Supplies for Atlantic pockets(?) - Loss of early November 1944

[Henofred]

If we take into account the day mentioned in the newspaper article and the date of publication of said article the loss of October 31, 1944 could match. Along with this loss, crew names are mentioned? ...the ones killed?

Best regards,
Frederic

[Henofred]

My answer went too fast. Sorry gents (!), I didn't see your answers before.

Frederic

[Chris Goss]

Yes my post 8 answers it all for you! NVM says 701204/S3+LH of 1 Staffel. Took off Strassburg-Enzheim

[Henofred]

Merci beaucoup Chris (...Great answer!).

Nick, I am going to ask my friend about the name of the newspaper in which this article appeared. I only got the excerpt.

Frederic

[John Manrho]

Chris, good catch on the VDK. Strange, reported crash location (Royan) and Issoudun are far apart. We should check burial status of all crew members.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

However, as John has suggested, there was a loss on 31 Oct 44 of Wk Nr 701204 S3+LH whose mission was "Atlantik Stuetzpkte".

CX/MSS/R356(C),11

From RIFOI ((Transport Fliegergruppe)) 30, Technical Officer dated 2/11:

Off strength: He 111 H-20 W.Nr. 701204 missing since 31/10.

[Chris Goss]

John- your statement that it was Tuesday 31 Oct helped clinch it!

[Henofred]

Thank you all for your answers, and I will come back to you soon to give you the name of the newspaper.

Best regards,
Frederic

[John Manrho]

So for the crew;
Fw. Walter Merz (08/10/1918); Buried Mont-de-Huisnes, Gruft 31, Grab 175
Uffz. Josef Huemer (27/09/1919): Missing
Uffz. Ludwig Endres(s) (15/08/1923): Buried Mond-de-Huisnes, Gruft 31, Grab 173
Ogfr. Heinrich Dziuba (28/02/1922): Missing
Uffz. Bruno Speer (02/05/1917): Missing

Merz and Huemer are in VDK database with Issoudun, so that is a match. Huemer is in the VDK database as missing with Start in Strassbourg-Entzheim. So, relatives must have inquired with VDK.

None of the missing I can find in the DRK-Bildlisten.

So, if everybody was killed it can be assumed they were buried at the same cemetery, probably as unknowns. So, Frederic, if you can trace the original burial location for Merz/Endres you might be able to solve some MIA cases. Grab 174 at Mont-d'Huisnes seems a good candidate already....:-)

[Henofred]

Hi Nick, hi gents,

The newspaper article appeared in the "Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest" (issue of 4 November 1944). I will now try to find out where the deceased crew members were buried, as they do not appear on the list of German burials of Châteauroux. Nor Bourges, so perhaps Issoudun.

Best regards,
Frederic