Coding for 3./506

[bill norman]

I thought that the unit code for Küstenfliegergruppe 506 was S4+ but I have a /506 KTB report for 3rd June 1941 stating that He111 of 3./506 (and coded BK+CO) carried out a torpedo attack in the North Sea. Any comments?

Bill Norman (website: www.billnorman.co.uk)

[Chris Goss]

Obviously still using its factory codes?

[RT]

He111 really ???


Rémi

[RT]

BK+CO is H-5 3891

Still in the inventory in 1943

Rémi

[Seaplanes]

3./506 began conversion from He 115 to Ju 88 on 09.06.1941 at Westerland on the island of Sylt. What this He 111 did on unit strength I can not explain. Can anyone else ??

[bill norman]

ah..my mistake. Words like 'egg', 'face' , 'on' and 'my' spring to mind! Should have stated He115 coded BK+CO. Does Chris's explanation still hold?

[RT]

Sure it does, but the code is for an He111 ...

[bill norman]

Iinformation has come to hand to shed a little more light - perhaps? The initial instruction was for 3 x He115 to transfer from List to Großenbrode 'for a special operation'. However, 3hrs after their arrival they were - for some unknown reason - instructed to return to List. Shortly after that, BK+CO ( specifically stated as He111) of 3./506 was transferred from Großenbrode to Westerland, from where it subsequently made an attack on the designated ship with 2 x torpedoes and a number of bombs. For this operation BK+CO is regularly referred to in the KTB as being an He111. It is even mentioned in the crew's debrief. There seems to be no doubt that He111 was the type. The crew of the ship that was attacked described their assailant merely as 'Heinkel' - but their description of the form of the attack mirrors the description given by BK+CO's BO. Any more comments?

[RT]

Training ??

[bill norman]

Unlikely: the target was an aircraft carrier.