He 111 H3, Wnr. 3328, V4 + CH from KG 40

[cbe2009]

Hello!

This plane went missing with its crew on a mission on the 8. or 9. April, 1941. They were declared dead on the 12. of March 1943
I believe the code is from the time, this unit was a part of KG1, and they have not yet changed it to F8 ?????

The type of mission and cause of crash was not known at the time of this A/Cs crash, but the unit was stationed in France!

Is anything further known today about this aircraft?

Thank You

Christian

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hallo Christian

First of all there is nothing strange with the V4+xx codes. III./KG 40 was formed in March 1941 from I./KG.1 and the old code lingered on for a couple of months before switching to F8+xx

I cannot find this loss you mention in any of the standard works published, (at least not in those I have) so may I inquire what makes you so certain of the date the aircraft disappeared?

Cheers
Stig

[steve sheridan]

Christian/ Stig,
i have this a/c shot down by No316Sq Hurricanes coming down nr St Annes Head 09.50 hrs. P/Off. T Sawicz claiming the kill.

Lt Ludwig Rebensdorf and crew missing, III/ KG40 had set out to harass shipping in the Southwest.
Best regs,
Steve.

Source. The Turning Point Pt2 ( page 42 )

[edNorth]

Stig;

cbe2009 is right.

He 111 H3 3328 V4+CH of III/KG 40 (Luftflotte 3) ´Feindflug´ <missing unknown causes and location> 09.04.41 (F Lt. Ludv. Rebensdorf + 3 missing) see RL 2 III/753 Lfd. 18 von 11.4.41

I presume this was raiding / bombing England.

cheers
ed

[ChrisS]

Stig is correct, I have a photo of an ex I./KG 1 He 111 H-3 that has an F8+GS belonging to III./KG 40 code but still carries the old I./KG 1 emblem.

Cheers

Chris

[cbe2009]

Hi Stig!

I have the loss from Ob.d.L. Genst.Gen.Qu. and there it says the 9. of april. 1941. I thought it maybe was the night between the 8. and 9.

I had a feeling about the codes and thank You for confirming this.

Cheers

Christian

[cbe2009]

Thank You all. I was busy with searching, so i didn´t realize that so many had commented on this question.
Best wishes
Christian

[Stig Jarlevik]

Ahh
Of course. This was not a night mission but most probably an anti shipping strike. Thanks for the updates

Cheers
Stig

[Franek Grabowski]

The crew of aircraft downed by Sawicz was taken PoW. If Rebensdorf and crew were killed, who they were?

[Chris Goss]

It was on an armed recce(day) mission & crew were all missing-in addition to Rebensdorf there was Uffz Georg Petereit-B, Uffz Michael Franck-Bf & Fw Werner Fritzsche-Bm