Crew of Dornier Do18 wrkn 809, Ku.FL.Gr 2/606 lost 17/10/1939

[Peter Cornwell]

Jim,

I'm afraid that your source for suggesting SEYDEL was a Ju88 crewman lost the previous night is incorrect:

2./KüFlGr. 606 Dornier Do18D-3 (0809). Engine badly damaged in attacks by Gladiators of B Flight, No.607 Squadron, (F/L J. Sample, F/O G.D. Craig, and P/O W.H.R. Whitley) east of Blyth during search mission for missing Ju88 of 2./KG30. Disengaged and retired east but forced to ditch 35 miles east of Berwick 2.00 p.m. BM Uffz Kurt Seydel killed, FF Fw Paul Grabbet and BO Oberlt zur See Siegfried Saloga both captured wounded, BF Oberfunkmaat Hilmar Grimm captured unhurt. Aircraft 8L+DK 100% write-off.
The survivors were rescued by the Polish destroyer 'Grom'. Wreckage thought to be this aircraft was located by S4+CK of 2./KüFlGr.406 some 85 miles east of Hartlepool on 22 October. A Junkers Jumo 205 engine recovered from the sea 30 miles north-east of the Tyne was said to have originated from this aircraft and displayed in the North East Aircraft Museum at Sunderland.