ID of He111 of KG 54 down either 24.5.40 or 2.6.40 on beach at Ostende, Belgium

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I'm trying to ID the full code and info for an He111 of KG54 that made a wheels up landing on the beach at Ostende (Oostende), Belgium during the Western Campaign. The Heinkel has white spinner tips, indicating either a 1 Staffel or a 4 Staffel aircraft. No 7 Staffel aircraft is a likely candidate. One of the three photos available to me has a handwritten note on the back that indicates that it was taken on the beach at Ostende. By a process of elimination, this can only be an aircraft lost on a raid on the Dunkirk area, about thirty miles to the SW down the coast, by 1 Staffel on either 24.5.40 or 2.6.40, or one of three 4 Staffel machines lost on missions to Dunkirk on 2.6.40. The plane came down intact, but apparently the action of the sea eventually broke the tail off. Can anyone ID the specifics of this aircraft?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Alain57]

Hi ,

There was a He-111 from KG54 who made a wheels up landing on 02/06/1940 on the beach off Middelkerke ( 8 km south-east off Oostende )
Unfortenally i have no more info about the plane and crew.

Greetings

Alain

[Larry Hickey]

Alain,

Your reference sounds like the plane that I'm looking for. Does anyone else have any information on that incident? This He111 came down intact, and there should be photos of it with unit codes and possible W.Nr.

Thanx,

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

All the one's I have are 100% damage for this date from KG 54 and the location of Dünkichen.

Regards,

Norbert

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

With thanks from a message from Peter T. this mystery is solved and the He111P is certainly identified as B3+JM of 4./KG54 belly landed on the beach at Middelkirke, West Flanders, Belgium on 2/6/40, with Oblt. Günther Seubert piloting. He was uninjured and returned to duty. One crewman was killed and buried at Ostende.

Thanks for the help.

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Wondering what the source is of the loss? The reports from the BA only indicate that 4./KG 54 lost 2 aircraft that day. One with Hptm. Maiwald and one with Obltn. Berg. There is no mention of Obltn. Seubert or another 4./KG 54 aircraft being lost. Just wondering,

Norbert