Fw200 loss

[alex crawford]

Hi,

I have just been reading 'Hurricats' by Ralph Barker. One of the chapters deals with the Fw200 from KG40. In it he mentions that during the Battle of Britain a number of Fw200s were used for minelaying and bombing missions. On the 19-20 July 1940 two Fw's were lost during minelaying missions on the East coast of England.

By doing a search on the 'net I have found the following info.

A Fw200C from I/KG40 (F8+EH) was shot down by AA and crashed into the North Sea between Hartlepool and Sunderland. The crew consisted of:

Hptm R Stesszyn missing
Fw W Meyer missing
Fw H Kulken POW
Fw K Nicolai POW
Gefr S Zaunig missing
Gefr J Perl missing

Would anyone have details on the second Fw200 that was lost that night? Also anyone know the Werke number of the one mentioned above?

Alex

[Andy Mitchell]

Alex,


Battle of Britian Then and Now (Mk IV) gives the following for F8+EH -
1/KG40 Fw200 Shot down by AA fire during mine laying sortie. Crashed into the sea between Hartlepool and Sunderland 11.55 pm (19 July 1940).Hptm Stesszyn, Fw Meier and Gefr Zaunig drowned. Fw Kulken and Fw Nicolai captured.

Mason's Battle over Britain gives broadly the same detail except records it as happening at 00.15 on 20 July and that the aircraft was from 2./KG40.

According to Mason 2./KG 40 did incur another loss that night, but not near Sunderland.
2./KG40 Fw200 Lost off N Ireland Two killed, Hptm Zenke+2others POW.

Mason has the following to say regarding both of these losses:-

"Although both these losses were reported in 6th Abteilung returns, the loss of the Fw 200 of Hptm Stesszyn was recorded on 22nd July as having occurred on 13th July. The other, commanded by Hptm Zenke, was stated in the German returndated 28th July to have occurred on the 23rd. All crew interrogation records relating to the survivors from these aircraft, together with the Observer Corps and coastguard records (of the Sunderland area) confirm beyond any doubt that both losses occurred during the night of 19th/20th."

With regard to the second aircraft I have also found reference in BoBTaN indicating that it was lost on July 24th, detail as follows:-

1./KG40 Fw 200 - Forced to ditch into the sea 15 miles NE of Belfast due to petrol failure while on armed reconnaissance mission. Hptm Zenker, Uffz Oeker, Gefr Hohmann rescues and POW. Fw Andreas and Uffz Wagner both drowned. F8+BH lost.

Hope that this helps.

[Tony Kearns]

Alex,
Regarding the second FW200, he may be confusing it with F8+BH which went into Belfast Lough on 24 July on a mining sortie.
Regards
Tony K

[Chris Goss]

Tony-Hptm Roman Steszyn was lost 2355 hrs on 20 Jul and then Hptm Volkmar Zenker 0340 hrs on 24 Jul; nothing else until 20 Aug 40

[Tony Kearns]

Thanks Chris,

Tony K

[alex crawford]

Hi,

Thanks again for everyones responses. My knowledge of Luftwaffe operations is very limited. I'm afraid my library is very much pro-RAF.

Thanks again.

Alex