Confirming crash location of Hptm Reinecke GrKdr I./ZG76 on 30.4.40

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

In the EoE Luft loss DB we have:

April 30, 1940: Stab I./ZG76 Messerschmitt Bf110C. Shot down by return fire during attack on RAF Wellingtons and crashed in sea 20 km west of Stavanger 7.40 p.m. (FF) Hptmn Günther Reinecke (Gruppenkommandeur), and (BF) Gefr Enno Gruschwitz both missing. Aircraft 100% write-off.

However, I have a photo of a pile of wreckage (clearly 100% write off) of a Stab I./ZG76 Bf110C with a single chevron crashed, apparently near Stavanger AF, Norway, with the hand-written note that it was Reinecke's a/c. If he went down at sea, this can't be correct. What other Stab a/c ended up a pile of wreckage at Stavanger that this could be? Is it possible that Reinecke's a/c wreck was later found on land and this is it?

Regards,

[Chris Goss]

According to NVM it was 20 kms west of Sola, crashing into the sea. Jäger's Flugbuch and a letter from him concurs with this

[RT]

In the Jägerblatt of oct. 1964, the case is briefed

Rémi

[Larry Hickey]

Rémi,

Any chance on getting a PDF copy of this?

Regards and best wishes,

[RT]

It's on its way

Rémi

[Larry Hickey]

Rémi,

Thanks! I got it.

Regards,

[andy bird]

Hi Larry,

Happen to have the April 30 reports on my desk. I can add relating to the Me 110 is as follows:

Air Gunners report reads: "Sixteen miles west of STAVANGER, my machine and one other Wellington was attacked from 200 feet down to sea level by two Me110's, which made a succession of stern, quarter and beam attacks, mostly from long range. Burst were of 6 second duration. Tracers only observed from one gun on starboard side of fuselage. My pilot took avoiding action by turning towards the enemy. As front gunner I observed my tracer ricochetting off wings and fuselage of enemy aircraft. After 3,000 rounds had been fired, a flash was observed in the enemy rear gunners position and he broke off. One seen to crash into sea.

[Larry Hickey]

Hi Andy,

Excellent eye-witness account from the British side of this action. Thanx for taking the time to post this. Does your source give the unit, a/c type, code and SN, and the other crew members? What is the story of their mission that day? I'm sure that Peter C. will be revising our entry on this to include this information. Any damages to British a/c in this incident?

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator