Red-Cross marked He59s July 1940

[Brian Bines]

A few years ago on a TV programme a former senior Luftwaffe officer gave the German view on the He59 flights. Basically he said the Luftwaffe had enough fast Recon. aircraft without the need to call on the Seenot aircraft. The assembly of a convoy was also noted by general luftwaffe activity at the time, and were hardly invisible as they sailed through the Channel. He also pointed out that the air battles in the early part were often over or near the convoys so that is of where the Seenot. would start their searches and backtrack from the a convoy.
Infantrymen running from an enemy advance even if they have discarded their weapons are still fired on as are tank crews jumping from destroyed tanks. It is quite logical to seek to kill enemy aircrew who otherwise will return to attack ones country although not a choice everyone would make.