Lt Heinz Escherhaus

[Dave Somerset]

A Bf 109 flown by Lt Heinz Escherhaus was landed at Eastry, Kent on 9 October 1940 and the pilot captured. This was the case involving a dinghy malfunction in flight. Reportedly there was a wanted poster put out for him on 27 June 1941 but so far I haven’t seen it. Could have been in Britain or Canada, I’ve no idea. Please can anybody tell me where there is a copy of the poster available and, if you also know it, what happened to said POW.

If there is a good source of information (a book recommendation would be especially appreciated) about escaped German airmen POWs, in particular those taken by the British even if they finished up in Canada, then I would be really grateful to hear about it. Kew is already on my list of places to visit. Many thanks.

Dave

[Chris Goss]

I think you will be lucky after 77 years to find such posters especially when you do not know for certain where it was shown. Escherhaus would have probably gone to Canada in January 1941 and he returned to Germany after the war. I tried to contact him many years ago but he declined. There is a book called 'Behind Canadian Barbed Wire' no doubt long out of print. Very few escaped in the UK-a good source is of course 'The One that Got Away'. Then there was Oblt Harry Wappler and Lt Heinz Schnabel who managed to steal an aircraft and get as far as East Anglia. I am not sure whether the National Archives will have much to help you

[Dave Somerset]

Thanks Chris for the pointers. I knew about Schnabel and Wappler from your own excellent book on Luftwaffe Fighters and Bombers. David J Carter's book is still available priced 30 dollars but not in UK. Here it costs over double that. I'm looking to order one nonetheless. I'm grateful for the knowledge that Heinz Escherhaus survived the war.

Best wishes, Dave.