Oblt Willi Cryns 8 April 1944

[Dave Somerset]

Please can anybody help me close a case that’s kept me occupied for a couple of days now? I only ask on here whenever I get stuck. It concerns Oblt Willi Cryns who was killed on 8 April 1944 while flying an He 111 H-6 for 10./KG27. I know his history but cannot conclude this single event.

The crash occurred near Kulm but I cannot reach a conclusion whether this was Neustadt am Kulm (which used to be called Kulm) in Germany or the place in Austria.

The crew names I’ve got are Ogefr Fritz Böttcher, Uffz Alwin Brandt, Oblt Willi Cryns, Ogefr Hubert Gabbert, and Uffz Erwin Schilling. I’m happy to be corrected on any of these if appropriate. Otherwise, what happened to them all? No entries on the VDK database but in the past I’ve known others not appearing there when I knew their burial location. Furthermore does anybody know their roles on board?

I hope you may be able to assist. My thanks in advance.

[researcher111]

Hi there ,

While the subject is way out of my research area I help whenever I can

1G+FU WErk Nr 7570 crashed at night due engines failure near Kulm an der Weichsel.

Killed : Cryns (FF) Uffz Schilling (BO) Uffz Brandt (BF) Ogefr gabert (BM)
Injured : Ogefr (BS) Boetcher injured

It was an attempt by this Geschwader to reduce the training length of the
former UK campaign airmen (Kampfbeobachter and Bord Funker ) A & B
permits to be endorsed on lighter aircraft .Oblt Cryns was cannon fodder
(Versuchskaninchen ) (Guinea Pigs) selectee for this
night mission. Suspected was poor flyer " instincts " which led to the crash.

Translated from Chronik KG27 Band VI

Alex K

[Dave Somerset]

Thanks for your contribution Alex, which is very helpful.

Dave