Werner Baumbach 16.1040

[steve sheridan]

Evening, in the book " The Diving Eagle" by Peter Stahl he mentions an evening raid on London 16.10.40 where 2 Junkers 88's were destroyed landing at / or around Gilze-Rijen following the raid.
One of these a/c was piloted by Oblt Werner Baumbach, the other by Fw Timm. Try as i might, i cannot find any clues to these two losses and wonder if anybody could help with contempary records such as the units NVM.
The unit would be II/KG30.
Any help would be appreciated.

Rgs,
Steve.

[Peter Cornwell]

Steve,

Yes, a puzzling reference to the loss of four crews including HASS (the only loss for II./KG30 that I have documented that night) plus two landing crashes (there was one for 9./KG30) in what would otherwise seem to be a fairly reliable source of recollections. I have no such losses listed on that night as documented by STAHL nor is there any mention of Fw TIMM in the NVMs of II./KG30 that I have on file. All I can offer is the following that may/may not be related.

23/24 October 1940: 5./KG30 Junkers Ju88A-5 (0265). Starboard engine disabled by AA fire during night sortie over London and crash-landed through trees alongside the Zandweg at 'De Brakken', south-west of Gilze-Rijen airfield, on return. FF Oberlt Werner Baumbach, Uffz Heinz Menz, Fw Heinrich Thies, and Fw Martin Kohler all injured - admitted to St Ignatius Hospital in Breda. Aircraft 90% damaged - write-off.

[steve sheridan]

Thank you Peter, yes a strange one that!
I have always found Stahl's memoirs to be consistent with published sources,
i wonder if the incident with Baumbach is related to the accident on 23/24.10.40 and this is where the query originates, and perhaps confused over the passing of years? I suppose once more we will never know.

Kindest regs,
Steve.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Does anyone know if photos have been located/identified of the Baumbach crash at "de Brakken" Holland on the night of 23/24 October 1940?

Regards,

[Peglar]

Only a Foto from Baumbach.

Greetings Peglar

[Peglar]

Sorry attachments full ! Here it is.

[Larry Hickey]

Peglar,

Thanks; photo safely in the EOE Data Base. Still interested in knowing if any photos of any of these crashes from this mission have turned up, perhaps in Holland?

Regards,

[Phil Lloyd]

Hi Steve,
I'm afraid I have no info for you regarding the crash, but here is a colour home movie taken in 1940, possibly Norway, of Werner Baumbach receiving his Iron Cross. I believe he was serving with II/KG30 at this time. Thought it maybe of interest.

Just fast forward to 5:29

Regards
Phil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY87PnIj2i0

[steve sheridan]

Many thanks Phil, great pictures of a proud but bashful looking Baumbach!

Best regs,
Steve.

[ju55dk]

Please beware that Stahl in his book, at times mix up dates. Especially in the 1940 sequence in his book. It has given me some extra gray hairs:-)
Junker