He 177 Flak Damage

[Chris Goss]

I have just obtained the attached photo which shows 6 crew from a He 177 inspecting damage to their bomber. I have seen this photo before-can anyone come up with any details?

[Brian Bines]

An AD(I)K composite report (109/1944) for the raid on 20/21st. Feb in the section on KG100 shows of the three aircraft from which P/Ws were later available, one was hit by AA over the Essex coast and had to turn back, reaching base on one pair of engines. As of these three aircraft only two had officer pilots Oblt Hundt on 24/25th Feb and Ltn Goetze on 1/2 Mar (both 2/KG100) perhaps one of them is the crew in the picture, which also appeared in the Alfred Price book Blitz On Britain. I could not find any other clues although 5J+IL landed at Beauvais-Tille with engine trouble on 20.2.44 with the Bw and a B having slight injuries, however the men in the photo look uninjured.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Brian. Another sources has indicated that it is probably Lt Kurt Goetze & his crew from 2/KG 100. Such damage would have definitely resulted in one pair of engines being shut down!