[paulmcmillan]

A Heinkel III of 4/KG 26 was Lost 10th April 1940. The aircraft was shot down by aircraft of 603 and 605 Sqn some ten miles off Kinnaird Head, near Fraserburgh

The pilot Oberleutnant Harald Vogel later wrote

"Of the crew of four, two other ranks (a mechanic-gunner and a wireless operator-gunner) were shot during the first stages of the attack. The observer (who had been promoted to corporal that very day) and I left the plane by parachutes after both engines had caught fire. I was the only one to survive and was picked out of the water by the British destroyer
"Ulster" (sic) which had escorted the convoy under attack.

Firstly, can anyone please identify the rest of the crew of this aircraft? and also provide the name of the ship who rescued Harald Vogel ?

Note: It cannot be Ulster as that was not built until 1942

Vogel provides the following clue

"the destroyer was part of the navy reserve immobilised in peace time and re-activated for the war."

He disembarked 24 hours later "at the Royal Navy installations at the
shore of the Firth of Forth opposite Edinburgh city"


At the time this incident was reported thus

Thursday 11 April 1940 , Western Mail , South Glamorgan, Wales

Mass Raids on Scapa Flow
TOWNS MACHINE-GUNNED IN “MURDEROUS ATTACK
The Admiralty, the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Home
Security announced early this morning;— “Yesterday evening the
enemy carried out a number bombing raids in the North Scotland.
It has already been announced that two Heinkel bombers were shot down.
“These were carrying out an attack upon a
convoy and when shot down fell in the Moray Firth. It is believed that
a third enemy bomber was destroyed in the same engagement.
Later the enemy attacked Scapa Flow in force. Air-raid warnings
were sounded at 8.51 p.m. by way
precaution in the extreme North of Scotland, and the raiders passed”
signal was given at about 10.30 p.m.

The raid was carried out by large numbers of enemy aircraft,
which attacked successive waves of large and small formations. Bombs were dropped and machinegun attacks were carried out
against Stromness and Kirkwall. The raid was, however
was, however, abortive, and no damage was done to warships or other shipping. No damage was caused to property. The only casualty
was one man slightly wounded. “Anti-aircraft guns opened fire and both Fleet Air Arm and fighter aircraft were sent
up to intercept. It is certain that enemy bombers ware brought down by anti-aircraft fire and one by fighter aircraft. is probable that at least two more enemy bombers were also brought down by fighters. They were seen to be seriously damaged by machine-gun file and it is most likely that they were unable to reach their bases. “One member of an enemy crew who jumped by parachute just before his aircraft crashed into the sea was picked up by a British destroyer.”

I think Fledgling Eagles incorrectly states that all of Vogles crew survived but also says rescued by "Royal Navy Trawler"


Many Thanks

Paul