2/AufklObdL Loss 10 May 1940

[Chris Goss]

According to BofF T&N, the Do 215 commanded by Lt Hans Schierhold is said to have crashed at Vlaardingen-has any additional information come to light to confirm this and the cause of its loss?

[Peter Cornwell]

LKol BRONGERS list suggested that SCHIERHOLD’s Do215 came down near the Kagerplassen NNE of Leiden in The Netherlands but my original source was the Studiegroep Luchtoorlog who recorded it down at Vlaardingen. Since publication I have amended this entry to show it down at Dworp in Belgium.

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Peter-I had that from Jaap already

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

I've been searching for photos of this a/c for years. Chris, do you or anyone else have photos of this crash?

[Chris Goss]

Afraid not just the BO

[Alain57]

Hello ,

Who were the other crewmembers and what happened with them?

Regards
Alain57

[Peter Cornwell]

2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr.Ob.d.L Dornier Do215B. Missing from reconnaissance sortie over western Belgium and believed crashed at Dworp 6.00 p.m. FF Fw Hans-Joachim Schmidt missing, BF Uffz Gerhard Hentschler, and BO Lt Hans Schierhold captured unhurt, BM Uffz Ernst Wittchen captured wounded – later returned. Aircraft 100% write-off.
Hans Schmidt and Gerhard Hentschler are both believed to have been killed 29/30 May while on board a ship at Dunkirk en-route to England.

[Chris Goss]

Hentschler's death is on the VDK site as 30 May 40 near Dunkirk and he is buried in Bourdon. There is a Fw Hans Schmidt (DoB 29 Mar 15) killed at Zuydcoote 31 May 40-could this be him?

[Peter Cornwell]

Chris,

Not him. Fw Hans-Joachim SCHMIDT born 9.6.1916 Frankfurt/Oder.

That buried at Zuydcoote was from the following loss on 31 May 1940:
7./KG30 Junkers Ju88A-1. Shot down by AA fire and crashed in Channel 5 km off Dunkirk. FF Fw Wilhelm Bergfeld, BO Fw Hans Schmidt, BF Gefr Erwin Burmester, and BS Gefr Siegfried Cytron killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.
The bodies of this crew were washed ashore at various points on the French and Belgian coasts over the coming weeks.

[Chris Goss]

Maybe he did get repatriated then?