He59 off Alderney

[Brian Bines]

On a Seenotdienst website it relates how Col.Otto Dreyer reported that his He 59 (white with red crosses) was attacked by an RAF bomber as it taxied towards a downed airman. The Heinkel was set on fire and sank but the crew took to their dinghies and came ashore next day at Alderney. Is there anymore information on this incident including the date, from the website it looks like in the July/August 1940 period.

Regards

Brian Bines

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Brian Bines

On a Seenotdienst website it relates how Col.Otto Dreyer reported that his He 59 (white with red crosses) was attacked by an RAF bomber as it taxied towards a downed airman. The Heinkel was set on fire and sank but the crew took to their dinghies and came ashore next day at Alderney. Is there anymore information on this incident including the date, from the website it looks like in the July/August 1940 period.
Regards
Brian Bines

Could not find a site dedicated to the Seenotdienst using Google's advanced search...............any possibility you might be able to identify it?

TIA,

Larry

[Brian Bines]

Hi Larry,

This is the one http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchr...b/tilford.html

Looking on the QM's returns there is a He 59 showing as lost on 20-7-40 but with 4 NCO aircrew missing,

Brian Bines

[Brian]

Hi Brian

I think you may be correct - perhaps it should be Oberst Otto Dreyer and four NCOs. Hopefully someone can confirm.

What do we know about Otto Dreyer?

Cheers
Brian

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Brian Bines

Hi Larry,
This is the one http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchr...b/tilford.html
Looking on the QM's returns there is a He 59 showing as lost on 20-7-40 but with 4 NCO aircrew missing,
Brian Bines

Thanks, Brian. I bookmarked it so I can go back and read it later today when I have a bit more time. Oddly, I've been to Maxwell AFB, site of the Air University and the Air Force Historical Research Agency, upteen times since 1980 but never knew they had their Air Power Journal on-line.

Larry

[Larry deZeng]

Some gen on Otto D. -

DREYER, Otto. 20.06.39 Maj., Kdt. Fl.H.Kdtr. (See) Grossenbrode, on temporary duty with Nafü/Luftflotte 1. 06.09.39 Maj., appt Kdr. Seenotzentrale Swinemünde (to 03.42?). 03.41 Maj., appt Seenotdienstführer Luftflotte 3 (to 05.06.41). 06.41 Maj., appt Leiter Seenotzentrale (L) Nord (to 04.42). 11.04.42 Obstlt.(Erg.O.), trf from Führerreserve Ob.d.L. to Luftdienstverband III and appt provisional Kdr. 01.06.42 appt Leiter Seenotbereichskdo. V (to 30.06.42). 01.07.42 promo to Oberst. 09.02.43 named from provision to permanent Kdr. Luftdienstverband III (to 09.06.43). 09.06.43 appt Kdr. Luftdienst-Abt. III. 02.45 Kdr. Wehrmachtsstreifendienst-Gruppe z.b.V. 11.

HLdeZ/DGS

That last assignment of his should raise an eyebrow or two!