16 August 1940 Ju87 3./StG2

[BrianC]

Hi guys

I note that the crew (Uffz Ernst Konig and Uffz Josef Schmid) of a 3./StG2 Ju87 were rescued from the sea off the Isle of Wight, having been shot down on 16 August 1940. They were initially picked up by an RN launch before being transferred to an air-sea rescue 'aircraft'. Would this have been a Walrus?

Any information would be much appreciated.

Stay safe
Brian

[Chris Goss]

I was in touch with Koenig who in his account just refers to it as a British sea plane

[BrianC]

Thanks Chris

Any chance of seeing a copy of his account, please?

You have my e-mail address.

Take care
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Brian: It is in The Luftwaffe Bombers Battle of Britain which I think you might have? If not do say

[BrianC]

Thanks, Chris

Yes, I do have a copy but failed to check!

Cheers
Stay safe
Brian

[Chris Goss]

I do have his original letter but no photos. Note it was assumed that this crew crash-landed at Selsey as they were discovered in a Chichester hospital by which time they had got their stories straight!

[Peter Cook]

Brian,

Herewith Parker's account of the incident:

Parker - Vol. 2 Pg. 172 (map no. 10, August 16)
Ju87B-2 Wn.5580 T6+HL 3/StG2
Selsey Road, near the Church Norton Junction, Selsey, Sussex. 13.00 hrs.
While attacking Tangmere aerodrome this aircraft made a good forced landing having been attacked by fighters and sustained damage to its radiator, leading to engine failure. Aircraft was in good condition.
Markings: H in yellow. Crest: shield with yellow eagle on white field above black cross on red field.
Engine: Ju 211 D.
ID: 58221, AW: white, Köln, 16/7/40 & white, Rotenburg, FP: L 21650.
Ff: Uffz Ernst König wounded.
Bs: Uffz Josef Schmid wounded.
The two crew were discovered by Air Intelligence personnel badly wounded in a hospital near Chichester and would not give any details. Unit assumed from the aircraft code. Subsequent interrogation of the gunner revealed that he had joined the German Air Force in 1935 and had been in the same unit since 1938. During the Sudeten Crisis I/StG2 moved to Freudenstadt in the Sudetenland and carried out propaganda flights over Prague. After the occupation of Czechoslovakia they were based successively at Kottbus, Breslau and Rügen. They later took part in the Polish Campaign and later in the Battle for France, operating from various field aerodromes as near to the front as possible. The 3rd Staffel took an active part in the tank battle at Cambrai where they tried to bomb the French tanks. Immediately after the Armistice, the 3rd Staffel packed up and moved slowly across France by lorry, first to Chateau-Thierry and then via Versailles to Caen. From an operational aerodrome near to Caen they carried out operations against shipping in the English Channel. When shot down the gunner had made a total of eighty-seven War Flights, of which eleven were against England.

Peter

[Peter Cook]

I have a profile of this Ju 87, drawn for a BoB project I am working on. See attached file.

[BrianC]

Hi Peter and Chris

So, who were the two airmen rescued by the launch?

Brian

[Chris Goss]

Koenig & Schmid. K report was wrong so was Parker’s book