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Re: Information concerning loss of Gefreiter Karl Hummel - killed 12.05.1940
Hello Rick,
Gefr. Egon Hummel 58220/26 (born on 19/11/1913 at Bietigheim – Baden) was killed when his Ju87B was shot down by P/O. Stephens of 3 Squadron (flying a Hurricane). He was initially buried at Lubbeek, possibly near his crashed aircraft. His remains were transferred to Leuven cemetery and finally on 28/04/1949 to the German War Cemetery at Lommel, Belgium (Bl.47 Gr.357). The pilot of his plane was Uffz. Robert Stachowiak 58220/8 (born on 11/03/1915 at Germendorf Velten). His remains were transferred to the German War Cemetery at Lommel (Bl.47 Gr.349).
The orb of 3 Squadron (AIR 27/32) mentions : Flying Officer Bowyer, Sgt.Ford and Sgt.Sims (Blue Section), Fl/Lt.Carter P/O.Carey and , D.O.Pilot Officer Stephens (Green Section) Diest – Louvain met between 50 and 60 J.U.87 , D.O.17 and H.E.111. Pilot Officer Carey 1 J.U.87 conclusive, 1 inconclusive. 1 H.E.111 conclusive. Pilot Officer Stephens 2 J.U.87 conclusive. Sgt.Sims – 2 J.U. conclusive. Sgt.Ford 1 J.U. inconclusive. F/Lt.Churchill, Flying Officer Stone and Sgt.Wilkinson (Red Section) Flying Officer Adams, Pilot Officer Hallifax and Sgt.Friendship (Yellow Section) Diest – St.Trond 2 Hs126 conclusive.
p.m. F/Lt. Churchill, Flying Officer Stone and Pilot Officer Hallifax (Red Section) St.Trond. Flying Officer Stone – 1 H.S.126 at St.Trond.
(No RAF Combat report found in the digital collection of the TNA - AIR50.)
Twelve days in May, by Brian Cull and Bruce Lander with Heinrich Weiss mentions :
Stephens recalled :
‘Suddenly we spotted about 60 tiny black dots in the sky, flying west like a storm of midges. The next moment we were among them – Stukas (of I/StG2) with an escort of about 20 Messerschmitt 109s. I got one (Ju87) lined up in my gunsight and opened fire from about 50 yards. After a short burst he blew up in an orange ball of flame, followed by a terrific clatter as my Hurricane flew through the debris. Just then, from out of the cloud a few hundred yards away, emerged a Dornier 17. I gave him a short burst from short range, hitting his starboard engine which started smoking. I had the satisfaction of seeing the pilot belly-land the aircraft in a ploughed field.’
Stephens claimed a second Ju87 and Carry two more, one of which was unconfirmed.
Best regards
Luc
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