Mauling of Stabstafffel of KG54 on 19.5.40

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm trying to sort out if any identified photos exist from the loss of three He111Ps from the Stabstaffel of KG54 that was mauled by British fighters during a mission to the Arras area of France on 19.5.40. I have Radtke's account and info in his KG54 history, and brief interrogation reports from some crewmen. Does anyone know the precise locations of each of the three crashes (other than what is in "Twelve Days in May") and are any photos known from these crashes? It does not appear that any of these aircraft came down substantially intact, although there were POWs from all three crews. The Gesch Kdre, Oberst Karl Lackner, reportedly bailed out of one of these aircraft (B3+AA?) and wounded, became a POW of the French, while the Gesch Adj, Oblt. Heinrich Howe, also bailed out of the same aircraft and at least initially was listed as a POW of the British. However, he may have subsequently died, as Radtke lists him as "gefallen." Perhaps he died of his wounds or injuries while in captivity. Lackner subsequently escaped from captivity, apparently returing to German control on 25.5.40, but did not resume his duties as Gesch Kde.

Does anyone know any other details of the events surrounding this action or know of any sources of photos of the crashes?

Thanx

[Peter Cornwell]

Larry,

It was a real scrimmage. All I can offer is as follows:

Stabsstaffel KG54 Heinkel He111P. Shot down Hurricanes north-east of Tournai during armed reconnaissance flight to Arras 4.00 p.m. Obergefr J. Weiß and Obergefr H. Elias killed. Major J. Segschneider (Stabsstaffelkapitän) and Uffz H. Haferkamp captured wounded. Uffz H. Senft captured unhurt. Aircraft a write-off.
Aircraft of I./KG54 plus the Geschwaderstab formed part of the many heavy raids encountered near Cambrai and Lille between 3.10 p.m. and 4.15 p.m. by Hurricanes of Nos. 3, 85, 87, 111, 145, 213, 253, and 601 Squadrons this afternoon. Given the complexity of the fighting, it has not been possible to attribute individual losses to each of the 18 claims for Heinkels submitted by British pilots.

Stabsstaffel KG54 Heinkel He111P. Shot down by Hurricanes north-east of Tournai during armed reconnaissance flight to Arras 4.00 p.m. Oberst W. Lackner (Geschwaderkommodore) and Oberlt H. Howe (Geschwaderadjutant) baled out and captured wounded. Oberlt R. Sandstede (Geschwadernachrichtungsoffizier), Uffz T. Berz, Uffz W. Papendorf, and Uffz A. Mußgnug killed. Aircraft B3+AA a write-off.
Walter Lackner escaped from French captivity and returned home to a wave of press publicity while Heinrich Howe was shipped to England a prisoner of the British. So many officers flying in the same crew was not officially condoned and, after several notable losses, would be expressly forbidden.

Stabsstaffel KG54 Heinkel He111P. Shot down by Hurricanes near Tournai during armed reconnaissance flight to Arras 4.00 p.m. Oberlt H. Fligge, Uffz T. Pannig, and Obergefr E. Schmidt killed. Uffz R. Wirthwein captured wounded. Aircraft a write-off.

Hope this helps

Peter

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi Larry and Peter,

The Volksbund gives for Berz, Papendorf and Mussgnug that they were killed at Thun, which is in France. They are buried at the German War Cemetery at Bourdon(France).

Best regards from tropical Belgium.

Luc

[Peter Cornwell]

Thanks Luc. Site of original burials usually a good clue to crash location. Tropical Belgium ? Send some of it this way please.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello from non-tropical Boulder, Colorado, where we've just had the snowiest winter in almost 150 years.

Thanks to both Peter and Luc for the info on these losses. Do any of our other board readers have any further information on specific crash sites, any further "story" on these losses, know what happened to Lackner during or after escape from capture by the French, or know of photos of any of these 19.5.40 crash sites?

To those who have been tellng me that my TOCH mailbox is full, it is now cleared off.

Thanx,

[Peter T]

I confirm, He 111 with crew Uffz Theo Berz chashed at Thun, He 111 Uffz Hugo Senft at Forest-lez-Frasnes, NE Tournai; the third one came down in the rue Parmentier at Onnaing. Hope this helps.
PT

[Larry Hickey]

Peter,

Yes this helps both my research and, I'm sure, Peter Cornwell's project as well. Are you aware of any photos that exist of these three crashes? Did any of these aircraft come down relatively intact?

Thanx,

[Peter T]

Negative Larry, no pics, sorry.

Peter