Werknr 3318 (Heinkel 111)

[Thomas H]

Hi,

Can someone provide me with information concerning the fate of this HE111 and which unit it belonged to?

I have this HE111 belonging to I/KG53.

But according to the loss register of the Dutch Ministery of Defence it belonged to 6./KG26

HE 111H-4 Werknr 3318 Crashed 05.09.1940 in Gilze (6./KG26, LT. S. Baltes) (www.nimh.nl)

Regards, Thomas

[David Ransome]

Hi Thomas,

My record agrees with the Dutch MoD.

H-4 6./KG26 1H+FP. Crashed and burned out during take-off from Gilze Rijen, cause unknown. Aircraft written off. Lt. Baltes and 3 NCOs killed.

Possibly it was with KG53 earlier, maybe as an H-3.

Any other info gratefully rec'd!

Regards,

David

[Thomas H]

Hi David,

Thanks for your reply!

If the number on this HE111 tail is read well by me, then I can confirm that the plane was indeed used before by I/KG53 till it crash in France on 11-05-1940 (A1+FH)

Regards, Thomas

ps...or should the nr be 5518?

[robert]

Hi,

interesting. I have that A1+FH returned damaged by flak and did not crash?

Regards

Robert

[Peter Cornwell]

Hello Thomas,

I share Robert’s interest. Like him (& the RNMoD) I have this Werk Nummer listed as follows:

September 5, 1940: 6./KG26 Heinkel He111H-4 (3318). Crashed and burned out on take-off from Gilze-Rijen, cause unknown. FF Lt Siegfried Baltes, BO Oberfw Gottfried Pottgüter, BF Gefr Karl-Heinz Graunke, and BM Fw Erich Pfretzschner all killed. Aircraft 1H+FP 100% write-off.

But what interests me most is your photograph (any chance of a full image please ?) that apparently confirms that the aircraft served earlier with 1./KG53 and that it was brought down rather than returned damaged as was previously supposed:

May 11, 1940: 1./KG53 Heinkel He111H. Returned from sortie damaged by AA fire over Sommesous. No crew casualties. Aircraft A1+FH 10% damaged - repairable.

[Peter Cornwell]

Thomas,

I've just found an image that I suspect may be the same as your own showing the A1+FH (3318) on its belly near 'Cambrai'. But, apart from the codes, I have no evidence to confirm that this is the aircraft reported damaged on May 11, 1940. Do you ?

[Thomas H]

Hi Robert and Peter,

The only real proof I have is this picture. The Book by Kiehl describes the whole story....as both book and picture show the plane didn't return from its mission. The Germans did report the loss of A1+FH on May 11, according to Kiehl.

The plane came down by Flak, but the whole group was also under attack by 6 France Morane 204, of which at least one was shot down by a He111.

I don't know where it came down exactly, could be Cambrai?

Peter, if the picture you have/saw is different, can you post it?

Kind regards, Thomas

[robert]

Hi,

could it be 3518?
I think I./KG53 had been attacked in the morning of 11.05.40 by some Curtiss fighters of GCII/5 and three Ms-406s of GCI/2.

Regards

Robert

[RT]

I thought to the 3518, but maybe the upper bar of 5 would be thicker..
further the Wn given on september could also be wrong...

Remi

[Thomas H]

Hi Robert,

The eyewitness report in Kiehl's book doesn't mention any fighter attacks on their way to the target, only the 6 Morane 204 on their way back.

Hi Remi,

It is very hard to see if it is indeed 3318, it could be

3318
3518
5318
5518

Regards, Thomas