[Peter Cornwell]

5 September 1940 Stab I./KG1 Heinkel He111H-3 (3324). Caught in searchlights during attack on Tilbury and port engine disabled by No.25 Squadron Blenheim night-fighter (P/O M.J. Herrick & Sgt J.S. Pugh). Bombs dumped blind and abandoned by crew at low level before crashing at Rendlesham, near Eyke, 1.10 a.m. Major Ludwig Maier (Gruppenkommandeur), BF Oberfw Erwin Stockert, and BM Uffz Horst Bendig all killed, BO Oberlt Job-Wilhelm Graf von Rittberg baled out but killed, FF Oberlt Hans-Dietrich Biebrach baled and captured unhurt. Aircraft V4+AB 100% write-off.
Biebrach landed at Office Piece, near Rendlesham, and surrendered himself to a nearby cottager. Von Rittberg remained unaccounted for and was reported 'still at large' - an area alert being issued to all neighbouring authorities. As a consequence, the body of an unidentified German airman found at Great Bentley was presumed to be his and transported to Ipswich Cemetery for burial in Grave X.10.8 as an 'Unknown German Airman' alongside the remains of three crewmen recovered from this wreck. In July 1941, the CWGC confirmed this burial as 'believed to be Oberlt Job-Wilhelm Graf von Rittberg' and marked it so, appropriate corrections being made to the burial register. However, the subsequent discovery of the body of von Rittberg on October 19, 1942, and buried five days later in Grave 6, Section R, Division II of Ipswich Cemetery, resulted in Grave X.10.8 reverting to that of an 'Unknown German Airman' in February 1943. Post-war research now suggests this may be Lt Heinz Schildt of 5./KG2 who was lost on September 3, 1940.