Heinkel III IG+HL. Crashed Eire 3.3.41

[avoigt]

Hello! Just came across this forum while searching for info on my father (Arthur Voigt) and thought it would be interesting to register and maybe swap some facts with others. He documented his account of his involvement in WW2 from just before the attack on Poland until his repatriation from Ireland in 1945. Looking forward to hearing from someone. Arthur Voigt (jr)

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Arthur,

Welcome to the forum. I, like several others including Dennis Burke, Pat Cummins and especially Tony Kearns have been researching the wartime crashes and forced landings in Ireland for many years. I recall seeing your father years ago on a programme about the war and the interned airmen.

Have you checked out the two files on this landing in the Military Archives in Dublin ? You might also as a family member be able to view his personal file there, but I would not be 100% sure.

Did your father write anything about the time he was shot down on 10 May 1940 and his subsequent capture ?

Regards for now,

Martin Gleeson.

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Anyone know the time/area the a/c was attacked by the fighter or which raf squadron it was ?
cheers
Jerry

[Tony Kearns]

Originally Posted by brewerjerry

Hi
Anyone know the time/area the a/c was attacked by the fighter or which raf squadron it was ?
cheers
Jerry

Hi Jerry,
Heinkel III 1G+HL was not attacked by aircraft, see post no. 7 and this was confirmed to me by both Arthur Voigt (Bo) and Rudi Hengst (Bf) years ago. The force landing time in Ireland was 14.45 hrs (Irish Time) and the area was the south coast of Wexford on the beach.
Regards,
Tony K

[avoigt]

Yes, I have his detailed account of the mission and the subsequent shooting down of his aircraft. From his version the hit came from machine gun fire and anti-aircraft fire from the ship and /or a seperate naval vessel. Will post a synopsis of the event if you want.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Arthur,

Yes please ! It would be of great interest to many of us.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[avoigt]

Will do.... might take a day or two but I will transcribe his account and include as much historical info as I have on the event.

[avoigt]

Some background notes to be getting on with.....

Herbert Arthur Voigt
Born: Leipzig, Saxony, 24th Apr. 1915
Only child of Emily & Paul Voigt (kia near Rennes, 1915)
Joined “100, 000 man army (infantry battalion) 1934
Transferred to Luftwaffe, Hildesheim & Oldenburg , promoted to Unteroffizier.
1938- joined Navigation Training School (Fasberg)
Transferred to squadron (think it was kg 27) mid-June, 100 km south of Hamburg.
Aug. 1939 transferred to Sylt .
1st Sept. 1939 – attacked airfield Okeczie, south of Warsaw from Neukuhren.
Jan , 1940, squadron moved to Muenster.
10th May 1940, HE111 D shot down by Spitfire and wounded over Lille, France; crash-landed , Belgium. POW , Dunkirk.
4th June, 1940, freed by German troops.
Nov. 1940, rejoined squadron near Tours (Morgat), Battle of Britain.
Feb. 1941 – squadron transferred to Brest, (convoys- Atlantic)
3rd. March 1941- shot down over St. George’s Channel, crash-landed Rostoonstown beach, Co. Wexford, Ireland.
Interned, Curragh Military Camp, Co. Kildare for Duration of WW 2.
Repatriated to Russian Zone , Germany after war.
Escaped from E. Germany 1949, settled in Co. Kildare, Ireland, married, 2 children.
Passed away 6th Jan, 1994.

[Chris Goss]

Arthur: Of interest, does he mention missions flown against mainland UK Nov 40-Feb 41 as opposed to anti-shipping ops?

[avoigt]

Yes, he describes his first mission after he recovered from his wounds (Lille and Dunkirk). This was to the Bristol channel (Avonmouth). As best I can determine it was immediately after Xmas 1940. They left their base (3 kg 24 Boelcke) at 18.45 , instructed to fly at 4200m , head for Cherbourg, reach the English coast near Exeter and leave Cardiff on their right. 8 He111's left on that mission, their plane 2nd last. They placed canvas over the lower part of the cockpit (presumably to prevent light escaping). The taget had already been illuminated by incendiaries. Bombs were dropped and immediately they "U" turned and headed back to Tours.Over the next few weeks he flew missions to London, Manchester & Birmingham without any incident. Tthat's all I have I'm afraid! He was transferred to Brest in early 41.