He 111 crash at Ham-Noyon Area, France

[RudiS]

I have more information from somebody who lives in that area:

- The machine was shot down between the 11th and the 14th of May of 1940 and not in June as stated on one of the pictures. (Possibly the plane was still there in June when the Germans invaded the area, hence the confusion about the date).

- It crashlanded in the Ham - Eppeville area.

Does anybody have more info on reason of crash, unit and faith of crew,...???

Thanks in advance,
Rudi.

[Pieter H]

If it should have been between the 11th and 14th of May over Ham, it is very unlikely that it was either KG53 or KG55. Both operated much more to the east, although KG53 did attack targets over northern France on May 10. But until the 15th KG53, as far as I know, did not operate further west than Sedan. Only on May 18 I have a KG53 loss in the Amiens area. KG55 operated way East and over central France.

If the second character is indeed a 1 LG1 is more likely, since this unit operated much more over this sector of northern France and southern Belgium. Still, mostly over the Lille area, so not much certainty on that either.

The bomber unit - if it was a bomber! - most active over this area during these days was KG54, but then the unit code was B3. And there is no reconnaissance unit with its code ending on 1.

To be continued, Pieter

[RudiS]

Thanks for this info, Pieter.

I already checked the "Kampfgeschwader 54" book of Siegfried Radtke. No losses seems to match this one.

Unfortunately I don't have Perter Cornwell's new book "The Battle of France - Then and now ..." (yet), but if some mebers do, could you please check for this loss. It was between the 11th and the 14th of May of 1940 in the Eppeville - Ham area.

Thanks in advance,
Rudi.