He 111 WNr 5696 of II./KG 53, 20 April 1941

[Laurent Rizzotti]

On the night of 19-20 April 1941, accoridng to the book "The turning point, part 2", the He 111-H4 WNr 5696 of II./KG 53 crashed near Brugge, Belgium. Lt W Brönisch and two crew died, one was injured.

Volksbund had a Lt Wilfried Bönisch who died on 20 April 1941 and is buried in Lommel in Belgium.

The Kracker database shows Lt Wilfried Bönisch belonged to 5./KG 53 and was killed on 22 April 1941 (sic) when He 111 WNr 5696 crashed at Oedelem (some km SE of Brugge).

I am interested in the whole crew list for this bomber.

Can someone also confirm the loss date (hour will be fine), the Staffel (5./KG 53?) and the crash location (Oedelem?) ?

Thanks in advance

[hucks216]

In the loss list of Kampfgeschwader 'Legion Condor' 53 by Heinz Kiehl there are 3 airman listed as being killed that night. Along with Bönisch there is also Gefreiter Rudolf Eickmeier (BO) and Unteroffizier Rudolf Bornstedt (BF). All three are listed as 5 Staffel. The other details are not shown.

[Matti Salonen]

1941-04-20, 5./KG 53, He 111 H-4, 5696, 2,5 km von Oedelem, 9 km südöstlich Brugge, Absturz um 00.20 Uhr. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Lt Bönisch, Wilfried, +
Bombenschütze Gefr Eickmeyer, Rudolf, +
Bombenschütze Gefr Stephan, Erich, verletzt
Bordfunker Uffz Bornstedt, Rudolf, +
Bordmechaniker Ogfr Schwimmbeck, Siegfried, verletzt

Matti

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks again Matti, 100% of replies for me

Thanks also hucks, I guess that as there was no Beobachter in the crew given by Matti, you're probably right in saying that Eickmeier was the one aboard.