[Peter Cornwell]

Stabsstaffel KG53 Heinkel He111H. Both engines set alight in attacks by Capt Portalis, Sgt Salès, and Sgt Chabera of GC II/5 during photo-reconnaissance sortie. Crashed and exploded west of the railway line to Mars-la-Tour, north-east of Chambley, 7.45 a.m. Fw H. Zeep baled out too low and captured badly wounded; died Leghouest Hospital June 8. Oberfw J. Beine and Uffz H. Jeschke killed. Oberlt J. von Horn and Uffz R. Mayer baled out and captured unhurt. Aircraft a write-off.

Stab I./KG53 Heinkel He111H (6808). Starboard engine damaged by flak during sortie over Toul then attacked by S./Lt Thollon and S/Lt Flandi of GC III/7, also Sgt Moulènes and Sgt Boyer of GC I/8. Belly-landed near Trondes 6.40 a.m. Oberlt M. Pröbst killed. Oberstlt K. Mehnert (Gruppenkommandeur), Oberfw M. Winter, Oberfw G. Müller, and Fw F. Kempgens captured unhurt. Aircraft A1+JK fired by crew.

Stab I./KG53 Heinkel He111H (3327). Both engines disabled in attacks by GC I/8 and GC I/2 near Reims. Pursued by S/Lt Ruchoux of GC II/5, finally belly-landed and later exploded west of Recourt-le-Creux 7.30 a.m. Fw E. Bühler (of 3./KG53) killed. Oberlt A. Hufenreuter, Oberfw J. Schimpl, Oberfw G. Fegert, and Fw F. Puth captured wounded. Aircraft a write-off.

I./KG53 Heinkel He111H. Returned from sortie damaged by flak. No crew casualties. Aircraft repairable.

2./KG53 Heinkel He111H. Shot down by Adj Streiff, Lt Monty, Sgt Goile of GC II/5, and Lt Houze, Sgt Janeba, Sgt Hanzlicek of GC I/2 near Montplonne, during sortie to St-Menehould. Crashed with port engine alight in the Bois de Chêne, west of Ligny-en-Barrois, and burned out. Gefr E. Plätschke, Gefr H. Ahrendt, Flgr K. Gilber, and Flgr H. Hiersemann killed. Uffz K-H. Menzel baled out and captured unhurt. Aircraft a write-off.

4./KG53 Heinkel He111. Both engines disabled in attacks by Capt Accart, Sgt Vuillemain, and Sgt Morel of GC I/5 following attacks on rail targets near St-Menehould. Crash-landed and burned out at Buxières-sous-les-Côtes 3.30 p.m. Uffz E. Hermann mortally wounded, died en-route to hospital. Uffz E. Landgraf captured wounded, admitted to Ste-Anne hospital in St-Mihiel. Lt W. Wellstein and Uffz K. Kramer captured unhurt. Aircraft a write-off.

4./KG53 Heinkel He111. Shot down by Sgt Morel, Capt Accart, and Sgt Perina of GC I/5 during sortie over St-Menehould. Crashed and burned out north-west of Ferme de Maivaux at Ville-sur-Cousances, east of Clermont-en-Argonne, 3.40 p.m. Uffz P. Volz, Uffz L. Bierfelder, Uffz R. Lyschick, Uffz M. Dudzinski, and Gefr E. Stäudner all killed. Aircraft A1+BM a write-off.

4./KG53 Heinkel He111H. Made dead-stick landing near Saarlautern both engines destroyed in attacks by Capt Accart of GC I/5 following sortie over St-Menehould 3.40 p.m. Uffz H. Weippert and Uffz H. Enghofer slightly wounded. Aircraft a write-off.

III./KG53 3 Heinkel He111H. Returned damaged in fighter attacks near Sedan. Possibly those claimed by Sgt Humphries of No. 73 Squadron, F/O Malfroy and F/Sgt Payne of No. 501 Squadron between Rethel and Charleville- Mézières 2.45 p.m. Gefr Hans Petzgall (of 7 Staffel) slightly wounded. Aircraft all repairable.

9./KG53 Heinkel He111H. Shot down by flak over Toul and crashed at Saint-Baussant 6.30 a.m. Uffz J. Zink, Obergefr A. Friebe, Gefr R. Müller, and Gefr F. Scholz killed. Uffz G. Lüders baled out and captured unhurt. Aircraft a write-off.