Radio Mast collisions summer 1940 Belgium

[Leendert]

Looking for any info about two German aircraft (presumably bombers) that collided with the 75-mtr high radio masts at Ruiselede, Belgium in (or between) June and August 1940.
A source also says the two collisions were within three days in August 1940.
Both a/c went down with loss of life (reportedly 9 in total).

Masts were blown up in October 1940 by the Germans.

Thanks for any help.

Regards,

Leendert

[Brian Bines]

I have a note that a Do17 of 6/KG3 collided with a radio mast near Gent on 29-8-40 crew killed, unfortunately that is all I have,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

According to the EoE Luft Loss DB: "August 29, 1940: 6./KG3 Dornier Do17Z-3 (3480). Flew into a radio mast and crashed at Doomkerk, north of Tielt. FF Lt Günther Zein, FF Uffz Günther Hein, and BS Gefr Gerhard Schubert all killed. Aircraft 5K+FP 100% write-off."

Regards,

[Leendert]

Thanks for this first info, which perfectly fits the picture.
Date of the other collision still unknown, but I'm sure details will emerge.

Regards,

Leendert

[Alain57]

Hi Gents ,

Perhaps this could be the 2nd aircraft who hit the radio antenna :


28/08/1940
Ruiselede
He-111 H-2 Hit an obstacle
III./KG 53 A1+ Le Culot
Lt Weber Ulrich (KIA)

Gefr Eisenhöfer Walter (KIA) 24/04/1917 - 41/526

Uffz Lehrhuber Anton (KIA) 24/05/1914- 41/558

Flg Federling Wilhelm (WND-KIA) 27/07/1922 - 41-456

Flg Federling Wilhelm die don 7/08/40

All buried at Lommel Belgium

Regards

Alain57

[Leendert]

Alain,

Thanks for this additional info. It certainly looks like the second a/c that hit the masts. In fact, they were over 270 meters high...

Groet,

Leendert

[Brian Bines]

The loss of the Weber crew is reported in Qm's returns dated 28-8-40 as happening on the 26-8-40 it struck ground near Brugge while on an 'F' flight. The KG53 book has them lost on the 27-8-40, was this then a night loss on the 26/27th, the book shows Lehrhuber and Federling both as Bs with Eisenhofer as the Bf so was there a 'B' who survived ?
Qm's returns dated 31-8-40 shows the Zein crew as hitting a radio mast by Gent with 3 killed on an 'H' flight on the 29-8-40, once again is it known if anyone survived.
Ruiselede appears south of Brugge and west of Gent so I guess the QM's returns were not too site specific,


Regards

Brian Bines

[Peter Cornwell]

Stabsstaffel III./KG53 Heinkel He111H-2. Collided with radio mast and crashed at Ruiselede, 12 km south-east of Bruges, during night sortie. FF Lt Ullrich Weber, BO Uffz Anton Lehrhuber, BF Gefr Walter Eisenhöfer, and HS Flgr Wilhelm Federling all killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.

LEHRUBER was a Bomben-Schutze rather than Bord-Schutze and I am not aware that FEDERLING survived this crash.

[Alain57]

Gents ,

According to the Volksbund site Flg Federling Wilhelm (WND-KIA) 27/07/1922 is buried at the German cemetery in Lommel Belgium at plot 41 grave 456.

Regards

Alain57

[Alain57]

Gents ,

Lt Zein Günther ( KIA ) pilot born 18/12/1918 buried Lommel Belgium in plot 41grave 530 - Uffz Hein Günther ( KIA ) born 01/05/1914 buried Lommel Belgium in plot 41 grave 533.

Regards

Alain57