He 111 P of 3./KG 54
 

There are well-known colour photos of He 111 P B3+BL which crashed at Cambrai after having mixed up with British fighters over Dunkirk.
Can anyone tell me more?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

Re: He 111 P of 3./KG 54
 

Hi Chris,

There are 2 colour photos of B3+BL in Luftwaffe on Focus #8. One of these can also be found in "Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945 - Vol 1" by de Zeng, Stankey & Creek, together with a third colour photo.

Regards,
Rudi.

Re: He 111 P of 3./KG 54
 

Hello Rudi,

the colour photos 28 and 29 on page 26 in "Luftwaffe im Focus" #8 show the He 111 B3+BK (not BL) of 2./KG 54.

Regards
Leo

Re: He 111 P of 3./KG 54
 

Thanks.
Any info as when this aircraft was shot down?

Re: He 111 P of 3./KG 54
 

Hi Leo,

The b&w photos and the colour profile on page 24 & 25 show B3+BK.
The 2 colour photos on page 26 are NOT showing B3+BK as the capture states, but B3+BL.

He 111 B3+BL of 3./KG54 down at Epinoy/Sauchy-Lestrée May 19th 1940.
FF Lt Horst Fricke W-POW-later liberated
BO Ogefr Heinz Pitz W-POW-later liberated
BF Gefr Konrad Sichtar KIA - It's his grave that can be seen on some of the photos that have appeared on eBay during the last years.
BS Flg Alois Hofer W-POW-later liberated

Regards,
Rudi.

Re: He 111 P of 3./KG 54
 

Thanks a lot.

Chris

Re: He 111 P of 3./KG 54
 

Hi Chris,


According to 12 days in may by Cull, page 267, combat report of Wakeham (N2711 SO D, 145 A/Flight sqdn) states on 19 may 1940 : " I was detailed to attack formation of He 111 and did n°1 attack on outside Heinked of section, but broke away on closing and being hit. On returning to attack again I noticed it was giving to ground level. I followed it to the ground, delivering two more attacks and saw it finally force landed in a field near ARRAS. On circling I saw the pilot get out and some soldiers approched " ( French or English soldier ?)

Page 269 losses of KG54 :

"He 111P of 3./KG54 flown by FF Lt Horst Fricke shot down and crash landed south of Lille (Oisy-le-Verger and Cambrai/Arras aera are both in south of Lille) : one killed in the air others POW of French."


The church that we often see in the background of this loss is Oisy-le-Verger (Sauchy and Oisy are 40 kms eastern side of Arras.

Attachment 15179


Sincerely

Bertrand

Re: He 111 P of 3./KG 54
 

Merci, Bertrand.

CJE