Coding for 3./506

[bill norman]

I thought that the unit code for Küstenfliegergruppe 506 was S4+ but I have a /506 KTB report for 3rd June 1941 stating that He111 of 3./506 (and coded BK+CO) carried out a torpedo attack in the North Sea. Any comments?

Bill Norman (website: www.billnorman.co.uk)

[Chris Goss]

Obviously still using its factory codes?

[RT]

He111 really ???


Rémi

[RT]

BK+CO is H-5 3891

Still in the inventory in 1943

Rémi

[Seaplanes]

3./506 began conversion from He 115 to Ju 88 on 09.06.1941 at Westerland on the island of Sylt. What this He 111 did on unit strength I can not explain. Can anyone else ??

[bill norman]

ah..my mistake. Words like 'egg', 'face' , 'on' and 'my' spring to mind! Should have stated He115 coded BK+CO. Does Chris's explanation still hold?

[bill norman]

Iinformation has come to hand to shed a little more light - perhaps? The initial instruction was for 3 x He115 to transfer from List to Großenbrode 'for a special operation'. However, 3hrs after their arrival they were - for some unknown reason - instructed to return to List. Shortly after that, BK+CO ( specifically stated as He111) of 3./506 was transferred from Großenbrode to Westerland, from where it subsequently made an attack on the designated ship with 2 x torpedoes and a number of bombs. For this operation BK+CO is regularly referred to in the KTB as being an He111. It is even mentioned in the crew's debrief. There seems to be no doubt that He111 was the type. The crew of the ship that was attacked described their assailant merely as 'Heinkel' - but their description of the form of the attack mirrors the description given by BK+CO's BO. Any more comments?

[RT]

Training ??

[bill norman]

Unlikely: the target was an aircraft carrier.

[Seaplanes]

In the KTB of F.f.Luft West for the period 01.06.41 - 15.06.41 the story is told. The convoy including this aircraft carrier was detected along the east coast of Britain by recce aircraft on June 2, 1941. The only available aircraft were the Ju 88's (bombs only) of 1./506 operating out of Westerland airfield on Sylt island. At the same time crews of 3./506 were ordered there to convert from He 115 to Ju 88. As no torpedo aircraft was available through normal channels, it was decided to use three He 111 aircraft which were at the Torpedoschule Grossenbrode. Three crews of 3./506 were flown there to take over the aircraft and carry out a torpedo attack against the convoy. However, only one aircraft was made serviceable and transferred to Westerland. From here it carried out the attack with take-off at 20.58 on 02.06.41 and landing at 01.32 on 03.06.41. The aircraft is reffered to as "B" 3./506, this being the first letter of the Stammkennzeichen. After completion of this operation the He 111 was returned to Grossenbrode at 13.44 hours on 03.06.41.