Wekusta 1 Loss 24 July 1940

[Peter Cook]

I am looking for information on the possible loss of a Wekusta 1 He 111H-3, believed to have been shot down by 504 Squadron Hurricanes of Rook, Frisby and Haw of 504 Sqn, 10 miles east of Wick at 09.05 hrs on 24 July 1940. Mason's Battle Over Britain, lists the loss, stating that three crew were killed and two were rescued and made PoWs. The loss is not listed in BoB Then and Now. The 504 Sqn He 111 claims are listed in Cull's Battle for the Channel, and Parry's BoB Combat Archive, but these are not matched to the Wekusta 1 Heinkel. Any thoughts? I should also add that there are no Combat Reports for this action at the National Archives and no ORBs for 504 Sqn for July 1940.

[JoMe]

Hi Peter

Maybe this loss ?

25.07.1940
Wekusta 1
Raum Orkney-Inseln/GB
He 111 H-3 / WNr. ??? / T5 + GU
100% / F
FF/unbek. Ursache (unknown cause)
Gefr Paul Müller +/Freitag +/RegRat Ernst Franken PoW/Loch +/Bauch +
(source: RL2III/1174,113+37)

best wishes
JoMe

[Brian Bines]

Peter ,

There is T5+GU on the 25 July 40 credited to 3 Sqd. went in off the Pentland Firth with the weather man POW at around 0830 hrs. Would this be the one you are interested in , there is an account of the loss by the POW in the WEKUSTA book by Kington and Selinger ,

Regards
Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

No K Report on any captured crew 24 or 25 July . FC Victory Claims have nothing for 504 Sqn on either day but credits this aircraft to Jones and Lonsdale of 3 Sqn which corresponds with BofBCA which also states that Franken was rescued

[Andy Mitchell]

!

[Peter Cook]

Thanks all, and especially Brian for the pointer to the WEKUSTA book, which I am not familiar with, just one left on Amazon -- for £120 - ouch!