4./KG 53 loss

[montana]

Hi !

Somebody can tell when the He 111 of the 4./KG 53 (A1 + JM) crashed in the Belgian Luxembourg ? May or Juni 1940 ??? Many thanks.

[Dan Gilberti]

Hi
I found 30-8-40 for the He 111 H2 wk 2711 ( wei§ J A1+JM ) pilot Ofw Ostertrag from 4./KG53 MIA with crew during sortie to Radlett, cause unknown.
Bsrg, Dan

[montana]

Hi Dan !

Thanks for your answer, but I think this He 111 crashed in Belgian Luxembourg was an earlier A1 + JM (Battle of France ?), because it made a perfect belly landing with the right engine feathered and the crew members were safe.

[Dan Gilberti]

Yes, why not, errors are allways possibles ...
I just give you officiels détails : principal source RL2 III/752 Bama seit 11 rapport date 2.09.40:
For same day we have 4 He 111 H2 loss reason unknow for radlett (6818 A1+GP)(2711 A1+JM) (5532 A1+JL) (2624 A1+CR)and one other for St Omer III./KG53.
I have for He 111 wk 2711 in my notes 2 other sources : BoB, T&N, p.608 and Mason, p.325
I don't know more about ...
Best regards, Dan

[steve sheridan]

Hi Montana,
I have a A1+JM loss listed as Forced Landed Nr. Sedan on the 10.6.40.
Must be yours!

Crew incl. Uffz. Franke, and Uffz. Christmann.
Heinkel 111P 4/KG53. W.Nr Not Known.

Sadly i haven't source for this loss.
Hope this helps!

Best Regards,
Steve.

[montana]

Hi Dan & Steve !

Thanks a lot for your help.

Kindest regards.

[Brian Bines]

Would Uffz.Christmann be the same man as Ofw.Karl Christmann who was awarded the RK in April 1944 and was posted missing while flying as an Observer in a He 111 V-1 launcher of 4/KG 53 on 5.11.1944?

[Peter Cornwell]

Thank you Steve, your post saved some searching. I have this loss as occuring on the 7 June 1940 - no casualties involved. Uffz Rudolf FRANKE returned to duty with 4./KG53 only to be shot down on 12 July by P/O Bickerdike of No.85 Sqdn. during an attack on a convoy east of Aldeburgh. His body was washed ashore on the Dutch coast near Castricum on 29 July & he was buried at Bergen(NH) & later reinterred (1957) in IJsselsteijn CL-1-5.

[steve sheridan]

Hi Montana, your quite welcome for the info.

Brian, You may well be right about Christmann, having looked further, i can confirm that it was Uffz " Karl " Christmann who was aboard Montana's
Heinkel, so it may well be the same Karl Christmann who you refer to!

And finally Peter, thanks for tieing up the fate of Franke, and extra info.
Very helpful.
Do you have any information on the loss of He111 lost on 1.6.40 funnily enough from the same staffel, sister ship to A1+JM, this being A1+DM?

Best Regs,
Steve.

[Peter Cornwell]

Hi Steve,

I have reams of stuff on the loss of A1+DM 1.6.40. Please contact me off-thread.

Peter