Werner Baumbach 16.1040

[Peter Cornwell]

Steve,

Yes, a puzzling reference to the loss of four crews including HASS (the only loss for II./KG30 that I have documented that night) plus two landing crashes (there was one for 9./KG30) in what would otherwise seem to be a fairly reliable source of recollections. I have no such losses listed on that night as documented by STAHL nor is there any mention of Fw TIMM in the NVMs of II./KG30 that I have on file. All I can offer is the following that may/may not be related.

23/24 October 1940: 5./KG30 Junkers Ju88A-5 (0265). Starboard engine disabled by AA fire during night sortie over London and crash-landed through trees alongside the Zandweg at 'De Brakken', south-west of Gilze-Rijen airfield, on return. FF Oberlt Werner Baumbach, Uffz Heinz Menz, Fw Heinrich Thies, and Fw Martin Kohler all injured - admitted to St Ignatius Hospital in Breda. Aircraft 90% damaged - write-off.