He111 lost on Swiss border 1-2 June1940

[keith A]

On these two days GCII/7 encountered He111s of KG53 and KG55.

According to my sources. On 1 June 1940 GCII/7 claimed four or five of KG53. At least one apparently with Swiss fighters. Most of the victories appear to be shared between several pilots of GCII/7 and at least one of these also with GCII/2.

The French sources I have all disagree on who claimed a victory on 1 June 1940 and on how many there were.

I believe only three were shot down. One at 12.30, at Sorans, a second at 15.25 (shared with GCII/2) at Arbois and another at 16.45 at Champagney. But that's conjecture -at best!

On 2 June 1940 another He111P of KG55 was shot down inside Switzerland after being chased by GCII/7 (described in another discussion on the forum).

The He111 on 2 June 1940 was shot down by the Swiss Bf109 fighters but was it also credited to GCII/7? I believe that it may actually be registered as a "probable" (and in my sources it is duplicated with different results over the two days).

best regards

Keith

[Chris Goss]

According to BoF T&N:
1 June: One from 3./KG 53, one from 4./KG 53 and one from 9./KG 53 shot down, 3 from 9./KG 53 damaged
2 June: One from 8./KG 55 shot down, one from9./KG 55 da,aged

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Also quoting from the "mammoth" Battle of France then and now, the machines from 3. and 4/KG 53 are those mentioned as intercepted and shot down by the Swiss Air Force, on the 1st June. (Pg.409).

[keith A]

According to Porret/Thevenet on 1 June 1940 SGC Panhard and Ponteins claimed a He111 in the valley l'Ognon north of Besancon then with six other pilots (Mummler,Bouton, Doudies, Panhard, Martin and Passemard) brought down a second South of Champagney.

Papin-Labazordiers destroyed a second He111 at Sorans.

According to this source Grimaud claimed a He111 probable at Brevine (Switzerland), then added two confirmed claims NE Arbois (one with Gruyelle and the Poles, Krol and Novakiewicz- shared with GCII/2) and another individual victory at Montavoir in the Jura.

CieldeGloire has yet another version....

[focusfocus]

Keith
Some infos

01/06/40
Concerning Grimaud

He.111 prob.(foret de la brevine)
shared (1/4) with:
Cne Papin-Labazordiere
Sgt Doudies
S/C Lamblin

He.111 (foret de Sorans)
shared (1/9) with:
Cne Papin-Labazordiere
S/Lt Louis
A/C Ponteins
S/C Gourbeyre
S/C Lamblin
Sgt Boillot
Sgt Passemard
Sgt Planchard

He.111 (N.Arbois) Ju.88 4(F)/121 7A+PM Oblt Hans Wolf von Niebelschüts,crashed "La Riviere-Drugeon" (35km of Arbois)
Shared(1/7)
S/Lt Gruyelle
S/Lt Krol
C/C Nowakiewicz
A/C Dorey (GC II/2)
S/C Plzak(GCII/2)
Sgt Delisle(GCII/2)

Sgt Panhard (only one claim)
He.111 "Echavanne" 9/KG53
Shared (1/7)
Cdt Mümler
S/Lt Bouton
A/C Ponteins
S/C Doudies
Sgt Martin
Sgt Passemard

Sgt Ponteins
He.111 "Foret de Sorans"
Shared (1/9) see Grimaud

He.111 "Echavanne"
Shared (1/7) see Panhard

Michel

[focusfocus]

02/06/40

GCII/7=1 He.111 "sur" "foret de Pont-D'ain) 8/KG55 GI+HS crashed "Ursin" Swiss
shared between:
Sgt Grimaud (with Dewoitine 520 n°116)
Cne Papin-Labazordiere
S/Lt Krol
S/C Doudies
Cne Lindecker (Swiss) Cie Av.15
Sgt Gaufre
Sgt Farriol-A/C Birembaut (5/13 "chasse de nuit") claimed as prob.

According to the crew of 8/KG55 badly damaged by a Potez 631 before being "finished"

He.111 8/KG51 9K+CT damaged
He.111 9/KG55 GI+ET damaged
I don't known the damage percentage

Michel

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by focusfocus

He.111 (N.Arbois) Ju.88 4(F)/121 7A+PM Oblt Hans Wolf von Niebelschüts,crashed "La Riviere-Drugeon" (35km of Arbois)
Shared(1/7)
S/Lt Gruyelle
S/Lt Krol
C/C Nowakiewicz
A/C Dorey (GC II/2)
S/C Plzak(GCII/2)
Sgt Delisle(GCII/2)

4.(F)/121 Junkers Ju88A-1. Shot down by Adj Dorcy, Sgt Delisle, and Sgt Plzak of GC II/2 during photo-reconnaissance between Besancon and Dijon; crash-landed and burned out in ‘Marais du Goutterot’ at La Rivière-Drugeon, south-west of Pontarlier, 4.05 p.m. Also engaged by S/Lt Gragelle, S/Lt Krol, Sgt Grimaud, and Cpl Nowakiewicz of GC II/7 prior to landing. FF Oberlt Hans-Wolf von Niebelschütz, BO Oberfw Erich Winkler, and BF Uffz Hans Maiwald captured unhurt, BS Uffz Albert Dobschall captured wounded – all later released. Aircraft 7A+PM.

[keith A]

Merci Michel rather than destroyed

The He111 victory on 2 June 1940? The French fighters seem to have claimed it was damaged, before it was finished off by Swiss fighters. Was it added to the unit tally of GCII/7.

regards

Keith

[keith A]

Sorry Michel, I was writing my message then got sidetracked. Didn't see your later stuff

[Thomas H]

I have photo of a He111 from 3./KG53 with damage to the tail. This damage was caused by Swiss fighters. Date unknown, but the WkNr. of this He111 is either 3246 or 5246. The he111 did return to his base.

Don’t know if this information is of any help, but thought I share it.

Regards, Thomas