Seeking photos and info on first German a/c to crash on British soil in WW II

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

The most appropriate candidate for a color profile for 2./KG30 from this early-war period would be the a/c below, which was the first German a/c to fall on British soil during WW II. According to our EOE Luft Loss DB:

"October 17, 1939: 2./KG30 Junkers Ju88A-1. Suffered direct hit by AA fire during attack on British Fleet in Scapa Flow and exploded in Pegal Burn on the island of Hoy in the Orkney Islands 11.15 a.m. (Ff) Oberlt Walter Flämig, (Beo) Gefr Hans Attenberger, and (Bs) Uffz Rudi Faust killed. (Bf) Uffz Fritz Ambrosius baled out and captured badly wounded and burned. Aircraft 4D+EK 100% write-off.
Remains of this aircraft, the first to crash on mainland Great Britain, and three of its crew were scattered across an area of a quarter mile. They are buried at Lyness as Unknown Airmen."

However, our EoE research team has never been able to locate any photos of this a/c. It appears that it was totally destroyed in the crash, and its markings may not have been visible on the wreckage. Does anyone have any photos of the wreckage of this a/c, and or photos taken of it before it was shot down and crashed, especially ones that would allow a profile to be created for this Ju88A-1? Any info on the W.Nr. of this a/c? Type of prop, 4 bladed or 3 bladed?

Regards,

[edwest]

Hello Larry,


Though I know your knowledge of the subject matter is far greater than mine, I hope you don't mind me offering the following:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/york/hi/...00/8493827.stm




Ed

[edwest]

And one more:

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/scotlan...nkel/index.asp


And perhaps this group has some additional clues about 4D+EK.


http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co...otland4dek.htm



Ed

[Larry Hickey]

Thanks Ed. I wasn't aware of these websites. This 17.10.39 incident is likely to be the subject a painting for the EoE Phoney War volume, since it involved the first German a/c (a Ju88A-1) to fall on British soil. Hope we can find some contemporary photos of the wreckage, although it's likely to be little more than junk. The Humbie Heinkle came down intact after this one.

Regards,

[Graham Boak]

There is a small museum on Hoy, with a number of very interesting aircraft photographs mainly linked to the FAA operations around Scapa Flow. It is closely linked to the main Orkney museum in Kirkwall and this would be the first place to ask for further help.

However, Gregor Lamb's book Sky Over Scapa made great use of these photographs, and I suspect that if photographs of this crash existed then he would have used them.

[Andy Saunders]

I have looked through the late Ken Watkins photo archive, and nothing there. Just a photo of the crash site in recent years and the headstones of crew.

[bill norman]

Saddend to learn that Ken Watkins had died. When?

[Chris Goss]

It must be approaching 2 years ago

[bill norman]

Thanks, Chris. Tut mir leid.