25 Sept 1940 - Dornier 18 M2+EK
 

Oblt z. Steele piloting the Dornier M2+EK and his crew ditch, they are seen trying to inflate the dinghy by Russell.

Am I correct in saying that they did not make it to the French shore? and drowned in the dinghy?

Oblt z. Steele, Oblt Heuvelop, Uffz Kahlfeld, Fw Basch

RAF Intel - Coastal Gruppe 406 engaged in rescue work in Channel and Channel Islands.

Yours Faithfully,

Andy Bird

Re: 25 Sept 1940 - Dornier 18 M2+EK
 

Hello,

According to the EoE Luft Loss DB: Sept. 25, 1940: 2./KüFlGr. 106 Dornier Do18G (0881). Shot down by Blenheim of No.236 Squadron (P/O G.H. Russell, Sgt D.E. Pearson, and Sgt J.E. Goldsmith) during reconnaissance sortie over St George’s Channel and ditched in the sea off Ushant 4.15 p.m. FF Oberlt Johannes Heuveldop, BM Fw Ewald Brasch, and HB Uffz Werner Kahlfeld all took to dinghy but lost, BO Oberlt zur See Hans-Dietrich Stelle killed. Aircraft M2+EK 100% write-off."

Regards,

Re: 25 Sept 1940 - Dornier 18 M2+EK
 

Many Thanks
Larry

Re: 25 Sept 1940 - Dornier 18 M2+EK
 

Hi
Stelle was mentioned as being found washed ashore in cornwall, there was information in the cornwall police war diaries,I will try to see if I can find my notes.
cheers
Jerry

Re: 25 Sept 1940 - Dornier 18 M2+EK
 

Larry, In my (very incomplete) db I have this crew listed as lost in Do 18G 0393 with the source given as The Blitz then and Now Vol 2 pg 132. As my research in this volume was some years ago in an interlibrary loan copy, I wonder if you could please confirm for me that either I have made a typo (very possible) or whether new information has enabled the wnr to be corrected to 0881 as you show. Many thanks in advance Maurice Perry

Re: 25 Sept 1940 - Dornier 18 M2+EK
 

Yes, the body of Hans-Dietrich STELLE washed ashore at Church Cove, east of the Lizard, on 26 October 1940 and was buried in the parish churchyard there four days later. He has since been reinterred in the Soldatenfriedhof at Cannock Chase Block 5 Grave 262.

As for the precise WNr the EOE loss lists show the very latest information available. The entry in BlitzT&N Vol.2 is incorrect though 0893 was known to have been operated by the unit in question.

Re: 25 Sept 1940 - Dornier 18 M2+EK
 

As for the W.Nr. this is 881 as stated both in the Gen.Qu.6.Abt. loss list and in the KTB for September 1940 by Gen.d.Lw.b.Ob.d.M./O.Qu.
2./106 was at this time in Cherbourg but the loss report mention take-off by this aircraft from Brest.

Re: 25 Sept 1940 - Dornier 18 M2+EK
 

Thank you Peter and Seaplanes. Another duplication fixed.