KG4 losses Norway 24 April 1940

[Brian]

Hi guys

I am seeking crew/aircraft details for these losses of KG4 in Norway,
24 April 1940:

9/KG4 5J+JT crash-landed at Oslo/Fornebu
9/KG4 5J+AT belly-landed near Romsdalsfjord, Hptm Schummann and crew
4/KG4 ? shot down north of Dombas (Oblt Ritcher and crew) - only one survivor.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[steve sheridan]

Hi Brian, heres what i have regarding your Heinkels!

5J+AT He111P Carrying the Gruppe Kdr Mjr Ernst Kusserow, 9/KG4 Staffel Kapitan Hptm Martin Schumann, and the pilot Uffz Schultz. The remainder of the crew were also captured.
See the link to the fabulous Flyvrak website below:

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/dovre.html

For your 4/KG4 Oblt Ritcher ( actually Richter) this loss can also be found at the same website, and appears to be from 5/KG4 and lost 25.4.40!

http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/fagerliseter.html

5J+JT I have no crew names as yet, still looking!

Hope this helps you.
Best regs,
Steve.

[Larry Hickey]

Brian,

My notes in the EOE Data Base, accompanying three photos of this aircraft, do not identify the crew, but do provide this info: "There was another 5J+JT with same markings apparently destroyed in Poland. This is probably the replacement which was damaged in air combat and was subsequently lost at Oslo-Fornebu AF, Norway, on April 24th, as related on P.123 of “Fledgling Eagles.” There is a photo on the next page of a 5J+JM, “believed” to be the aircraft damaged and force landed that day, but that one was incorrectly identified and was a 4. Staffel aircraft piloted by Oblt. Richter."

Regards

[Larry Hickey]

Brian,

My data base reference and two photos of the Richter a/c come mainly from the Norwegian website that Steve cites. However, there may be some useful notes here, as that website has the aircraft code listed incorrectly.
"http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/fagerliseter.html. 'Heinkel He 111 P Fagerliseter, Nord-Fron. KG 4 5J+JN 25.04 1940. Attacked by Gloster Gladiators (Donaldson and Mills) during an attack on the British airstrip at Lake Lesjaskog. The damaged bomber tried to make it back to Fornebu (Oslo, Norway--LJH). The pilot, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Richter was wounded, but managed to make a forced landing at Ansemtjønna. Oberfeldwebel Martin Ziegler and Fw.Augustin were unhurt. One of the crew was left dead onboard. Locals observed heavy smoke at the site 14:30. The crew started walking to Gausdal, but the next day they were surprised by Norwegian forces at the farm Enden in Gausdal. Ziegler and Augustin were killed in the fight 26.4. Lt.Richter was brought to the hospital, but shot himself after they had to amputate his arm.” Note: Website has incorrect code as this is clearly 5J+JM, vice 5J+JN listed on website page. It appears that the crew probably set the aircraft on fire. Photo has overprint that says in Norwegian: “Facsimiler fra: Arsskrift Gudbradsdal krigsminnesamling 1997.” This probably refers to an archive or photo collection that was the source of the photo in 1997...The fact that this aircraft has the swastica entirely on the fin probably indicates that this was a replacement aircraft sometime in late 1939 after the Polish Campaign...'"

Regards

[Larry Hickey]

Brian,
Accompanying two photos of this crash from the Norwegian website is the following info (again from the website): "Source: http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/dovre.html. “He.111P Holum. 9.Staffel III./KG 4 5J+AT 24.4 1940. Lt.W P Lucy and Lt.Fraser-Harris of 803 Sqdn attacked this bomber SE of Romsdalsfjord. The burning bomber made an emergency landing on the fields of the farm Holum and smashed a house before it stopped. The wounded Group Commander Maj.Ernst Kusserow was strapped inside the aircraft. The pilot Uffz.Schultz and Squadron commander Hptm.Schumann, and the rest of the crew jumped out of the burning plane. Kusserow was rescued by the help from people at the farm. The rest of the crew ended up as POW's in Canada. There is a caption to this photo in Norwegian that will need to be translated. Photos sourced to Michael Balss with copyright claimed."
The photos confirm the code as "+AT," with the "A" in yellow.

Larry

[Brian]

Thanks Steve and Larry

The book I have been using as reference is obviously incorrect. Your help much appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[flyvrak]

Hi Larry.
thanks for making me aware of the mix up of JN/JM:-)
I was not able to decide if it was an M, or N on the picture.
The error will be corrected asap.

regards Kjell