Which He 111 from 1(F)/122 shot Walrus, 18/05/1940, Norway

[B.F.M. Droog]

Who can enlighten me with the identities of the involved He 111 and German crew?

Type: Walrus
Serial number: P5647, -?
Operation: ?, Norway
Lost: 18/05/1940
Lieutenant Ronald W. Benson-Dare, RN, H.M.S. Devonshire [700 Sqdn.], age 23, 18/05/1940, missing
Midshipman A D.Corkhill wounded, rescued
Leading Airman William H. Hill, RN FX/55056, H.M.S. Devonshire [700 Sqdn.], age 31, 18/05/1940, Tromso Cemeterty, Norway (died of wounds)
Heavy cruiser Devonshire's 700 Squadron Walrus was shot down by a German He.111 aircraft from 1(F)/122 at Malangsfjord, Rystraumer
Crashed. Ltn Benson-Dare is commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial.
Sources: British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day; CWGC; Shores and John Foreman, Fledgling Eagles, 1992 (via TOCH Forum).


Regards,

Bart

[flyvrak]

According to Norwegian book "Flyalarm", the Heinkel belonged to Stabskette X. Fliegerkorps. Pilot was Hauptmann Robert Kowalewski. Also onboard was Maj. Martin Harlinghausen. The book states the date 18.04-40

regards Kjell
www.flyvrak.info

[B.F.M. Droog]

Thanks Kjell,

As I'm not really wel informed into the Luftwaffe organisation, Bjørn Hafsten, Bjørn Olsen, Ulf Larsstuvold and Sten Stenersen state in 'Flyalarm, FLYALARM Luftkrigen over Norge 1939-1945, ISBN 82-7046-074-5, Sem & Stenersen Forlag AS, 2005, that the Heinkel was from a different unit than the one I mentioned?

Or are 'Stabskette X. Fliegerkorps' and '1(F)/122' different names for the same unit?

For the date: 18/05/1940 is the date given by two seperate British sources. Could it be that the Walrus the Norwegian authors mention was another plane?

I'm still researching the CWGC register for losses in April 1940, so I don't know (yet) what the British losses were for the 18/04/1940.

Regards,

Bart

[flyvrak]

The date April, as stated in the book, is obviously a typo.

The Heinkel attacked and sinked the ship D/S Sirius on their return leg to Vaernes. Sirius went down on 18th May.

regards Kjell

[Brian]

Hi Bart & Kjell

My information was obviously incorrect.

Thanks for correcting the record, Kjell.

Cheers
Brian

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Brian and Kjell,

To deconfuse this case: what's the correct unit for this He 111?

Regards,

Bart

[Brian]

Hi Bart

I assume that Stabskette X Fliegerkorps is correct since Major Harlinghausen was, I believe, Chief of Air Operations in Norway.

Perhaps the more knowledgeable will confirm/advise.
Cheers
Brian

[B.F.M. Droog]

Hello Brian,

Thanks!

Major Harlinghausen was, I believe, Chief of Air Operations in Norway

This is getting more and more interesting - an air battle between a He 111 and a Walrus, in presence of the German Chief of Air Operations in Norway. I wonder, was he warned afterwards no to fly operations again?

Cheers,

Bart

[Chris Goss]

Harlinghausen was the COS of X Fliegerkorps and ended the campaign as Fliegerfuehrer Stavanger. His personal involvement in the campaign resulted in the RK on 4 May 40

[Stig Jarlevik]

All

Checking a superficial biography of Robert Kowalevski there is nothing to indicate he ever belonged to 1.(F)/ 122. In 1940 he belonged to Fliegerkorps X and his career seems to be very much linked to Harlinghausen. Seems almost he was his personal pilot.... So if Kowalewski was involved so was Fliegerkorps X. On the other hand if they really had any aeroplanes of their own or drew aeroplanes from somewhere else is I suppose another matter.

As alway it would be interesting to find out from where Shore´s et all are getting their info...

Cheers
Stig