Re: Rodeo 90
Only one He 59 was lost on 18.08.1942 (I presume this is the correct yoear you are looking for), no He 115 was reported lost or damaged this day.
18.08.42 2. Seenotstaffel (Cherbourg). He 59E W.Nr. 2871 St.Kz. PY+NO Shot down by enemy fighters over the Channel about 15 km north of Barfleur. Lt. Helmut Eckenfels (B) killed, Ofw. Wilhelm Heefchen (F) wounded, Ofw. Josef Bertels (Bm) missing and San.Uffz. Theodor Vennemann missing. A fifth crewmember was rescued unwounded.
Later the same day He 59D W.Nr. 1840 St.Kz. RC+BN of the same unit, was sent out to search for the missing 2871. This aircraft was also attacked by enemy aircraft, but the aircraft commander Lt. Wagner, brought the plane back to Cherbourg with only 10% damages. Ofw. Oswald Mai (F) was killed and Fw. Paul Slabon (Bm) was wounded. Before being attacked the crew of RC+BN managed to rescue two crewmembers of 2871 alive, although one seriously wounded. Also Lt. Eckenfels was found dead and brought back to Cherbourg.
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