Dornier 17Z (WN 2537), 6 Oct. 1940, KG3
 

Hello,

Does anyone have details regarding the loss of Dornier 17Z-2, Werknummer 2537 (5K+AK), Kampfgeschwader 3. The plane crashed near Hamme-mille (Belgium), 6th October 1940.

All four airmen on board were killed. Their names were:

Leutnant Ernst BERGHAHN
Unteroffizier Erich-Dietrich DANKENBRING
Gefreiter Theodor WELLMANN
Obergefreiter Heinrich SCHEIBELER

What caused this aircraft to crash?
What mission were they on?
Was it a day or night mission?
What was the target?

I thank you in advance for your help.
Dirk

Re: Dornier 17Z (WN 2537), 6 Oct. 1940, KG3
 

Hi Dirk,
I have this loss on the 5. October not the 6. What is your source? Unfortunately I have no details about the crash.

Norbert

Re: Dornier 17Z (WN 2537), 6 Oct. 1940, KG3
 

Hi Norbert,

According to the online search engine of the 'Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge' they all died the 6th of October 1940.

See: http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche/content_suche.asp (the online Gräbernachweis des Volksbundes Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.)

Perhaps the crash occurred in the night 5/6 Oct. 1940. Unfortunately, I have no first hand source. Are there any KG3 experts who know what happened that day?

Regards,
Dirk

Re: Dornier 17Z (WN 2537), 6 Oct. 1940, KG3
 

Hi.

The aircraft is listed as coming from 2. Staffel. The reason given is only 'Absturz', so we can only speculate what happened. They were on an operational flight, but I do not know what KG 3 was tasked to do on this date.

The loss is reported in the loss record of 06.10.1940, with the loss date given as 5.10.1940. I thus suspect that this crash would have taken place before midnight.

Best regards,
Andreas B

Re: Dornier 17Z (WN 2537), 6 Oct. 1940, KG3
 

As far as I know it was damaged over London and was not able to reach
Le-Culot
Regards
Phil

Re: Dornier 17Z (WN 2537), 6 Oct. 1940, KG3
 

Andreas and Phil,

Many thanks for the information.

Phil, may I ask you what source you consulted with regard to the plane being damaged over London?

Regards,
Dirk

Re: Dornier 17Z (WN 2537), 6 Oct. 1940, KG3
 

Hi,

my information is:

5K+AK => Absturz beim Start => 3 Uhr am Morgen; Ziel London