Another He 115 (and a BV 222) Discovered

[richdlc]

Sadly this new information comes too late to go into the new Chandos Publications He 115 book, but it’s still exciting...

https://www.blueyerobotics.com/blog/...selvqxVPxa_1kw

I'd be interested to hear discussion about the He 115 Stkz. and crew names/fate. Our book has S4+DH as shot down and sunk on 21 October 1939. I'm guessing that this new aircraft re-used the code?

(from our forthcoming book)

21.10.39

He 115 B, W.Nr. 1876 ‘S4+DH’ of 1./406, shot down. The pilot was shot through the knee and made a very bad landing causing the aircraft to crash and sink immediately. The crew, OLt.z.See Albert Peinemann (observer), Uffz. Herrmann Einhaus (w/o) and Uffz. Günther Pahnke (pilot), had no time to get into their dinghy and all three were rescued swimming in the sea.

OLt.z.See Albert Peinemann (B) POW
Uffz. Günther Pahnke (F) POW
Uffz. Herrmann Einhaus (Bf) POW

[igorrB]

Maybe an error? May be S4+MH lost near Tronheim 20.6.40. Next S4+DH loss after 1939 was Ju.88 at 1941.
Or this is one of 3 planes 1./506 with unknown code lost in Tronheim area (28.4.40 (2) and 20.5.40).

[Nick Beale]

And what about the”D” in the published footage being red? How does that fit with a 1. Staffel aircraft?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Rich

First of all I am curious from where 1./406 comes from? I have the code S4 as belonging to KüFlGr 506.
Has this changed for some reason that I am not aware of?

Secondly, the given physical evidence in the article just show an aircraft with the individual code D
The air-air photo also shows an aircraft with the individual code D. No evidence, as I see it, its complete
code was S4+DH

On the other hand the research given in the article is very clear, one of 15 aircraft from the unit, on their
way to Trondheim 9 April 1940 (1945 must be a printing error) was lost that day. It seems aircraft from
both 1. and 2. Staffel were involved, which could explain the red colour of a 2.St aircraft. Since red colour
would indicate a code S4+DK rather than +DH it would be interesting to know if the given commander
of the aircraft Hptm Wiesand commanded the 1. or 2.Staffel.

Reading Thompson's book Küstenflieger, he gives a slightly different account of what happened on the 9th.
As an example the aircraft which was damaged in combat with a Sunderland and sank upon landing was not
the one used by Wiesand. His aircraft had been damaged by Norwegian AA-fire. Thompson gives no fate for
Wiesand....so one and the same incident?

That is as far as I can go through my published sources.
However, there are plenty of persons on this forum who follow the individuals rather than the aircraft.

For instance what has Matti to say about the demise of Wiesand?

B Rgds
Stig

[richdlc]

thanks guys.... intriguing isn't it.
Bloody typical though, you spend years working on a book and then someone throws a spanner in the works!

[Seaplanes]

On 25 October 1939 the Küstenaufklärungsstaffel 1./406 was renumbered Küstenfliegerstaffel 1./506 and the unit code S4 continued from the old to the new unit.

Information from Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv RM 6/172 KTB Gen.d.Lw.b.Ob.d.M./O.Qu.

[richdlc]

some information from team members who worked on the book, which hopefully clears things up. I think it is most likely the people running the website who have been given erroneous information...

The S4+_H code on 21-Oct-39 identified 1./406. At 00.00 hrs on 25-Oct-39 that Staffel was redesignated as 1./506.

Since this new 1./506 was completely equipped with He 115s until the Staffel began conversion to the Ju 88 on 19-Feb-41, there were inevitably several He 115s sequentially assigned the S4+DH unit code. One subsequent S4+DH He 115 is recorded as transferring from Norderney to Brest on 2-Jan-41 (along with +AH & +GH) with all three being forced to return to Norderney by bad weather.

The blueeyerobotics web page associates this He 115 wreckage with the aircraft of Hptm. Lienhart Wiesand, sunk landing at Trondheim on 9-Apr-40 (rendered on the web page erroneously as April 9, 1945) after being damaged either by ground fire from the Norwegian forces still holding Trondheim-Vaernes airfield, or in engagements with RAF aircraft. However, in the new He 115 book we have it that Wiesand although the Staffel Kapitän of Küstenfliegerstaffel 1/506 was actually flying an aircraft of 1./106 on this mission (a He 115 Staffel placed temporarily under command of Küstenfliegergruppe 506 for Operation Weserübung). His aircraft was reported lost as He 115 B, M2+DH, W.Nr. 1900.

Finding the aircraft data plate attached to this wreck remains the best way forward to determine the identity. If this is indeed a He 115 wreck dating from Weserübung then the red D assuredly indicates a 2. Staffel aircraft, which in this period could only be S4+DK of 2./506.

We know S4+DK was present in the Trondheim area on 9-Apr-40 since it filed a sighting report of British naval units north of Bergen at 0910 hrs that day.

[richdlc]

Originally Posted by Seaplanes

On 25 October 1939 the Küstenaufklärungsstaffel 1./406 was renumbered Küstenfliegerstaffel 1./506 and the unit code S4 continued from the old to the new unit.

Information from Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv RM 6/172 KTB Gen.d.Lw.b.Ob.d.M./O.Qu.

thank you for your efforts - please see my answer above

[Stig Jarlevik]

Very nice update

Seems to me that the aircraft found is much more likely to be M2+DH. There can't be too many
He 115s in the area where Wiesand went down....

I think it will be extremely difficult to retrieve anything from the bottom where the wreckage has
been located. Not sure what kind of gear would be required not to mention the cost.

Depending on the salt amount in the fiord there is no way we can even be sure if any plaque is still
visible.

Cheers
Stig

[robert]

Hi,

1./Küstenfliegergruppe 406 Heinkel He 115B-1 (1876). First engaged by F/O D. F. B. Sheen and F/O T. A. F. Elsdon of No.72 Squadron off Spurn Head then damaged by Hurricanes of 'A' Flight, No.46 Squadron during attack on convoy off the Humber Estuary. Lost a float and crashed in the sea (54’02N 03’29E) attempting forced-landing near the Danish vessel Dagmar Clausen 3.45 p.m. (Ff) Uffz Peter Grossgarts rescued unhurt, (Beo) Lt zur See Gottfried Lenz rescued slightly wounded in right leg, (Bf) Uffz Helmut Becker missing. Aircraft S4+YH 100% write-off.
Both survivors were landed at Korsør on October 25 and repatriated to Germany five days later.

From our EOE Archive.

Regards

Robert