HE111 I. D. markings help?

[edNorth]

This is to me an obvious ground loss (ether by strafing or set on fire before surrendering), therefore crew likely not recorded in any NVM - possibly even burned by advancing armies. This was not a crash, rather plane was parked there, or towed there from nearby field - which to me seems be possibly dispersed airstrip, not "fixed base" airport (airbase). Codes outlined like that may indicate it was previously with some School or Auxilliary unit. -Ed

[Merlin]

The presentation of the fuselage code is typical for He 111 aircraft of Schleppgruppe 1 during the last month of WW II. Their last base was Hohenmauth (today Vysoké Mýto) some 30km east of Pardubice in the Czech Republic. All their remaining aircraft were blown up by the unit on VE day. I don’t knew if US forces really moved until this location in May 1945 before they gave up the area and the Russians moved in.

[Matti Salonen]

Is it 4952 or 4962?

Matti

[robinh]

Again with 10x eyepiece it is clearly 4962. If werknummers are in number order it appears to me to be a HE111H built in 1940?

Earlier a member suggested that the SF code might be from Berlin - Johannistal airbase and the plane used be for Luftwaffe staff use. Any other confirmation known of this?

[Merlin]

The registration SF+CY belonged to the He 111H-6 WNr. 4962, manufactured by Heinkel at Rostock in February 1942.

[edwest]

Originally Posted by robinh

Got the photo in an antique store with 3 other German ww2 but not Luftwaffe related photos. I did not notice the other US vehicles in the background. You people have better eyes than me I guess. Did not realize that was camo netting on foreground. I also note 3 or 4 power (communication?) poles in background by buildings. If markings are late war than I guess this aircraft would be down in Europe somewhere. Is there a log of downed Luft planes anywhere?

I now also note a wingtip or tailtip just showing on the left foreground of the photo. Maybe propeller edge?

Back of photo is marked "VELOX" and has an inkstamp "764V"

With a 10X eyepiece I maybe see one person standing by the jeep in the far background. Too small and too fuzzy for any id to me.

As to the "light" area on right side of photo. I see a haze in the hills of the background. Maybe a cloudy sky? Also remains of a fingerprint that won't wipe off in the right hand upper corner. Thx.

I did not notice the US vehicles in the background before. Good eyes.

I got the photo and 3 other German (non Luft related) photos at an antique shop.

I see with a 10x eyepiece one man by the jeep but too small and fuzzy to tell anything. Also see a few power (communication?) poles back by the buildings.

The photo shows a haze (mist?) in the background against the hills. Maybe a cloudy sky? The top right corner of photo has a part fingerprint that won't rub off too.

Now note that a wingtip or tail tip shows a little in the left side of photo.

Thx for all the help.

Hi,

VELOX is a common watermark found on German photos or photos taken in other countries that used this type of photo paper. The fingerprint does appear from time to time on period photos. A haze sounds right. My attempt to locate the aircraft's letter code has turned up no reference.

Thanks for posting.



Ed

[edwest]

Originally Posted by Merlin

The presentation of the fuselage code is typical for He 111 aircraft of Schleppgruppe 1 during the last month of WW II. Their last base was Hohenmauth (today Vysoké Mýto) some 30km east of Pardubice in the Czech Republic. All their remaining aircraft were blown up by the unit on VE day. I don’t knew if US forces really moved until this location in May 1945 before they gave up the area and the Russians moved in.

Yes, the type of burning shown is typical for aircraft that had an explosive charge set around the midsection of the aircraft to deny its use by enemy forces. I have seen similar. It may be a German photo that fell into Allied hands.



Ed

[robinh]

Merlin writes that the SF code might have been assigned to Schleppgruppe 1 in the Czech area. Is that information listed in a reference book or archive?

Also what archive has the build information for the HE111's?

Thank you for all the great research.

[edwest]

I'm not sure about the SF code. It seems Schleppgruppe 1 did not operate with this aircraft. However, toward the end of the war, whatever was available may have been used. The codes used were F7+ and 6Z+.

https://www.asisbiz.com/Luftwaffe/schlep1.html


From another forum: "There is a complete and very detailed history of Schleppgruppe 1/Gruppe "Herzog" in an article by Georg Schlaug published in Jet & Prop magazin, Heft 2/2000, pages 57-65. It covers all of its operations to Posen, Glogau and Breslau, January to April 1945."


Ed

[Clint Mitchell]

http://www.ww2.dk/air/transport/schlep1.htm