[Peter Cornwell]

15 September 1940 Stabsstaffel KG53 Heinkel He111H-2 (3140). Shot down by fighters during attack on Becton Gasworks and crashed and exploded attempting a belly-landing in the shell-filling area of Woolwich Arsenal, near Tripcock Pier, 2.50 p.m. Possibly that claimed by Sgt B. Furst of No.310 Squadron but possibly also that attacked by F/O B.D. Russell of No.1 (RCAF) Squadron. BF Fw Arnold Benz, BO Fw Alois Schweiger, FF Uffz Heinrich Meyer, and BS Uffz Georg Geiger all killed, BM Fw Michael Ciomber believed baled out, captured badly wounded - admitted to the Royal Herbert Hospital. Aircraft A1+DA 100% write-off.
Due to the severity of his injuries, Michael Ciomber was amongst prisoners repatriated to Germany in June 1944 via the International Red Cross. Undercarriage leg and tyre, together with large section of fuselage incorporating ventral gondola, plus oxygen bottles and MG15, unearthed during development work, donated to the Hawkinge Aeronautical Trust in 1986.