15/16 April 1941 and "Cat's Eyes" Cunningham

[Chris Goss]

The 3 crew that baled out were captured in the Lydney/Coleford area around 2255hrs according to the K report. Cunningham's claims were 0200, 0235, 0240 hrs according to Foreman's books but these are wrong. He first took off at 2030 hrs, landing 2330hrs claiming a He 111 destroyed near Monmouth at 2255hrs (did not see it crash) so this is now a possibility. He then took off again at 0110hrs landing 0325 hrs claiming a He 111 over Southampton at 0143 hrs and south of Lymington at 0235hrs (did not see the latter crash). According to the book on KG 55, Wk Nr was 2812

[George 118]

Good morning,

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

so this is now a possibility.

I am very glad.

Now, the third one that crashed south of Lymington (Cunningham did not see the crash).

We don’t have a crash site S off Lymington so I assume that the He111 returned to France damaged or its another ac that Cunningham misidentified (probably from Aufklärungsgruppe ObdL)

Regards
George

[Chris Goss]

Note I say possibility. The Aufkl.Ob.dL loss was a Do 215 not a He 111 and is unlikely it was operating at night. Its cause for loss is not known.

As to other aircrfat damaged you can discount III./KG 40 (convoy attacks). a III./KG 27 He 111 crash-landed at Orleans suffering 35% damage, another suffered 40% damage due to technical problem while one from 6./KG 27 landed at Caen 0327hrs having been damaged by a night fighter. I wonder if this was Cunningham's 3rd success? No damage just a wounded crewman and shot out port engine

[George 118]

Yes I know it . Possibility is better than nothing.

The last one you mention it is the He 111H-2 "1G + HP" of 6/KG27, piloted by Oblt Josef Hülsmann suffered engine damage by a British night fighter and belly landed in shallow water in the vicinity of Caen-Carpiquet ??? Uffz. Karl Maron (Bm) WIA

[Chris Goss]

Caen-Carpiquet is not located on the coast?

[George 118]

Lake or river, even a canal.
Or a Kracker mistake.

[George 118]

I am looking for the Werk-Nr. of a Heinkel He 111H-2 "1G + HP" of 6/KG27

Any idea ?

[Chris Goss]

Not recorded in the history of KG 27