Seenotflug KDO He59 losses Aug 1940

[PJWIGHT]

Hello

I am seeking information on two He59 floatplane losses in August 1940

8 August 1940 Crashed in sea south of St catherines Point, Isle of Wight, crew unamed: killed. Presumably covering aircaft in action against convoy Peewit.

26 August 1940 Crashed in sea south of the Nab Tower, east of Islel of Wight, Pilot Lt Mietlin & 2 unamed crew killed.

I am looking for the serial codes of these aircraft also their paint scheme, would they still have been white with red crosses or in camouflage finish by these dates?. Military or civilian codes?, aircaft armed or not?

Thanks

Pete

[Seaplanes]

I have no details for the aircraft you mention as lost on 08.08.40, but for the one on 26.08.40 I can add that it was a He 59D W.Nr. 935 DA+WU of Seenotflugkommando 2. The plane was reported missing during an ASR mission off Cherbourg. This aircraft joined the Seenotdienst 10.08.40 arriving on this day in Norderney from Kiel. It was painted in noormal camouflage with Stammkennzeichen in black and the German cross (Balkenkreuz) in the appropriate places.

[Andy Mitchell]

Pete,

Francis Mason - "Battle over Britain" records the following loss of an He 59

Seenotflugkdo Cherbourg Shot down by Hurricane flown by Fenton of 238 Sqdn, in mid channel at approx 13.50 hrs -100% - two crew missing.

Sqdn Ldr Fenton was searching for two missing aircrew lost during combat over convoy PEEWIT south of the Needles. Fenton was hit by return fire and also ditched, being picked up by HM Trawler Bassett.

Battle of Britain Then and Now does not record anything for an He 59.

Hope that the above helps.

[Andy Saunders]

I have been in recent discussions with Peter Cornwell on the subject of the possible 8 August 1940 He59 loss.

The late Heinrich Weiss evidently had logged this incident 25km south of the IOW although there is no evidence of the loss in the Luftwaffe Quartermaster's Returns or the Namen Verlustmeldung documents. The conclusion Peter Cornwell came to is that on the balance of probabilities this incident did not happen. That said, I know that Peter and I would welcome anything that might substantiate what Heinrich Weiss had recorded, or further detail as to his source. In the absence of such coroborative evidence I feel a very big question mark must hang over this loss, although of course Sqn Ldr Harold Fenton (238 Sqn) did claim to have shot down the He59 that sent him into the water. The full story of the day may be found here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Convoy-Peewi.../dp/1906502676

Whilst I have nothing on the 26 August episode, there was an interesting episode that day when the crew of a He.111, G1+GN, 5/KG55, were rescued off the IOW by a German air sea rescue launch. The He 111 was piloted by Fw Karl Brunning. Here he is on board the rescue ship with Oblt von dem Hagen seated. This photo was given to me by Brunning when I visited him in 1977 who told me that they were picked up in The Solent making this a rather audacious rescue!

As a matter of interest, what are the uniforms of the rescue crew? Is this the Seenot service - if so, Kriegsmarine or Luftwaffe? The uniforms appear a compoletely seperate service. Is it the DGzRS? I feel I ought to know....but don't!

[PJWIGHT]

Thanks for replies very helpful.
I am intending to model one of these aircraft, looks like the 26th August one is the candidate. My information is 3rd hand culled from books and internet hence I cannot vouch for the 8th August loss.
According to my info the Heinkel G1+GN ditched off Hanover Point, Brook. This would be close inshore along the south west coast of the Island, not in the solent but only a few miles away.
The photo I have seen published, identified as Seenotdienst, again I cannot vouch for this.

Pete

[Brian Bines]

The book 'Eagle Day' by Richard Collier says of S/L Fenton ' to find himself outduelled and shot down by a German observastion plane'. I take it this could not possibibly be a Henschel 126, Collier normally identifies He 59's in other accounts. There does not seem to be anything in QM's lists linking to his claim so whatever got him seems to have made it home.