Trying to resolve mystery of crew deaths for 4./KG55 He111 loss of G1+DM on 12.05.40

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Several photos exist of the following He111:

"12 May 1940 Western Front: 4./KG55 Heinkel He111P-2. Engaged by Sgt Farnes, Sgt McKay, and Sgt Morfill of No.501 Squadron near St-Hubert during sortie to bomb rail targets near Rethel. Pursued south-west and belly-landed at ‘Buisson Roualet’, near Machault, (France) 2.45 p.m. FF Lt Hans Junk, BF Uffz Heinz Thöne, BM Uffz Wilhelm Ege, and BS Gefr Harald Wendt all killed, BO Uffz Ernst Rasper captured wounded – later released. Aircraft G1+DM 100% write-off. (Photos)"

This creates a mystery, as Peter Cornwell notes above. The photos show an a/c that made a good wheels up landing quite intact, although with numerous bullet holes from a fighter attack conducted from the rear. The condition of the aircraft is not consistent with the death of four of the five crewmen and the wounding of the fifth. This suggests that at least some crewmen may have been killed after the a/c force-landed. Alternatively, at least some may have been captured, and were killed in an effort to evacuate the POWs to Britain around the time of Dunkirk.

Does anyone have any information that would explain the deaths of these crewmen and what happened to them after the forced landing?