[Bart V.]

Originally Posted by Peter Cornwell

10 May 1940 3./StG77 Junkers Ju87B-1. Engine set alight by Belgian AA fire (Batt.19/VII 1.DTCA) during attack on the Kleine Nete lock on the Albert Canal at Herentals and crashed near Vorselaar, 6km north-west of the target area, 7.20 p.m. FF Oberlt Kurt Hartmann (Staffelkapitän) and BF Fw Walter Mische both killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.

11 May 1940 Stab KG54 Heinkel He111P-2. Attacked by 8 Curtiss H-75s of GC I/4 during reconnaissance of roads between Breda and Antwerp, and shot down in the forest of Begijnenbos, near Zandhoven 5.00 p.m. FF Uffz Emil Bohn and BO Oberlt Wilhelm Surborg (Geschwaderadjutant) both baled out and captured unhurt, BM Uffz Helmut Voges and BF Uffz Willi Nahrgang both killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.
Emil Bohn was later badly wounded at Dunkirk on May 29 while prisoner aboard the St Octave awaiting transport to England and died in hospital.

13 May 1940 Stab II./KG4 Heinkel He111P-2. Attacked by Adj Hôtellier, Lt Weiss, and Sgt Joire of GC I/4 between Wuestwezel and St Leonhard during sortie to bomb troop concentrations at Ghent. Also hit by AA fire and crashed at ‘Nollekens’, north-east of Brecht, 6.30 p.m. BO Oberlt Erwin Schacht (Gruppennavigationsoffizier) killed, BM Hauptgefr Walter Peil, and BF Gefr Rudolf Winkelmann (both of 6 Staffel) also killed, FF Oberlt Erich von Werthern (Gruppenadjutant) believed baled out and captured wounded. Aircraft 100% write-off.

May I ask if it was normal like for instance the crash on 13 May 1940, that two men of the 6. Staffel joined a plane with officers of the Stab II. instead of two other ther BF/BM from the Stab II.? Or was the plane from Stab II. and did they belong to 6. Staffel?