8/KG 3 Loss Jul 40

[Chris Goss]

I have just acquired a photo of a burnt out Do 17 Z but the code 5K+HS shows it to be 8/KG 3. On the back it says 'Frankreich Juli 40'-anyone have any ideas?

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Hi Chris,
This is the only loss for III./KG 3 that could work. They had another one this month near Würzburg, Germany.

06-07-40 III./KG 3 Unknown location, Premature bomb explosion, Do 17 Z 95%

Regards,
Norbert

[Larry Hickey]

Chris,

I have four photos of this one in the EoE Photo DB. It is clearly at a base fully under German control, based upon views of a row of what I think are Army trainees in white uniform jackets sitting on the fuselage. Other photos of Army personnel posing with the wrecked fuselage are not armed. Clearly this wasn't taken in a forward combat area and I would say that this probably happened not in France but in Germany. If the date is correct, Norbert's suggestion seems the most likely. However, I have this as more likely earlier in 1940. If the person who wrote the caption got the place wrong, he also could have erred on the date. The damage to the a/c could be consistent with a premature bomb explosion, although there is not any question that this a/c was 100/% destroyed, as the whole front looks burned out.

Would be happy to share my photos with you if you want copy scans of them.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

[Chris Goss]

The photo looks like a crash landing as the props on the port engine are bent back and it looks like a fire afterwards. I would suggest this is not due to a premature bomb explosion. Might I suggest that the photo was taken as the person who wrote on the reverse says but as you say the crash was earlier than Jul 40. Thanks for the offer but Peter has been in touch re this.