II/KG51, 01.06.1940

[srob48]

Can anyone help with information as to the loss of the second aircraft. (Source: Luftwaffe loss records)

01.06.1940
4/KG51.
Junkers Ju88A (8004). Sortie to Marseille. Shot down by French fighters and force-landed near Ruffieux. Fw. R. Müller, Uffz. P. Dickhut, Gefr. B. Sartor, Gefr. H. Spiess all captured. Aircraft 9K+DM a write-off.

II/KG51.
Heinkel He111 ( ). Missing. Crew of 5 missing. Aircraft lost.
This aircraft not mention in 'The Battle of France'.

[Peter Cornwell]

The Lw GQM Returns (Abt.6) do record the loss of a Ju88 of II/KG51 and a He111 of III./KG51 on 1 June 1940 the first supposedly landing in Italian territory while the second was reported shot down over the French-Swiss frontier. As you say, the first was as follows:

4./KG51 Junkers Ju88A-1 (8004). Engaged over Lac de Paladru by Adj Baritel of GC III/9 during sortie to Marseille and pursued north-east eventually forced-landing near Ruffieux, east of Culoz, with port engine feathered 1.45 p.m. Possibly that also attacked by S/Lt Kalpas of DAT Lyons. FF Fw Reinhold Müller, BF Uffz Paul Dickhut, BO Gefr Bernhard Sartor, and BS Gefr Hermann Spieß all captured unhurt – later released. Aircraft 9K+DM 100% write-off.

However, the NVMs for II./KG51 only record the loss of one crew on that day and I have found no other evidence to support the second entry which I suspect to be erroneous.

[srob48]

Thank you Peter. I saw this entry in your excellent book 'The Battle of France'. But its the second aircraft, the Heinkel He111 that I need information for. Its clear II/KG51 operated both Ju88s and He111s, and it maybe the He111 was lost somewhere else and not in the French Campaign, which would explain why you have not included it in your book

[Peter Cornwell]

II./KG51 was Ju88 equipped on 1 June 1940 having converted from the He111 the previous March/April. The second loss you are pursuing was reported in the GQM Returns (Abt.6) as an He111 of III./KG51 and I find no corroboration of any such loss in their NVMs.