He111 lost 29.11.39 Stab.st/KG26

[steve sheridan]

Hi, would anybody happen to have details of an He111 lost from the Stabstaffel KG26 shot down by Hurricanes No.111Sq East of Amble 09.35hrs 29.11.39. crew of 4 missing bel. killed.
Crew names or identity of a/c sought.
Any help would be appreciated.
Best regs,
Steve.

[Peter Cornwell]

Stabsstaffel KG26 Heinkel He111H-2. Reportedly shot down by S/L H. Broadhurst of No. 111 Squadron and crashed in the North Sea 10 km east of Amble 9.35 a.m. Four crewmen missing. Aircraft 100% write-off.
This aircraft was reported by Northumberland Police and, acting on Admiralty instructions, a motor boat and patrol vessels carried out a search of the vicinity but nothing was found. No corresponding loss is documented in surviving Luftwaffe records.

[steve sheridan]

Good morning Peter, thanks for that.
Once again another mystery!

Kindest regs,
Steve.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Peter

From where does the info come from that four persons were missing and that the unit was Stab St./KG 26 if no details are found in Luftwaffe records?
The details provided seems to indicate there has to be some kind of German record of the incident after all. Perhaps you only mean that there are no remaining personal records left?

B Rgds
Stig

[Peter Cornwell]

An excellent question Stig and one I have asked myself over the years. The first reference to this incident is Chris Shores Fledgling Eagles (1991) p122 and I can confirm that the information came from the late Heinrich Weiss but his original source(s) are unknown. His records document that five aircraft of 1.(F)/122 took-off at 5.13 hours for a reconnaissance of British Fleet dispositions in North Scotland (Scapa Flow) and were followed at 5.45 hours by an He111 of the Stabsstaffel KG26. He further documents that this was intercepted east of Alnwick by Hurricanes of 111 Squadron from Acklington led by S/L Broadhurst and shot down into the North Sea about 10 km east of Amble - the crew going missing. There is a corresponding RAF claim that supports this view but I have found no evidence for this loss in any German material or personnel records of the period. But given the reputation of Shores and his co-authors it has inevitably found its way into 'accepted wisdom' on the subject and, as such, still surfaces occasionally as an unresolved query so I keep it listed (with an appropriate caveat) just in case some evidence for it finally emerges. Frankly, I become increasingly doubtful that it ever happened as decribed.

[ju55dk]

The flight of 5 aircraft from 1(F)/122 is documented i the KTB Seenot Nord, but there is no records of KG 26 or losses from this unit.

Junker

[bill norman]

In his combat report, Broadhurst stated that, following his attack, the Heinkel was trailing smoke when it dived into cloud. Broadhurst followed but when he emerged below cloud 'the sea seemed desperately close' and he (Broadhurst) averted disaster only be pulling up violently. He subsequently measured the cloud ceiling as being 1,000ft above sea level. Given that the cloud base was also low, Broadhurst reckoned that the German would have had considerable difficulty recovering from his dive. Broadhurst did not see the Heinkel crash but he suspected that it had and submitted a claim for one 'destroyed'. We are told that the claim was subsequently substantiated by land-based observers. So - big question-mark!
BN (www.billnorman.co.uk)

[ju55dk]

On noon that day some Do 18 from KüFlGr 406 were attacked by enemy aircraft. One had to make an emergency landing.

Junker

[Stig Jarlevik]

Peter et al

Thanks for professional wisdom. I agree we need to take one step back and see if anything further will show up in the future. I have my own opinion regarding the shooting skill etc as early in the war as this and Broadhurst surmising "below clouds" etc is not the way I would have made my own escape if I was attacked, but that is easy so say of course in my own easychair....

Thanks again
Stig