He115 Wrk.No. 3253 lost 14 Sept 1942

[Brian]

Hi guys

He115 3253 of 1./906 was lost off Northern Norway on 14 September 1942 (part of PQ18 operation). The problem is that I have codes of 8L+AH and VF+UW for the same aircraft. Which is correct?

Can anyone identify the crew, which apparently included a Staffelkapitan?

They we rescued from the sea by Do24 CM+1M of 10./Seenotstf, which lost its rear end on alighting, but was able to taxi to Kjoellefjord by the following morning. Again, any info on crew?

Cheers
Brian

[G.R.Morrison]

I do not have any He 115s with a Stammkennzeichen beginning "VF+" but our data is nowhere near complete.

As you likely know, if there are no casualties in the course of an incident, names aren't recorded in a loss report, but a unit diary may list those rescued.

Although it's common that "the boss" might use "A", but this is by no means universal, and the determining factor is more-often "which airframe is operational." The previous Staffelkapitän was Hptm. Eberhard Peukert, who was injured in a crash after striking the sea while evading fighters in "8L+BH" (WNr.3246) on 25.April 1942. The succeeding Staffelkapitän of the 1./KüFlGr.906 was Major Horst Kayser, who later was MIA in Dec. 1942 while leading the III/KG 26.

The Do 24T WNr. 0047 CM+IM was lost 10.Dec. 1943 east of Froeya Island (with -likely - a different crew?), but on the 15.Sept. 1942? Sorry.
Peter de Jong's excellent Dornier Do 24 Units mentions the incidents, and includes a photo of the tailless 'boat,' but no names.

Good luck in your hunt, GRM

[Stig Jarlevik]

Brian

According to Valtonen, one of the crew in the He 115 C WNr 3253 was Hptm Peukert, rescued by the Do 24.

Cheers
Stig

[RT]

VF+U valid STKZ for He115,

14 9 42 5 1 KGr,906 F Lackael fjord Honningvoeg 50 km SO N BR inf, Schlechten Wetters HE115C 3253 8L+AH VF+UZ


Return from attacks on PQ 18 Forcedlanding near Nordkapp

15 9 42 10 Seenotst, Tromsö Rumpfendenbruch DO24 47 CM+IM
Rémi

[Brian]

Thanks guys

GRM: what was the story behind Peukert's injury on 25 April 1942 aboard
8L+BH?

Where did the incident happen and what were the fighters he was trying to avoid?

Stig - why aren't you working??!!

Cheers
Brian

[Stig Jarlevik]

It's Saturday Brian....

Cheers
Stig

[Jim P.]

Looks like George and I need to sync our copies of our database - I had no code details for WNr. 3246. Here are the loss entries for the two He 115s in question. The code and SKZ are in the LEMB, now LRG, SKZ database.

He 115C-1, 3246, Peukert, Hptm. Eberhard, , , , KüFlGr. 906, , , , , 25-Apr-42, Injured in crash due to accidently striking the sea. B MIA., , Lfl.5/Nordsee, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #5)-Vol.8, , Engl. Ostküste, 100%, F, B Ltn. Gerhard Ovens, ,

He 115C-1, 3246, Peukert, Hptm. Eberhard, , I., 1., KüFlGr. 906, , 8L+BH, VF+UP, , 25-Apr-42, Injured in crash due to accidently striking the sea. B MIA., , Lfl.5/Nordsee, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #5)-Vol.8, , Engl. Ostküste, 100%, F, B Ltn. Gerhard Ovens, , Heinkel Flugzeugwerke GmbH

[udf_00]

Something fishy :
http://luftwaffe-zur-see.de/Seeluft/...n/Jahr1940.htm
26.08.40 He 115 C4 VF+ UW 3253 100 2. / Kü.Fl.Gr. 506 Tromsö, Feindeinwirkung, Bombenwurf - RL 2 III / 1174
http://luftwaffe-zur-see.de/Seeluft/...n/Jahr1942.htm
14.09.42 He 115 C4 VF+ UW 3253 100 1. / Kü.Fl.Gr. 906 Lakse-Fjord, Angriff auf PQ 18, Notlandung infolge schlechten Wetters beim Nordkap, Landungsbruch - PG 74984
RL 2 III / 1183

[Seaplanes]

He 115C (not C-1 nor C-4) W.Nr. 3253 was delivered from Heinkel apparently with Stammkennzeichen VF+UZ. However, I have not seen original sources confirming this. On 26. August 1940 as S4+FH of 1./506 it was reported 100% damaged at Tromsö-Skattöra seaplanes station when strafed and bombed by Hudson QX-C of No. 204 Sq. RAF. In many cases the damage was reported higher than actual in order to get a fast replacement aircraft. On 15. July 1942 the plane was test flown after repair or overhaul at the Luftwaffe repair works in Aalborg, Denmark. On 14. September 1942 it was finally lost 100% as 8L+AH of 1./906 when making a forced landing due to bad weather in Laksefjorden in Northern Norway on return from an attack on convoy PQ18. The crew, Hptm. Eberhardt Peukert (Sta.ka. of 1./906), Lt. Madle and Uffz. Alborer, were all rescued by a Do 24 that also sank the He 115 by gunfire.

[Brian]

Many thanks for clarifying, Seaplanes.

Do we know the name of the Do24 pilot who managed to propel the tailless aircraft to safety? And what distance was involved?

Cheers
Brian