Henry STARKE, Date of loss in 1942

[Alex Smart]

From what I have this Luftwaffe airman was first buried in Herne Bay Cemetery.
The date of internment is given as being the 10th May 1942.
But later being reburied at the Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery, Staffordshire where the date of his death is given as the 12th February 1942.
The airmans name was Henry STARKE.
Can anyone give details of just when this German airman was killed and hopefully the details of the aircraft he was crewmember.
Many thanks
Alex

[Matti Salonen]

1942-02-12, 9./JG 26, Fw 190 A-1, 110089, 4 gelbe, Bei Herne Bay, Kent
Flugzeugführer Ofw Starke, Henry, tot
Absturz auf See nach Luftkampf um 13.20 Uhr. Bruch 100 %. Flugzeugführer tot angeschwemmt.

Matti

[Chris Goss]

One of the few Luftwaffe losses of Operation Donnerkeil possibly shot down by 72 Sqn who were trying to protect 825 Sqn

[Alex Smart]

Thank you both for your swift responses, most helpful.
Although I cannot fathom how the death date at Herne Bay is later than 12/02/1942 ?
Alex

[Chris Goss]

Doesn't say when he was washed ashore but he was originally buried as an unknown Leutnant

[Brian Bines]

The notes I have says believed to be the body found in Herne Bay on 10th May 1942 . Original GQM report gives him as missing with changed from missing to dead on GQM report dated 12 June 1942 . The VDK report give born 23rd Nov. 1913 at Hamburg with missing 12th Feb. 1942 at sea but now buried at Cannock , it does give his rank as Leutnant which also his rank as shown in the Lufwaffe Officers Career Summaries ,

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Brian, dates difference now understood.
Foreman's "Victory Claims" show the following Fw190 claims for the 12th. February '42.

72 Sqn
P/O E.W.Bocock
Fw190 destroyed 15 - 20m E Manston 1300.
Fw190 x 2 damaged 15 - 20m E Manston 1300.

F/O F. De Naeyer
Fw190 destroyed Boulogne 1300

Sgt. J Garden
Fw190 damaged Boulogne 1300

P/O B Ingham
Fw190 destroyed Boulogne 1300

P/O J Rutherford
Fw190 damaged Boulogne 1300

124 Sqn
F/Sgt M P Kilburn
Fw190 damaged Off Boulogne 1300

222 Sqn
Sgt R Wood
Fw190 damaged Belgian Coast time u/k

485 Sqn
F/Lt G H Francis
Fw190 destroyed 5m W Ostend 1430

Just wonder if it is known how many of those "damaged " actually were not lost to "enemy action" ?

Alex

[Chris Goss]

Could not have been much left on him having been in the sea for nearly 3 months. Guess his Fw 190 broke up releasing him

[James A Pratt III]

Air-War 1942 John Foreman has Strake downed by 485 Sqn

[Chris Goss]

Overclaiming by the RAF on this date make it very hard to say who might have shot down the 3 x Fw 190s