Luftwaffe Losses 30th May 1941 Crete

[Michael Bendon]

Further to an earlier post I made about an eyewitness account of a damaged German aircraft on the beach (not recovered). Hoping someone may be able to provide the losses allocated to that day please with any or all details available. Thanks as always to a most informative forum

[byron-]

What about Kissamos bay?

FF. Hptm. Karl Heindorf, Bf 110 E1 (U8+KK, W.Nr. 3961) 100% m. BS. Fw. Thomas Gumbmann, beide (+) 01.06.41 25. Km. N. Kissamos-Bucht Kreta, 2./Z.G. 26

[steve sheridan]

Hi Byron, just a note of caution.

I have the W.Nr of this a/c as being W.Nr 3951!

W.Nr 3961 3U+DK was lost on 1.8.41 also with 2/ZG26 at Novgorod, Russia. Lt Eckbert Pechstedt and his gunner reported missing, due to flak.
Best regs,
Steve.

[byron-]

Hello Steve,

I searched my sources about the information i posted and found the following:

In Qu.M 6 returns is mentioned for the 1. June the loss of a Bf 110 on Crete with the code Nr. 3951

An other researche (secondary source) i have about the losses of I./ ZG 26 gives the code Nr. 3961 for the same date and same crew.

It would be of interest to hear other opinions

[Khorat]

Hi Byron,

know the second source very well...

thats written down from the original Loss Reports holding at the WASt in Berlin,

and you will find it several times - differences for Werknummern, or spelling of name and places - sometimes the GQM is right - other time the "Namentliche Verlustmeldung".

So at last who knows ?

khorat

[byron-]

Thank you Khorat,

Every thing clear, that`s what i imagine as well

[steve sheridan]

Hi Byron,
thanks for the two examples provided to illustrate the inconsistencies,
in researching these losses.
Im interested to see the reports from your second source, described as the Loss Reports holding at the WASt in Berlin.
Do you have other copies you could share with us?
I have not seen these copies before.

Kindest regs,
Steve.

[byron-]

Hello Steve,

Please send me via PM your email

[Michael Bendon]

First thanks to all. Excuse my ignorance but I am new to this particular area of research. Any chance of a little expansion on the sources used for this information and how as a novice I may be able to access this.

The aircraft at Kissamos Bay is a possibility but only if the position is mislocated as the aircraft I have is further west. Interesting thing is, as the aircraft I am looking for was involved in the sinking of a landing craft and as reports say these craft were dispatched to Sphakia, Kissamoss Bay would be a detour rather than a direct faster escape line. Also wasn't Kastelli/Kissamos well under German control by that time making a detour as such more risky? There is, of course, the chance that they were looking to shelter for the daylight hours as it seems most of such craft tended to do, travelling only at night. Some memoirs speak also of engine trouble on route.
There were, in fact, two such landing craft sent at the same time along with a ML which was reported as sunk with all hands. The landing craft listed only as lost. My eyewitness reports may have been embellished or have a few threads of collective memory running through them but I do have the wreck of one landing craft and the possible remains of an aircraft (not yet confirmed by excavation) not in Kissamos Bay. All in all a very interesting little project. Will always keep the forum updated and as always thank you for any help or direction for access to source material. Michael