2/606 Loss off Ireland 11 Oct 40

[Chris Goss]

Lt zS Horst Felber is buried at Glencree as is Gefr Walter Hoppmann (who was washed ashore at Clogherhead) whilst Oblt Friedrich-Wilhelm Richter was washed ashore & is buried at Cannock Chase. Can anyone tell me where Felder & Richter were washed ashore?

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Chris,

Horst Felber was found washed ashore 26 October 1940 at Mosney Strand, near Laytown, Co. Meath.
Walter Hoppmann was found washed ashore 26 October 1940 at Clogher Head, Co. Louth.
The information for both of the above comes from the G2/X/0466 file in the Irish Military Archives, Dublin.

I also have an unsourced note in my file on this crash that the body of Friedrich-Wilhelm Richter was washed up at Bull Bay, Amlwch in Angelsey. From where I recorded it this information could be 20-25 years old.

The most accurate crash location I have is from the Combat Report of F/O D.H. Watkins as published in 'BEWARE, BEWARE' (The History of 611 Squadron) by Aldon P. Ferguson. Watkins estimated it crashed "about 50 miles SW of Holyhead".

Hope this helps,

Martin.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Martin-will confirm with AHB tomorrow. Believe that Watkins kill was the 1/606 plane flown by Arpert

[Martin Gleeson]

Chris,

Await any new information with interest, but Arpert shot down by Watkins complicates matters ! I thought he and his crew came down in Liverpool Bay with three of the four crew rescued by a trawler and made POWs (including Arpert).
If the date was known when Richter's body was found in Anglesey that might help.

Regards,

Martin.

[Peter Cornwell]

1./ KüFlGr. 606 Dornier Do17Z-3 (2772). Shot down by Red Section of No. 611 Squadron (F/L W.J. Leather, P/O P.S.C. Pollard, and P/O J.R.G. Sutton) during sortie to bomb Speke airfield and ditched in Caernarvon Bay, 16 miles off Bardsey Island, 6.30 p.m. BO Lt zur See Jürgen von Krause, BM Fw Heinz Arpert, and BF Gefr Helmut Sudermann took to dinghy and picked up by the tug Amsterdam off Holyhead and all captured unhurt, FF Fw Josef Vetterl missing. Aircraft 7T+EH 100% write-off.
The Holyhead and Porthdinllaen lifeboats, A.E.D. and M.O.Y.E. both launched in response to signal flares from this crew but were recalled when it was reported that they were safe.

1./ KüFlGr. 606 Dornier Do17Z-5 (2787). Set alight in attacks by Red Section of No.611 Squadron (F/L W. J. Leather, P/O P. S. C. Pollard, and P/O J. R. G. Sutton) during sortie to attack Speke 6.30 p.m. Abandoned by two of crew but fire brought under control and aircraft returned to Brest landing on two burst tyres. BM Uffz Heinz Johannsen baled out over Capel Curig but hit port tailplane and fell dead near Deiniolen with unopened parachute, BF Fw Hans Staas baled out and captured unhurt on landing at Marthalyn, FF Oberfw Wilhelm Hagen and BO Oberlt zur See [ ] Heine both unhurt. Aircraft 7T+HH 45% damaged but repairable.

2./ KüFlGr. 606 Dornier Do17Z-3 (3475). Shot down by F/O D.K. Watkins and F/O T.D. Williams of No. 611 Squadron during sortie to bomb Liverpool and crashed in the Irish Sea, 50 miles west of Holyhead, 6.35 p.m. FF Oberlt Friedrich-Wilhelm Richter, BO Lt zur See Horst Felber, and BF Gefr Walter Hoppmann all drowned, BM Uffz Eugen Weber missing. Aircraft 7T+EK 100% write-off.
Two bodies from this aircraft came ashore in Ireland on October 26; Horst Felber at Mosney Strand, Laytown, County Meath, and Walter Hoppmann at Clogher Head, County Louth. Friedrich-Wilhelm Richter was washed ashore at Bull Bay, Amlwch, Anglesey on November 7.

[Chris Goss]

Peter has beaten me to it! However, Williams in his logbook says that the aircraft he and Watkins attacked ditched 50 miles out and that 3 crew were picked up. Von Krause, the Beobachter of 7T+EH, said he was attacked by two Spitfires and that they damaged one-Williams said he was hit in both attacks, took a hit to the rudder bar, undercarriage, pitot head and a number of electrical systems were taken out. Von Krause also said thyey were picked up by a Dutch patrol boat-Amsterdam?

[Joe Potter]

Chris,
The AHB have a Burial Return in LL35065/53/31 for 73712/2 Oblt Richter, that should give you the location where he was found.
Joe

[Chris Goss]

Joe
Thanks got it already. Washed up at Bull Bay but buried Pwllheli.
Had a strange email from you earlier today-your email ok?
Chris

[Martin Gleeson]

Very interesting and useful exchange of information.
.
7T+EH (FF Vetterl). Peter’s details appear to clear up the location of its loss, in that it cannot be Liverpool Bay as reported heretofore. The locations of the lifeboat stations mean Caernarfon Bay has to be correct.
.
7T+HH (FF Hagen). I cannot find ‘Marthalyn’ on any map or Google Maps/Earth. Can anyone provide more detail on this location ? The spelling must be different. It would help with the route of the aircraft.
Is this aircraft a Z-3 or Z-5 ?
.
7T+EK (FF Richter). It seems the reference in Williams logbook to 3 of the Dornier crew being picked up refers to the 7T+EH aircraft. There must have been much confusion that evening in 611 Squadron trying to sort out ‘who got who’ – and we are still at it 74 years later ! Watkins in his Combat Report states he saw one or two men in the dinghy (7T+EK), and remember Williams did not see this as he had already returned to base due to damage (and on orders from Watkins).
.
With Peter’s entries a new problem arises. Where do we fit in the claims of Heath, and Angus/Pattison plus 312 Squadron ? They must also have attacked some of the Dorniers.
.
Regards,
.
Martin.

[Chris Goss]

Hagen's Do 17 was a Z-5-I have 3 photos of it on its return. Of interest, Ofw Willi Hagen was killed over Malta in 1942 and Oblt zS Karl-Franz Heine killed commanding U-403 on 18 Aug 43.

K reports Marthalyn as being VJ0684