Detail required

[Del1701]

23 August 1940 He111 H 2./KG 55 Gl+EK (P) Oblt. Hans Mössner (67016/
3) uninjured, (O) Fw. Johann Reiter (67016/56)uninjured, (W) Ofw. Kurt Heinze (67016/32)wounded, (FE) Ofw. Otto Weis (67016/76)
wounded. (G) Gfr. Harald Kawlath (67016/140)baled out over the Channel and posted missing.Forced landed Nr. Le Havre, France, after being
damaged by fighters during a mission to attack aircraft factories at Yeovil.

Can anyone tell me the time this aircraft was attacked and some idea of the location and Squadron that was involved?

Thanks
Del.

[Peter Cornwell]

2./KG55 Heinkel He111H. Forced-landed at Octeville damaged in attack by F/O E.S. Hogg of No.152 Squadron during sortie to Southampton 4.05 p.m. FF Oberlt Hans Mössner unhurt, BF Oberfw Kurt Heinze and BM Oberfw Otto Weis both badly wounded - admitted to hospital in Le Havre, BS Gefr Harry Kawlath baled out over the Channel 25 miles south of Bournemouth and missing. Aircraft G1+EK 25% damaged but repairable.

[Del1701]

Thanks Peter, I am looking for a He 111 (unit not known) lost or severly damaged by a lone fighter in the Chanel south of Southampton about 18.00, was hoping this was the one, but seems to be two hours too early. It seems that 2/KG 55 were in the right area but not at the right time. Are you aware of any other losses that may fit? Regards Del.

[Peter Cornwell]

Del,

I know of only one other He111 casualty over the Channel on that day as follows:

3./KG55 Heinkel He111P-2. Forced-landed at Octeville damaged by fighters during sortie to Southampton. BS Gefr Johannes Kaden killed, BO Lt Heinrich Weber badly wounded - admitted to hospital in Le Havre, rest of crew unhurt. Aircraft G1+DL 10% damaged - repairable.

What is the source of the time of the attack that you quote please ?

[Del1701]

Thanks Peter, New Milton in Hampshire was bombed by a lone HE111 on the 23 August 1940 at 18.30 killing 19 civillians and 5 military personel. A number of contempoary witness accounts report a Spitfire flying over the town and chasing the He111 out over the coast twoards the Isle of Wight. Within 10 mins the Spit is reported to have returned completed a "victory roll" over the town before leaving the area. I have hunted for a number of years but can not find a damage / loss for the Luftwaffe that ties in with the time nor a claim from the RAF. Any ideas?

[Chris Goss]

There were no RAF claims apart from Hogg this day in your neck of the woods. The attack was carried out by one of 6 He 111s from II/KG 55 which took off at 1805 hrs (1705 hrs UK time) to attack targets 7432, 7443, 7119. Weather was bad and there were RAF fighters around but none made contact. They hit a railway station east of Christchurch, Hamble and Tangemre and returned safely

[robert]

Hi,

one of the crews from II./KG55 reported being attacked by 3 Spitfires at 20.10 hrs (19.10 UK time) by Southampton but the attack was unsuccessful.

Robert

[Del1701]

Thanks Robert and Chris. Do we know the identity of the crew or aircraft that claimed to have been attacked? You say the attack was unsucessful was there any reported damage?

[robert]

No damage and no names of the crew.

Robert