HE111 lost on 13/08/40

[Jon]

A single HE111 was lost due to enemy action on 13/08/40 and i have been told that it was claimed by a pilot i am researching... Sgt Eric Bann 238 Squadron.
It crashed north of Cherbourg and the pilot reported being attacked by a single aircraft.
Does anyone have proof / evidence that Sgt Bann claimed this aircraft as the only two combat reports i have by Sgt Bann are for the 13/07/40 and 11/08/40.

[Peter Cornwell]

According to the No.238 Sqdn ORB Sgt BANN ((R2681) did claim an HE111 during action off Portland around noon on 13 August 1940 but I could not find any Form F filed by him for this combat when I consulted the records back in the '70s. An He111P of 7./KG27 went into the Channel 60km north of Cherbourg on this date following combat, the crew Oberfw Theodor WEBER, Obergefr heinz EGGERS, and Obergefr Heinz KLEMM all missing believed killed. Apparently the pilot (un-named) was rescued by the SND.

[Jon]

Thanks Peter, are we then safe to assume that this was the HE111 attacked by Bann as I understand no other RAF pilot claimed a Heinkel on this date ?

Also your superb book Zerstorer mentions a BF110 of V.(Z)LG 1 on page 88 shot down by 238 on 13/7/40.
This is certainly the 110 claimed by Sgt Bann as the copy of his combat report describes the 110 falling away from his 2 second burst straight down into the sea during this engagement.

Again my compliments on a great book.

[Peter Cornwell]

Thank you Jon, always nice to get positive feedback. I'm confident that Sgt BANN accounted for the 7./KG27 loss on 13 August 1940, leastways my amended copy of BoBT&N has it so. It is also clear that he attacked the Bf110 of EISELE & LOCHOW on 13 July, though I believe this victory may well have been shared with the other pilots in Yellow Section on that sortie, MARSH & BATT.

[Jon]

I had the great pleasure of talking with Gordon Batt a few years ago before he passed away, he had fond memories of Sgt Bann and i agree they appeared to be in on the same kills, as well as great friends when not flying.
I still am struggling with the final combat of Sgt Bann and although Batt was only a few yards from him when he was shot down he was still is unsure as to what type it was that got him, all he saw was cannon shells flying past as Sgt Bann shouted in his radio " Look out Gordon" , then as you will be aware Sgt Banns parachute malfunctioned and he fell to his death near Centurion copse on the IOW. I have placed BF109's in the area at the time and also BF110's so i suppose it will be a case of we will never know?
Thanks again.

Jon