldt books on the subject;

Swedish fighters were not involved. The HE 59 entered Swedish airspace 13:50 near Varberg. It was shot at from AA mgs and some karbines but no hit was reported, this despite that the aircraft was painted white with red cross on it. The aircraft later landed at 14:35 at Nidingarna , it was looking for a missing German a/c and checked out some floating debri. When trying to take of again the HE59 experienced engine trouble and was towed in to the harbour of Gottskär. It was allowed to take of after repair at 21:00.

Peter

Bo Widfeldt
Nödlandningar ISBN 91-971605-6-3
The LW in Sweden 39-45 ISBN 0-914144-28-6
Tyska nödlandare 39-45 ISBN91-975467-4-7

Re: He 59 vs. Swedish fighters 17.5.40
 

Hi Peter,

thanks alot. Germany Navy reported that this seaplane was attacked by Swedish planes but apparently they did mistake.
The crew was looking after an Ar 196A that failed to return from early reconnaissance.
BTW do you have something about He 60 from 1./K.Fl.Gr.306 that landed within Swedish territoral waters on 23.9.39 and the crew of two was interned?

Regards

Robert

Re: He 59 vs. Swedish fighters 17.5.40
 

I can add that this aircraft originally was one of a batch of 27 He 59D aircraft produced by Arado. With W.Nr. 1989 this aircraft was used as prototype for the conversion of the He 59 into a fully equipped ASR aircraft with the new designation He 59N. This particular aircraft, D-AROO, was lost on 28. July 1940 while serving with Seenotflugkdo. 3. It was shot down while on an ASR-sortie over the English Channel. Two crewmembers were killed and three injured.

Re: He 59 vs. Swedish fighters 17.5.40
 

Robert,

The same sources gives;

1939-09-22 HE60 K6+QH 1/Kü.Fl.Gr.406

Landed in the afternoon after engine trouble. F Oblt Gerhard Grosse and B Oblt.z.See Helmut von Rabenau both interned and returned to Germany 40-06-08 with HE111P-1 B3+JM that had landed on Gotland 40-04-21 and was on it's way back to Germany. The HE60 was returned 40-11-04.

There is a photo in Tyska nödlandare 39-45 ISBN 91-975467-4-7 of the crew, Grosse in Luftwaffe uniform and von Rabenau in Kriegsmarine uniform.


Peter