9/KG53 and 3/KG27 Staffelabzeichen/Emblem

[Larry Hickey]

Thomas,

I've got good photos in the EOE DB of 1G+DL on a railcar being transported for salvage/repair. Robert is correct with the code. Here is what we carry in the EOE DB on this one at present:

May 10, 1940: 3./KG27 Heinkel He111P-2. Badly damaged by S/Lt Abrioux of GC 6/1 during sortie to attack Lille-Seclin and also probably also that attacked by F/O Whitty of No.607 Squadron. Belly-landed in a field along the rue Haute at Cambron-Saint-Vincent, south-east of Ath (Belgium), 5.15 a.m. FF Uffz Otto Wehmeier captured unhurt, BF Uffz Manfred Kisker killed, BM Uffz Otto Miklitz captured badly wounded, admitted to hospital in Mons where leg amputated. BO Uffz Arthur Voigt captured wounded in shoulder and jaw, treated in hospital in Mons – later returned. Aircraft 1G+DL 100% write-off. Otto Wehmeier was amongst a number of German prisoners killed by artillery fire aboard ship in Dunkirk Harbour while awaiting transport to England on May 30. Arthur Voigt was also among the wounded and was transferred to hospital ashore from where he was later repatriated." Our team has a detailed account of all of this from Arthur Voight, and a local eye-witness has confirmed to one of our EOE members that this plane had the pig design on the side, which is well-lllustrated in photos both before and after the plane was lost, but not to my knowledge actually at the crash site. What we don't have, and would dearly love to have, is a photo of this aircraft down at the crash site. Can anyone help with that?

As to your other question, the unit insignia identified in various sources as possibly III./KG53, is, in fact the insignia of 3/KG27. Do you know where this photo in the salvage yard was taken, or anything else about it? If in Germany this could be 1G+BL that had a "big dog" on the forward upper fuselage and is purported to have force-landed back at base at Münster-Handorf AF badly shot up after an encounter with a French fighter on May 10, 1940. However, IIRC the insignia may not of been used on unit a/c that early. It is definitely 3./KG27, however.

Hope this helps.