He 111 crash in France on 20 January 1945

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

According to local lore, a German bomber (two engine Heinkel) crashed on 20 January 1945 at Aujac (Charente-Maritime) after hitting trees due to engine trouble. The aircraft and its passengers crashed in a river, the "gourd d'Aujac". It was carrying letters sent to Admiral Michahelles (commander of Royan Festung) and money to pay the garrison: the latter was never found after the crash (or probably found by someone who did not report it to the authorities).

Such a loss should be a He 111 of TGr 30 flying to the German pockets on the Atlantic coast, here Royan. Can someone confirm TGr 30 lost an aircraft this day, and give me details (WNr, crew names and fates) ?

Thanks in advance

[Nordpol54]

@ Laurent,

found the following loss details in "Schafsweide" (Kurt Braatz):

20.1.1945
TG 30, Aujac, cause for crash unknown
- Fw. Alfred Frick
- Uffz. Walter Kemnitz
- Uffz. Josef Fritz
- Uffz. Horst Conradi
- Ogfr. Waldemar Koch

Unfortunately no further infos about the plane are given.
Possibly someone here at the board may add more.

Best Regards
Norbert

[Matti Salonen]

1945-01-20, 1./TGr. 30, He 111 H-20, 701492, S3+CH, Aujac, Saint Hilaire
Flugzeugführer Fw Frick, Alfred, +
Beobachter Uffz Fritz, Josef, +
Bordfunker Uffz Kemnitz, Walter, +
Bordmechaniker Uffz Conradi, Horst, +
Bordschütze Ogfr Koch, Waldemar, +
Fluggast (Heeresoffizier.) Olt Steinbeiss, Herbert, +
Fluggast (Heeresoffizier) Oberstlt Wiesheu, Josef, +
Bodenberührung. Bruch 100 %.

Matti

[ssg keay]

Wonder how much of the wreck is still in the river?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks to everybody who replied here and by PM

Sgt, I wonder exactly the same.

[jvmasset]

Hello!

Concerning the amount of wreck in the river, considering said river is something like 2 meters wide on a rainy day, I would not bet too much on anything left... :-):-):-)

[trevor baxter]

Attachment 11281This picture was published in an old magazine called air combat, this may not be the aircraft in question but the crash location was very similar.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks for the additional info !