Heinkel III IG+HL. Crashed Eire 3.3.41

[Chris Goss]

Arthur: I am working on a book on Luftwaffe bomber operations during the Blitz so should be able to work out the dates for you. I will get back in touch when I have done so if that is of use to you.
Thanks
Chris

[Chris Goss]

A quick check shows that I/KG 27 bombed Avonmouth between 2240-2325 hrs on 4-5 Jan 41, Manchester 2353-0015 hrs on 9-10 Jan 41

[avoigt]

Thanks, Chris. would welcome this as this is the one area of my father's memoirs that is very sketchy.

[Tony Kearns]

Arthur, Chris,
Arthur snr. told me that he did not get his log books back after repatriation, so he could not give dates for operations. He did mention ops to Avonmouth, Manchester, Birmingham and London but wirhout details.
On the other hand Rudi Hengst gave the date for Bristol 3/4 Jan 1941 take of 22.00 hrs Tours. On approaching Bristol they could see the fires started by KG100. He did not mention other ops. Something that Arthur Voigt did not mention was of an accident whilst landing at Tours and from what Hengst said it would appear to have been a write off (losing a wing) the date was 10 Feb 1941 He 111 1G+HL. The same identification as the incident 3 March 1941. Perhaps someone could confirm if this information is correct or is it all from memory.
Tony K

[Chris Goss]

Major I/KG 27 ops in Jan 41 were:
Cardiff-2-3 Jan
Bristol - 3-4 Jan
Avonmouth - 4-5 Jan
Manchester 9-10 Jan
Portsmouth 10-11 Jan
London 11-12 Jan
Plymouth 13-14 Jan
Avonmouth 16-17 Jan

In respect of 3-4 Jan, KGr 100 were preceded by II/KG 55, I/KG 1, KG 77 and I/KG 26

[avoigt]

Thanks Chris - fills in the gaps nicely!! I am trying to sift through the info I have on the convoy attacks in early 41. There seems to be some disagreement on HE 11 bomb loads. My father's accounts suggest that the 4 X 250 kg. bombs were standard on their missions, however other sources suggest that there was an extra 500 kg. bomb suspended under the starboard wing. From numerous conversations I had with him this was never mentioned. I know that maximum fuel capacity was of prime concern, also the addition of a 20mm cannon to suppliment the machine guns (although apparently the general consensus was that the cannon was little better than useless). There is an account of his last mission which suggests that the larger bomb was the one dropped on the Port Townsville. Can anyone help here?

[avoigt]

Tony, have checked as best I can on the loss on 10th Feb. There is mention of a plane crashing into a wooden building on return in bad fog, killing all crew and those sleeping in the building at Tours sometime in Jan/Feb. This may be the plane Hengst was talking about as it is unlikely that such damage to a plane would allow it to be repaired for flight in mid Feb. to Brest. There seems to be more than a few differences in accounts given by Voigt & Hengst which are causing me extra work!

[avoigt]

Martin, I only noticed now that you requested info on 10th May, 40 not 3rd Mar. 41!! My apologies - My father's account of his crash on May 10th runs to 70 odd pages. I will give you a brief account for the moment , if you want clarification on anything later you can let me know.

The mission was a dawn attack on an airfield near Lille, France. They left Muenster (9 machines) and headed west for the Dutch border. Having passed over Arnhem and Rotterdam they turned south and then east into Belgium (over Ostende) , then on to Lille. Just as the bombload was dropped the plane was hit twice from the rear by a Spitfire. Both engines were disabled, radio operator killed. mechanic wounded and voigt wounded in shoulder, neck and mouth. Pilot was the only crew member uninjured. He managed to crash land the plane in Belgium. Belgian police took the survivors to a nearby town (Lens) where they were kept in custody (seperated). Next day, Voigt was taken to a hospital in Mons and had a bullet removed from his mouth. He never saw the mechanic again. Next day he was taken to Brussels and following that transported by hospital train westwards to Ostende (due to advancing German forces). From there he was moved by train (in cattle wagons) to Dunkirk along with hundreds of other POWs. After a week in this train in Dunkirk they were all moved to ships (used as prisons) in Dunkirk harbour. He was renuited with his pilot on this ship but after some days of shelling by German artilary on the harbour, the ship took a direct hit. As all the POWs were lying in the hold together both men either side of Voigt were killed, one the pilot. Voigt took severe shrapnel wounds to his lower left leg. Survivors were then taken to a hospital near the beach in Durkirk where he witnessed the evacuation of British troops to England. He was finally freed by German troops on June 4th. He was taken home to a hospital in Leipzig to recover. Voigt rejoined his squadron in Tours in Nov. 40. Of the 9 planes departing Muenster that morning (May 10th) only 6 returned. Two other crews were sent to Canada as POWs. Most of the returning planes were damaged.

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Arthur,

Thank you for posting that very interesting information. There is more often then not a much more gripping story behind the dry facts, and such is the case here.

70 pages is very impressive. I am sure the EAGLES OVER EUROPE team should be interested. Did you ever think of writing a book on your father's life ?

By the way there are photos of two of your father's crew on 10 May 1940 in THE BATTLE OF FRANCE, THEN AND NOW by Peter Cornwell (2008), an excellent work on the campaign in the west during May/June 1940.

Regards,

Martin.

[avoigt]

Yes, Martin, it has crossed my mind many times. That is why I'm keen to get as much detail as I can. I am not interested in writing a war story. My father hated the war and had nightmares of that time in Dunkirk until the day he died. I believe if such a book is in me it will be as factual as I can make it and hopefully do a little service to the millions who died during that trerrible time.