Information Concerning Ltn. H. Tuffers - bomber pilot 1940

[rickback4444]

Hi,

Can anyone provide information on this pilot during the Battle of Britain?

Thanks

Rick

[Frans A]

Hi Rickback 4444,
Lt. Hans Tüffers was made POW on 40-11-01 at Hornchurch / Essex (UK)
Frans A

[Frans A]

Sorry Rickback,
He flew in 8./KG 55
Frans A

[Chris Goss]

Account of his last flight is in my recent book on the Blitz. He was also shot down twice in the BofB

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

Loss record as follows:

http://www.aviationhistory.no/ref_db...?lossid=115553

Regards,
Andreas B

[Brian Bines]

'The Luftwaffe Blitz' by Chris Goss has a page in which Hans Tuffers described his capture. His Heinkel was hit by AA, around 2140 hrs., and he and his B baled out. Tuffers landed in the grounds of Belhus Wood and the next morning surrended to Mr White the County Council Lodge Keeper. Later Tuffers was taken to Oldchurch Hospital Romford for injuries to his leg. The B surrended to Railway Porter Cyril Byford at South Okendon railway station, initially Mr. Byford thought the German was another railway worker. Their Heinkel crashed at Matlock Gardens Hornchurch and burst into flames. Three people in an Anderson shelter were killed, with 6 others injured and the bodies of the other two crewmen recovered ( Bf Uffz Richard Bubel, Bm Uffz Josef Juvan ). In all severe damage had been caused to 6 flats and 28 houses by the crash.
On the 15th Sept Tuffers and one other crewman were rescued by the Seenotdienst when their Heinkel ditched following fighter attack.

Info. from Essex Police Reports and Barking Advertiser dated 9-11-1940

[Andy Saunders]

Rickback

In case you haven't seen it, an image of the crash of his He 111.

It looks as if young Herr Tuffer's really should have been a little more careful in his selection of barber!

[rickback4444]

Is the picture of Tuffers a POW photograph.

Can anyone make out what the back of the pictures say and do they match with what the experts say?

[Andy Saunders]

I'd say the mug shot is almost certainly his POW photograph as it conforms to others I have seen/got (including the handwriting at the bottom!) and the number is almost certainly his POW number.

[Brian Bines]

Rick as far as I can make out the writing on the back of the photos say something like - photos of my aircraft G1+AT taken on the flight to Portland 15-9-1940. The cockpit photo shows Tuffers at the controls with B Ofw Martin Reiser next to him. According to an article about Reiser by Ken Wakefield ''One Man Two Wars '' on the 15-9-40 Reiser flew as B to Oblt. Speck. I think the references to Reiser on the photos says something like taken by my previous observer Ofw Reiser but thats only a guess. On the 15-Sept Tuffers in ''The Luftwaffes Blitz '' says his B who survived with him was Uffz. Heinz Rothan, however the KG55 history has Rothan as a POW and gives the three crewmen killed as Bf Uffz Andreas Janson, Bm Uffz Fritz Keil and Bs Gef Konrad. The GQM list just shows III/KG55 He111 P-2 1586 emergency landing in the Kanal following fighter attack with three airmen killed no names shown.
As regards Martin Reiser he was 43 years old and had flown as an observer in WW1, later as Ltn. Reiser he baled out over England and was taken POW on 10/11-5-1940,

Hope this helps and that someone can confirm what is written on the Photos,

Regards

Brian Bines