TG30 He111 25-12-1944

[Brian Bines]

According to a book on the occupation of the Channel Islands a Fahnrich Leker (Kriegesmarine?) sailed a small boat from the French Port of Granville to Jersey with 4 others. A few weeks later he was due to be flown back to Germany and took off from Guernsey at 0342hrs on the 25th. but he and Freg.Kap. Breithaupt, Oblt z See Pauli and an unknown wounded soldier were killed when their aircraft was shot down by US fighters near Bastogne.
An NVM/WASt shows that He111H-20 S3+AL 701404 fell to an allied fighter and crashed by St. Etienne, Bastogne on the 25th Dec. FF Fw Hans Buchner and B Uffz. Willi Kramer botn wounded Bf Uffz Franz Bechtold, Bw Ofw. Hans Klietsch and BD Uffz. Gerhard Cruner all missing.
I believe a P-61 crew of 422 NFS claimed a Ju88 near St.Vith (0645hrs). Is anymore known about the loss of this Heinkel, the missing crewmen and whether this was the aircraft Fahnrich Leker was on,

Thanks

Brian Bines