Heinkel He.59 DB-MV seaplane, 1st July 1941.

[NickFenton]

Thanks for that fellas.

What l do know is that, on 1st July 1941 at 12.26 Hours, Bristol Blenheim V6258 XD of 139 (Jamaica) Squadron was attacked by a Messershmitt Bf 109F piloted by Fw Fredriech-Karl Bachmann of 3/JG 52 based at Leeuwarden, Holland and the pilot successfully managed to ditch the Blenheim at 12.48, 60 Kms. North-West of Vlieland in the Dutch Frisian Islands in the North Sea at position 4435.

The Blenheim crew was eventually rescued by Heinkel He.59 DB-MV seaplane from 4 Seenotflugkommandos based at Nordeney taking them to the Air-Sea Rescue base at Schellingwoude, North of Amsterdam. DB-MV was piloted by Fw Unterspann with crew members Uflz Barwitzki, Flieger Fischer and Flieger Rhase.

He.59 NE-UY was also involved piloted by Lt W Ehrardt (killed in action October 1944). Other crew members were Fw R Gerster (Died 27th July 1985), Fw K Logemann (Killed in action with 4 Seenotflugkammando, 27th March 1943) and Uffz. W Strauss(Last recorded as a member of 10 Seenotflugkammando in November 1943, no further records exist).

Various Arado Ar. 196's were also involved in the days event ending in the destruction of a Short Stirling from 7 Squadron and the capture HSL 108 which was sent to recover the Blenheim crew. HSL 108 was then used by the German's as a recovery boat after it's renovation.

Can anyone tell me more about He. 59 DB-MV, the crew mentioned and the eventual history of HSL 108?