A mystery He111 loss in the Netherlands during mid-May, 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Today, three photos auctioned on eBay, all purported to be a KG4 He111 loss near Rotterdam during the initial invasion of the country.

1) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=#ht_500wt_957

2) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=#ht_500wt_957

3) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=#ht_500wt_957.

The problem is that the first two show a well-known incident of the downing of the KG4 Gesch Kdr's a/c, 5J+DA, on May 10th. However, the 3rd, which would seem to be the same a/c is not. It clearly carries the W.Nr. 2912 on the port fin, and other clear photos show the starboard side of the tail of 5J+DA carrying the W.Nr. 2909. So what force-landing does the third photo above record if it isn't 5J+DA? It would likely have been a KG4 a/c, such as 5J+CH, but photos of that FL HE111 on 13.10.40 show a background (a fence line) that isn't consistent with this new eBay photo.

Can anyone solve this mystery of the identity of He111 W.Nr. 2912?

Regards,

[steve sheridan]

Hi Larry, in reply to the loss of W.Nr 2912 could it possibly be the a/c of Oblt Andersch of Stab/KG4 which was badly damaged by flak and an attack by Fokker G1's during the sortie to Rotterdam 10.5.40. The a/c was said to be damaged but repairable, which would suggest it got back to its base at Fassberg, although may not be apparant on the photo?
Just my thoughts!

Best regs,
Steve.

[steve sheridan]

Hi Larry, im somewhat bemused by your assumption of W.Nr 2912 possibly being 5J+CH lost 13.10.40, i can find no loss for this date in my records?
is this a typo and you meant 13.5.40. Here a Heinkel 111 5J+CH crashed between Jutphaas and Jaarsfeld, near Ijsselstein, following ops to Dordrecht.
I have no W.Nr recorded for that example but it maybe the one in the photo?

Best regs,
Steve.

[Larry Hickey]

Steve,

Yes, it is a typo. The date for the FL of 5J+CH It should be 13.5.40. Thanks for catching that one.

Regards,

[steve sheridan]

No problem Larry, any thoughts on the Andersch link?

Best regs,
Steve.

[Larry Hickey]

Steve,

I think that it is unlikely that a photo series from a Stab KG4 forced-landing in Holland would be grouped with a photo of a damaged plane that returned to base. Although, it's not impossible.

Regards,