Unidentified He111 insignia on two force-landed a/c Western Campaign

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

This long discussion between Goran and Robert went on while I was asleep here in the US. Goran, Robert can't share the photos with you because he doesn't have them: I have some of the originals and another member of our EOE (Eagles Over Europe) research team has some others. Robert has only the eBay auction images and the scans that I've sent him. I own the original print from eBay that you posted. I've now identified three and probably a 4th He111 that FL or crashed from this unit. The best evidence is that the all come from the period of the French Campaign, not the Battle of Britain. Whatever unit this was, was hit hard during the May-June, 1940 period. It is me that is pushing the idea of I./LG1, with one of the photo series being a 3 Staffel machine (the one that you posted) and three others representing 1 Staffel aircraft. I've consulted with Peter Taghon about some of this evidence, and he agrees that this I./LG 1 interpretation is possible. I've since made other connections that he hasn't yet seen. All the photos together in total are leading to the I./LG 1 conclusion, although we don't yet have a totally unambiguous photo strait on of the aircraft codes. But we're close. We're going to resolve this one. There were just too many losses to the winged-bomb He111 unit to not eventually get a clear look at one of the aircraft's fuselage codes. I'm sure, if you keep track of eBay auctions, that you've seen some of the 1 Staffel aircraft; you just didn't recognize them for what they were. Instead of the yellow spinner tips of the 3 Staffel machine, all three of the 1 Staffel He111 have a prominent white segment to the prop spinner, with a darker backplate. Two of these appear to have a thin. light-colored band on the leading edge of the cowlings as well. One of these has previously been identified in print as L1+IH. The "IH" part I can confirm from a clear photo of the rear part of the fuselage code. Peter Cornwell's entry for this in TBoFrT&N says: "May 10, 1940: 1./LG1 Heinkel He111H. Shot down by Hurricanes of No.607 Sqdn during armed reconnaissance and crashed between Péronnes and Antoign, south-east of Tournai, 4.15 p.m. Possibly that attacked by P/O Jay, P/O Dini, and P/O Dixon. Uffz H. Funke and Gefr H. Schneider killed. Oberfhr H-H. Thiessen and Uffz J. Meyer captured unhurt. Aircraft L1+IH a write-off." Three photos of this crash are also recorded on P. 62-3 of Arnaud Gillet's recently published book on British Victories during the FC.

All for now.

Regards,