He111P-2 W.Nr 1731 lost 7.9.40 III/KG55

[steve sheridan]

Hi Junker, many thanks for your reply. Alas not much clarification as to the identity.
Best regs,
Steve.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Steve

According to BoB Combat Archive Vol 11 the aircraft was WNr 1731 from Stab III./KG 55
Pilot was Ofw Bernhard Wickel (baled out) and BO Oblt Wolfgang Witte (who also baled out, wounded).
The rest of the crew also baled out seemingly without any further problems but are unknown.

There is a mentioning of a 9./KG 55 aircraft (WNr 3353) having been damaged by AA-fire over London,
but has probably nothing to do with the above.

I think we can safely say that the two G1+DS are one and the same.
Hall/Quinlan was probably focused on the identifier S (8.St) when making their own list.

Cheers
Stig

[steve sheridan]

Hi Stig many thanks for your reply.

I don't have issue 11 of the BoB combat archive but I would think this is the most up to date analysis of Luftwaffe losses for this period.
Their naming of Ofw.Wickel is wrong though, most certainly is Bernhard Hickel a long serving pilot with KG55 and can be found easily if you look at losses from the French Campaign and on 13.5.40 when he was involved in the loss of He111P-2 G1+HS at Vendresse, France.

I tend to agree that the two losses are indeed one, but the aircraft and Hickel are from 8/KG55 and Witte may have been with the StabIII/KG55 and filled in as a crew replacement.?
Perhaps Matti Salonen as clues to the location or Ekm No's for units?
Best regs,
Steve.