Need approx manufacture date of He111H-2 WNr2736

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

This H-2, V4+DV, was reported FL in France on 29.9.40, but I have photos of what is probably an earlier V4+DV or OV, with a 1939-style swastica on the tail. If 2736 was manufactured after 1939, these must be two different a/c. Who can help? Does anyone have high-res photos of V4+DV taken in 1939-40?

Regards,

Larry

[Merlin]

Larry,

This aircraft was part of a batch with WNr. 2697 – 2790 manufactured by Arado Brandenburg. The earliest records I have are for WNr. 2747, 2755 and 2762 during August 1939.

[Larry Hickey]

Merlin,

Thanx, this means that the one lost 29.9.40 would have been manufactured back in 1939, which is what I needed to know. It has to do with whether it would have a tail-centered or a fin only swastica location, for photo ID and possible profiling purposes.

The problem now is that the location of the 29 Sept 1940 reported loss (Forced-landed near Marin, east of Thonon-les-Bains, which is on the French-Swiss border area on the south side of Lake Geneva) doesn't match photos of an a/c with this code (or just possibly V4+OV) FL in good condition "am Kanal," according to the eBay photo seller. The photos show an a/c with a tail-centered 1939-style swastica. Of course, the seller could have posted wrong info. However, during this period, I have a question about what a 5./KG1 He111H is doing down on the opposite side of France, which is where Lake Geneva is, from where the Battle of Britain was then taking place, .

Confusing and probably something is wrong with some of this info.

According to the EoE Luft Loss DB: "September 29, 1940: 5./KG1 Heinkel He111H-2 (2736). Forced-landed near Marin, east of Thonon-les-Bains, during sortie, cause not stated. No crew casualties."

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator


Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[RT]

According to the EoE Luft Loss DB: "September 29, 1940: 5./KG1 Heinkel He111H-2 (2736). Forced-landed near Marin, east of Thonon-les-Bains, during sortie, cause not stated. No crew casualties."

If it forcedlanded by night, nd why by day going so far.., it had been a piece of luck because the band where is seated Thônon is extremly "meager", between lake nd mountain !

Rémi

[obdl3945]

Hi, Larry...

Not sure if these are of any help to you. Can't see any W.Nr. nor do I have any note of location, but one seems to show a centre-positioned swastika. Starboard propellor damage would appear to indicate these two images being of the same aircraft.

Regards,

Paul

[Larry Hickey]

Paul,

These are two of the three photos that I'm working from in my efforts to document and ID this aircraft. This may be one of my 5./KG1 profiles for the EoE Project if I can clearly get the correct story on it. It was the 3rd photo which I purchased on eBay that had the "am Kanal" caption with it.

Can anyone help correctly ID this one?

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[steve sheridan]

Originally Posted by Merlin

Larry,

This aircraft was part of a batch with WNr. 2697 – 2790 manufactured by Arado Brandenburg. The earliest records I have are for WNr. 2747, 2755 and 2762 during August 1939.

Hi Merlin, with regards the above mentioned a/c, what unit were they allocated to in Aug 1939.

Best regs,
Steve.

[Merlin]

Steve,

what is your special interest behind your question?

Most of the losses within the first 12 month after production occured with II./KG 1, II./KG 53, KGr 100, (F)/121 and (F)/122.

[steve sheridan]

Hi merlin, the reason i ask is because ive been researching KG1's losses particularly for the 1939-41 period, and was curious as to whether these may have been from that unit.

Best regs,
Steve.