Heinkel He 60 losses

[Neil Wakefield]

The following units were equipped with the He 60 at the start of the war:

1.(M)/106
1./BFGr.196
1.(M)/506
1.(M)/706
1.(M)/306
5./BFGr.196

What losses did these units suffer in 1939?

Thanks,

Neil

[Seaplanes]

Only three He 60 were lost in the period 01.09.1939 to 31.12.1939, all during September 1939.

03.09.1939 1./506 He 60D W.Nr. 1463 M7+DH 100% Pillau-Neutief. During take-off for a recce sortie to the Bay of Danzig, the floats hit harbour installations. The aircraft caught fire and was completely wrecked. Lt.d.R. Hoffmann (observer) and Uffz. Damrau (pilot) were both killed.

11.09.1939 1./506 He 60E W.Nr. 1587 100% Pillau-Neutief. Crashed shortly before landing when the pilot was temporary blinded by light. Lt.z.See Kleemann (observer) and Lt. Nick (pilot) were both rescued unwounded.

22.09.1939 1./306 He 60 W.Nr. not known K6+QH Damaged during forced landing off Kaaseberga near Kivik in Sweden due to engine problems. The aircraft was towed to Ystad by Swedish destroyer "Vidar" and interned. Returned to Germany 04.11.1940. Oblt. Gerhard Grosse (pilot) and Lt.z.See Helmut von Rabenau (observer) were both unwounded and interned in Sweden. Both returned to Germany 08.06.1940.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

About the first loss, the Volksbund database has an Uffz Ernst August Damrau who died on 2 September 1939 in Pillau/Neutief.

This is in all probability the same man, but there is a discrepency on the death date (maybe due to a night crash?).

There are several Hoffman listed by the database on 2 and 3 September but none is a Leutnant, and none died in Pillau (tested all possibles writings for Ho(e)f(f)man(n)).

Seaplanes, seeing your name just reminded me I had a question for you for some time. On 2 October 1944, a 605 Sqn Mosquito flown by Flt Lt Roy Lelong claimed 5 Do 24 destroyed and two damaged in Jasmunder Bay, and a Bv 138 damaged off Rugen Island, all on "the ground" (ie water in these cases). Do you have anything about such losses ?

Thanks in advance, and sorry for hijacking this thread

Laurent

[robert]

Hi,


I have also He 60 from 1/506 shot down by polish AA fire between 13-14.00 NE of Hallerowo. Could it be a He 59? How many He 59 were lost in September 1939 in polish campaign (I have: one on the 02.09, one on the 03.09, one on the 12.09 and one on the 01.10)?
Does somebody have a exactly times of accidents involving previous mentioned He 60`s?

Regards

Robert

[Seaplanes]

First the losses on October 2, 1944. You do know that this period is very difficult for losses, particulary if no one was injured, killed or missing. My records are very reliable up to the end of May 1944, then up to the end of August 1944 with some difficulty and from then on I have only those based on the WAST Namentliche Verlustmeldungen. I do have losses for October 2, 1944, but this is only for a Do 24 lost in the Med.

So to the He 59 in September 1939. I have losses registered on the 04.09., 26.09. and 29.09.1939.

[robert]

Hi Seaplanes,

I have:


02.09.39 - He 59 3/506 morning sea Flak s/d 100%
03.09.39 - He 59 3/706 18-19.00 Hel Flak s/d 100%
12.09.39 - He 59 1/506 Pillau crashed 100% (??? perhaps this is a loss from11.09.39)
01.10.39 - He 59 1/506 13.55 Hel Flak s/d 100%.
All information`s were taken from polish books or from Verlustmeldungen.
Which details you have?

Regards

Robert

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by Seaplanes

First the losses on October 2, 1944. You do know that this period is very difficult for losses, particulary if no one was injured, killed or missing. My records are very reliable up to the end of May 1944, then up to the end of August 1944 with some difficulty and from then on I have only those based on the WAST Namentliche Verlustmeldungen. I do have losses for October 2, 1944, but this is only for a Do 24 lost in the Med.

Thanks. I also have the Do 24 loss in Egean (WNr 2112). According to my files it was shot down by a Beaufighter flown by the crew Bays-Battiste of 46 Sqn. I have the crew list (3 dead, 3 survivors) but no details about passengers, except that they were 22 and there was only 1 survivor.

As for the Jasmunder Bay strafing, I was hoping you had something in an unit war diary, or pilot diary. If such losses were indeed inflicted, a Do 24 unit was probably wiped out (at least for aircraft) for some time, and this may appear in some documents. So I was hoping a specialist like you may have something about it.

Thanks anyway

Laurent

[crolick]

Hello Seaplanes and Marius,

I must admit that I'm confused regarding loss of He.59D M7+XL.
According to Marius it went missing on 3.IX and then it reappeared on 6.IX as shot down over Gdynia.
According to Seaplanes it was destroyed on 4.IX near Hela.

As far as I know (from the Polish claims) it seems that version of Seaplanes is more reliable since I do not know any claim from 6.IX over Gdynia (but this does not mean that there was no any. It is possible that I've missed this claim). So could you be so kind and once again explain which version is true?!

Also (correct me if I'm mistaken) Luftwaffe lost 6 seaplanes in IX.1939:
3 He.60 (2.IX, 11.IX and 22.IX)
2 He.59 (4(6?).IX, 26.IX)
1 He.114 (crashed in the sea NE off Hallerowo on 11.IX)
Any information regarding damaged planes?!

BTW. What was He.60 (K6+QH) doing over Kivik?!

Best regards from Warsaw,
Andrzej

[Seaplanes]

If you are looking at the floatplanes only, your list is nearly complete apart from a second He 114 W.Nr. 2571 of 1./506 lost 17.09.39 at Pillau when landing with tailwind. The two crewmembers were rescued uninjured.
In addition to the floatplanes, Luftwaffe lost no fewer than 6 Dornier Do 18 flying boats during September 1939.

[crolick]

Hello Seaplanes,

Thank you!
Do you have further info on Do.18 flying boats?! That is dates and causes of the loss?!

Thanks in advance!