He 111 from KGr. 100 - 14 August 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Chris,

I also have several photos of the a beach-landed He111 from KGr100 being broken up by the sea on the beach, and partially buried in sand. I think that there were up to three KGr100 He11s that made beach FL during 1940: 6N+NH, 6N+C? and possible a third one that would account for the one broken up. The broken up one doesn't appear to be 6N+NH; the props aren't bent right.

Would like to get all of these resolved and properly IDed. Tomorrow I'll post photos of 6N+NH.

[Henofred]

Hello Larry,

According to a testimony, the aircraft was disassembled on the spot and then towed to a loading dock nearby (Mousterlin). This picture seems to show something like that. Preparations for this towing?

Frederic

[Chris Goss]

Thanks to all of this, I can confirm the following:

I have 6 photos the ac at Hourtin. It carries the letter 'D' on the tail and has been broken up by the waves.

I can now identify a photo I have of what must be 6N+NH at Kerler-N on the tail, white N on the leading edges, white spinner tips and KGr 100 badge on nose. Props unbent unlike the one at Hourtin

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Thanks to all of this, I can confirm the following:

I have 6 photos the ac at Hourtin. It carries the letter 'D' on the tail and has been broken up by the waves.

CX/JQ/239
2. Late on 19/8 (H)41 sent out its usual report on reconnaissance …
A He 111 crashed 6 km. SE of Les Sables d’Olonne, 200 metres from the beach, and was burnt out. Its markings were 6 + ND [sic], the “D” being painted yellow.

CX/JQ/241
Corrections
Reference CX/JQ/239, paragraph 2, sub-section 3: Source believes that the markings of the He 111 were wrongly quoted in the original document and should be 6N+ND.

Possible match but bear in mind that Les Sables d'Olonne are a very long way from Hourtin.

[Chris Goss]

Having checked further, the only reference to a +CH comes from the diary of Ofw Paul Wierbitzki's (2 Staffel) Beobachter who says that this ac became lost and landed on a beach 13-14 Aug 40. He also mentions Uffz Friedel Dörner from 2 Staffel who baled out of Fw Kaufmann's ac; two other crew were Lt Paul Seebauer and Fw Adalbert Knier.

This is my photo; comments welcome

[Chris Goss]

...and in response to Nick's posting, here is 'D'. No signs of being burnt out and the reverse of one photo says: Strand bei Hourtin

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

...and in response to Nick's posting, here is 'D'. No signs of being burnt out

Doesn't look all that well though!

Thanks for the photo and information, Chris. Clearly not "my" machine.

[Chris Goss]

....you should see the other photos; well broken up. What is also confusing is some say the crash-landings were 13-14 Aug (which would match with the BF baling out over UK) and then 14-15 Aug (which matches with the QMG's Returns saying 15 Aug 40). Wakefield says no missions 14-15 Aug whilst ULTRA says yes. Luftwaffe Situation Report confirms attacks on Morris Works at Castle Bromwich on 14-15 Aug, nothing 15-16 Aug and then a series of attacks 15-16 Aug which included Austin Works (Birmingham), Filton, Wolseley Works (Birmingham). II/KG 27 was involved in the Filton attack

[Larry Hickey]

Chris,

Here are the main images I have on the beach FL for 6N+NP, the first very similar to the one that you posted above; the other two show details:

https://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-BQ...-BQb2d7n-S.jpg

https://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-3c...-3cQMXvP-S.jpg

https://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-hT...-hTBB3b2-S.jpg

Here are two of the photos that I have of 6N+DH, which supplement your view of the wreckage of that a/c posted above.

https://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-VM...-VMvSXGj-S.jpg

https://ihra.smugmug.com/photos/i-Tz...-TzNnsJP-S.jpg

Here are our EoE LW Loss DB reports for possible related losses on 14.8.40:

1) "14 August 1940: 1./KGr.100 Heinkel He111H-3 (5252). Belly-landed on beach at Hourtin, north-west of Bordeaux, on return from night attack on Dunlop Works at Birmingham, cause not stated. Crew unhurt. Aircraft 6N+CH 100% write-off. (Ultra)"

2) "14 August 1940: 3./KGr.100 Heinkel He111H-1. Crashed and burned out 6 km south-east of Olonne-sur-Mer on return from night attack on Dunlop Works at Birmingham. Lt [Oswald] Lochbrunner and three NCOs believed unhurt. Aircraft 6N+DL 100% write-off. (Ultra)"

You've indicated that one of the photos of the wreck of 6N+DH had "Strand bei Hourtin" written on the back, which would appear to be #1, which we ID above as 6N+CH. That appears to be wrong. Shouldn't that be 6N+DH? Doesn't get us anywhere with the Ultra report of 6N+CA or the other two a/c for which I've posted photos in this thread. I was hoping that J-L Roba's new book would clear these issues up, but from the earlier comments here, it doesn't. Can't lay my hands on my copy of Balke's 1970s KG100 book at the moment, so I don't know if that helps.

Still some way to go on reconciling the photos with the LW QM reports and the Ultra info.

[Chris Goss]

Although the orientation of my photo of 6N+CH is different, it appears to be the same aircraft. No other photos on the beach at Hourtin show the aircraft letter although one indistinct photo shows the port engine broken off with what appears to be a white spinner. I am not sure where the assumption that Lochbrunner was 3 Staffel came from-when shot down over Norway and then when he was killed in 1941, he was still 1 Staffel. I am afraid that Balke adds little more-no listing for Wk Nr 5252