Missing German aircrew in UK 1940
Not much remained of three of the crew of the Do17 that crashed near St Margaret's Church, Broomfield, on 8 September 1940 and then exploded. Fragmentary remains of what was thought to be two 'Unknown German Airmen' were buried there & later reinterred in Cannock Chase where they now occupy Graves 5.1.1 & 5.1.2. The pilot, Martin ZIEMS, was the only one identifiable & was found on the banks of the River Lens attached to his parachute. He was taken to Sutton Road Cemetery, Maidstone, for burial where he remains to this day.
Regarding Oberlt Heinz HELLMUTH & his gunner, Fw Franz WINTER, of 6./ZG26 who crashed at Green Hill Farm, Platts Heath, Lenham, on 18 August 1940. This was another particularly grisly incident & the authorities did well to record both ID numbers allowing for positive identification. Try St Nicholas' Church, Boughton Malherbe, for their original burial. Outside the parish where they fell, but the nearest churchyard to the actual crash site I believe.
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