5J+AC 22/5/40

[noggin]

Anybody with better German language skills give me more details on this please.

[Chris Goss]

It is dated 22 May 1940 not 1941?

[chuckschmitz]

I will probably be stating the obvious when I sat it says it is "A report about the crash of a He 111, 5J+AC, on 22.5.40 at 1000 near Faßburg. Engine start was at 0929. Looks like engine problems. Can you scan a better copy, something easier to read?

Chuck

[robert]

Erg.Kampfstaffel 9?
But later he states that the a/c was group commander`s plane and this was cross-country flight for Bo-Sch. (bomb aimer) Gefr. ???mann.

Regards

Robert

[noggin]

Thanks all , yes was a typo with 41 now changed. I did start putting some of it into Google translate but it came out very confusing. Uffz Jung , Gefr Ruffmann , Oblt Kell involved.

[Chris Goss]

Oblt Kell was the instructor so possibly Hermann Kell who was with II./KG 4 & Pow in September 40? Matches with the code 5J+AC being Gr Kdrs

[RolandF]

Oblt Kell was commander of the plane and was commissioned as instructor for the pilot Lt Kunerth for instrument flying. The reporting Lt Knauth was commissioned as instructor for the Bordschütze Gfr Ruffmann. There was a third (radio) instructor, Uffz Jung and the flight mechanic Uffz Heuser. In one sentence you get the impression of two Lt Kunerth being present, but I think that´s a mistake.
The left engine was turned off because losing oil and performance. The pilot tried to fly back to Faßberg one-engined. After problems with the right engine and losing too much height they tried to restart the left engine but the He 111D-2(?) crashed in a wood.
In case the plane was really a D-2 the nose configuration is rather different than in later versions which might explain the difficulties to salvage Lt Ruffmann.
Any more additional questions?

Regards
RolandF.

[noggin]

Thank you both.