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Re: Ju88 5072 of 8/KG51 lost 12-8-1940
8./KG51 Junkers Ju88A-1 (4078). Tail shot off by AA fire from French gunnery training ship Courbet and broke up during attack on Portsmouth Harbour 12.10 p.m. FF Oberlt Eberhard Wildermuth, BO Oberlt Otto Stärk, and BF Uffz Heinz Droese all baled out and captured unhurt, BS Uffz Konrad Rösch missing. Aircraft 9K+BS 100% write-off.
Pedal control lever, parachute silk and shroud lines recovered from bottom of harbour now in the Hawkinge Aeronautical Trust collection believed to be from this aircraft. Pair of binoculars and propeller assembly recovered by the Wealden Aviation Archaeological Group now in the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.
8./KG51 Junkers Ju88A-1 (5072). Shot down by RAF fighters during sortie to attack Portsmouth Harbour and crashed into the Channel 12.10 p.m. FF Lt Paul Seidel, BO Oberfw Fritz Lukoschuss, BF Uffz Heinrich Fischer all killed, BS Sonderfhr Ulrich Bigalke missing. Aircraft 9K+FS 100% write-off.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the combats on the day, I am unable to determine beyond doubt which RAF claim(s) relate to this particular loss. The body of SEIDEL was recovered and he is buried in Block 10 Grave 1163 in Champigny-St Andre cemetery. His crew on the infamous Freiburg attack on 10 May 1940 are not known to me.
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