Fw Karl Ranft 6/KG53 15.8.40

[steve sheridan]

Hi, on the 15th August 1940 Fw Karl Ranft and his crew from 6/KG53 ditched in the channel following fighter attacks.

Could anybody help with the usual loss detail, particularly whether the other crewmens names are listed.

Best regs,
Steve.

[Larry Hickey]

Steve,

According the the revised EoE Luft Loss DB: "August 15, 1940: 6./KG53 Heinkel He111H-2. Ditched in the Channel off Dover following fighter attack 6.30 p.m. BM Fw Karl Ranft killed, HS Gefr Walter Holzwarth missing, BF Gefr Josef Koll rescued slightly wounded in face - treated at first-aid station in Boulogne, rest of crew rescued unhurt. Aircraft 100% write-off.
The body of Karl Ranft was washed ashore at Boulogne two days later."

Regards,

[steve sheridan]

Evening Larry great to hear from you, many thanks for clearing up the demise of Fw Karl Ranft.

Could you help once more with similar detail from the EoE database for Oblt Zipse 7/KG53 lost 18.8.40. I understand they were out at sea for 26 hours after ditching in the sea off Ramsgate. Did they become POW's or make it back to France?

Kindest regs,
Steve.

[Larry Hickey]

Steve,

According to the revised EoE Luft Loss DB: "August 18, 1940: 7./KG53 Heinkel He111H-2. Attacked by fighters during sortie to bomb North Weald airfield and severely damaged, ditched in sea off Ramsgate following further attack by F/L H.R. Hamilton of No.85 Squadron 5.50 p.m. BO Oberlt Friedrich Zipse, FF Uffz Wilhelm Grasser, BS Gefr Werner Reinhardt, BF Gefr Gerhard Worch, and HS Gefr Heinz Mailänder took to dinghy and all captured unhurt. Aircraft A1+FR 100% write-off.
This crew reached the wreckage of the steamer SS Harcalo that had struck a mine and sunk in the Gull Channel on June 6. They were picked up from there by a naval vessel 26 hours later."

[steve sheridan]

Morning Larry, thanks ever so much for your precise answer.

Kindest regs,
Steve.