Losses of KG 26 on 8 June 1940

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

I would like to know the losses of KG 26 in Norway on 8 June 1940.

The former bomber loss list at http://www.rafandluftwaffe.info/ had two losses for this day in accident at Vaernes airfield, one He 111 H-3 of II./KG 26 and one He 111 H of III./KG 26, both damaged beyond repair at 80%. No crew name or fate was known.

The book Fledging Eagles has the following:
"Air attacks continued however, eight He 111s of III/KG 26 being sent out after shipping targets reported west of Andöya Island. On return, one crash-landed at Vaernes, suffering 80% damage."
So only one loss.

My guess is that the former source writes twice the same loss. Can someone confirm it ? Well, at least confirm that in known loss lists there is only one loss by III./KG 26 ?

Thanks in advance

[Brian Bines]

Laurent, all I have from the KG26 history 'Die Spur des Lowen is ' - 8-6-40 He111 H3 II/KG26 80% Trondheim, Feindlug, Bruchlandung - Angebl. existert ein weiterer gleicher verlust, ex-III/KG26.
The Luft QMs list dated 10-6-40 shows the same information for the II/KG26 loss with no crew injuries but no mention of a III/KG26 aircraft. Checking in 'Torpedos Los' this shows no crew losses for II or III/KG26 that day,

Regards
Brian Bines

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Brian,

So finally the Luft QMs list confirm a II./KG 26 loss, not a III./KG 26 one.

From the book 'Die Spur des Lowen', I don't understand the sentence "Angebi. existert ein weiterer gleicher verlust ex. III/KG26." I guess Angebi is an abbreviation, but I don't know of which word. But it seems to me that this is about a similar loss for III./KG 26 ?

Can someone confirm from a KTB or another wartime source that the attack off Andoya Island this day was launched by III./KG 26 ?

Maybe a III./KG 26 crew was using a II./KG 26 aircraft, or a II./KG 26 crew joined a formation of III./KG 26, and so the same loss will be registered by two units. But AFAIK these two groups did not share the same base at the time.

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Sent to me from someone who saw this post:

"It's not Angebi. but angebl. for angeblich, which means "reportedly, alledgedly, they say...". On the other hand I wonder what "ex." is supposed to mean here?

[Brian Bines]

Larry thanks for the correction

Laurent going back to the Die Spur des Lowen page 95 refers to attacks on British warships by elements of II/KG26 on the 8th and 9th June,

Regards
Brian Bines

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks, Brian and Larry

Primary documents show only one II./KG 26 loss, and the book "Die Spur des Lowen" show that II./KG 26 was involved in anti-shipping sorties these days and lost one He 111 damaged beyond repair on return, and that "reportedly" III./KG 26 suffered another similar loss. The "reportedly" word indicates for me that no proof of it has been found, it may come from an oral story or old memories of someone involved.

I will do as the book "Die Spur des Lowen", keep only the loss of II./KG 26 in my database, with a note that there might have been a similar loss of III./KG 26.

Best regards