Oblt Heinrich Paepcke 7./KG 30

[Chris Goss]

This pilot is reported to have returned from a mission to the UK with a badly damaged aircraft (hit 180 times). There were no mention of crew casualties but does anyone have any thoughts? 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 17 Sep are the only possibilities

[Nick Beale]

1940 or ... ?

[Chris Goss]

The reports says over England. He stopped flying operationally mid-Oct 40 when he went to Erg./KG 30 (and Hajo Herrmann took over 7./KG 30 when he swapped with 7./KG 4) and in Feb 41 he went to the RLM. He did not reappear again until 1 Apr 42 when he took over II./KG 77 in Sicily

[Rottler]

The following losses come into question:

Gen.Qu. loss report from August 17, 1940 No. 12
15.8. II./KG 30 Feindflug Flugplatz Oldenburg Bauchlandung infolge Beschuss Ju 88 A-5 40%

Gen.Qu. loss report from August 25, 1940 No. 9
22.8. 7./KG 30 Feindflug Flugplatz Aalborg-West Bruch bei Nachtlandung
Ju 88 A-1 20%

Gen.Qu. loss report from September 20, 1940 No. 7
17.9. 7./KG 30 Feindflug Vlissingen Notlandung infolge Jägerbeschuss
Ju 88 A-1 4D+HR 220 3 Verletzte
Correction from January 27, 1941: Streiche 3 Verletzte.

Gen.Qu. loss report from October 21, 1942 No. 117
17.10. II./KG 77 Feindflug (Malta) von Spitfire gerammt
Ju 88 A-4 140206 3Z+AC 100%

F Hptm Heinrich Päpcke vermisst
B Fw Ewald Futterknecht vermisst
Bf Obgefr Ernst Seibt vermisst
Bs Ofw Walter Börner vermisst.

Correction from January 9, 1943 y):
Hptm Paepke gefallen. Streiche: 1 Vermissten. Setze: 1 Toten.

Regards
Leo

[Chris Goss]

Thanks for this. I can see no RAF claims on 22 Aug or 17 Sep 40 but 15 Aug and 17 Sep 40 seem to be possibles. His ultimate demise I know all about-collided with a Spitfire of 126 Sqn flown by Flt Lt Ripley Jones. His crew managed to get out but Paepcke and Jones didn't