KG66 loss 3-5-1945

[Brian Bines]

While Web browsing came accross a Soldbuch for a Observer of I/KG66 killed on 3-5-1945, who had served with KG76 and I/KG66 from December 1944. From what I can make out he was Uffz Kurt Heinau (surname not certain of) born 26-3-1922 at M.Gladbach. The book shows I/KG66 killed in a crash by Eggebeck (Eggebek airfield ?), are any further details of this loss known please. Listed RAF fighter claims for Ju88/188s this day shown on the Soldbuch site were by Husum A/F, Grossenbrode, N/W of Jagel (2) and W of Kappeln,

Regards
Brian Bines

[Matti Salonen]

Correct name is Kurt Heinen. No NVM found due to so late loss.

Matti

[Brian Bines]

Thanks Matti,

Regards
Brian Bines

[Nick Beale]

According to the Deutsche Volksbund website, Uffz. Kurt Gerhard Heinen, buried at Haddebyer Noor/Karberg (near Schleswig).

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Well, I guess I'm the one supposed to know ..Those "last-days-of-the-war-losses" are notoriously difficult, but according to my notes the aircraft involved (either a Ju 88 S-3 or G-6, based on KG66's first Staffel inventory) was shot down during a transfer flight from Neumünster in Northern Germany (which was at the point of being overrun by the British) to Aalborg-West in Denmark on 3 May 1945. Ofw. Emil Türke (pilot) and Uffz. Kurt Heinen (Beobachter) killed, the 1. Wart baled out safely. I have no info on the fate of the Bordfunker, in fact it is not even clear if there was one on board at all. (The retreat from Neumünster was made in great haste, a lot of 3./KG66 crews left their Beobachter behind for example.)

According to Jorn Junker, both Türke and Heinen are burried at the same cemetery (Fahrndorf-Karberg).

Best regards,

Marcel (I./KG66 research)

[Brian Bines]

Nick and Marcel, many thanks for your replies. Marcel the additional crew details are really helpful for such a late war loss. As regards Ff Ofw Emil Turke I wonder if he was the same pilot who flew a Ju 88 of 2/KG76 back to make an emergency landing at Grevillers after his Bf and Bd baled out over Tilbury on the 29/30-1-1944. The 'K' report naming him only gave his surname,

Regards
Brian Bines

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Originally Posted by Brian Bines

As regards Ff Ofw Emil Turke I wonder if he was the same pilot who flew a Ju 88 of 2/KG76 back to make an emergency landing at Grevillers after his Bf and Bd baled out over Tilbury on the 29/30-1-1944. The 'K' report naming him only gave his surname,

Regards
Brian Bines

Brian,

Not sure, but could be: Emil Türke was at least old enough to be a pilot at that time (DOB 26 April 1915, Freiburg) and I don't thing that Türke is a very common German surname (Any Germans on this forum who can shine a light on this?!) As I./KG66 usually took over entire crews from other Kampfgeschwader (and Beobachter Kurt Heinen also originally belonged to 2./KG76), it's quite possible that a) Heinen and Türke were already a crew with 2./KG76 shortly before transferring to I./KG66 and b) that Heinen was the successor of Türke's previous Beobachter who baled out over Tilbury. But I have to stress that this is an assumption on my part..

[RT]

Türke, was less common in those days , that today for sure

Rémi

[RT]

A Türk, was with LG1 i. 1943, Wilhelm, nd a Türkes lost is live around Berlin on April 45 with 5.SG 104, but i. battle on the field

Rémi

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Thanks for the addition, Rémi.

Bien cordialement,

Marcel