Hs 126 15 May 1940

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

I search details of a hs 126 lost on 15 May 1940 by 2.(H)/10 in Norway. Thanks in advance

[James A Pratt III]

The book "The Fledgling Eagles" should have some info on this incident.

[Peter Cornwell]

2.(H)/10 Henschel Hs126B-1 (3352). Shot down by light AA fire during reconnaissance sortie over Melfjord and Sjonafjord, around Mo, 5.00 p.m. FF Lt Manfred von Redecker captured wounded – admitted to hospital, BO Fw Fritz Mahn baled out over Nordranafjord, swam ashore, and captured unhurt – both later released. Aircraft BA+HM 100% write-off.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks to both of you

Peter, two questions:

1) I guess that "your" Manfred von Redecker was the same guy as below:

REDECKER, Manfred von. (DKG). 30.04.43 Oblt. and pilot in 7.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 32, KIA in Fw 189 A-3 shot down by a fighter over Krymskaya. 17.06.43 Oblt. in 7.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 32, awarded the DKG.

Can you or someone else confirm this ?

2) someone mailed me the text in the book "The Fledgling Eagles" and it says Mahn was captured and shipped to Britain. Redecker was wounded, and there are several cases of German wounded POW going in hospital and so being released when Norway surrendered or when their area was taken by the Germans, but Mahn was unhurt and so COULD have been sent to UK. Do you know when he was released, and what was his subsequent career (or lack of) in the Luftwaffe after this ?

Thanks in advance

[Peter Cornwell]

1) It looks very much like it but I cannot confirm it for a fact. The Manfred von REDECKER of 2.(H)/10 shot down on 15 May 1940 was born 19.8.1909 in Eichmedien, Sensburg (Ostpr.).

2) MAHN was not shipped to Britain. Von REDECKER had ordered him to bale out over Nordranafjord, 20km south of Mo, when their aircraft was crippled by AA fire. He did so releasing his parachute harness 5m over the water and after 15 minutes swimming reached shore where he was promptly captured by British troops. He was subsequently handed over to the Norwegians and held on the island of Skorpa until released by the German advance on 12 June 1940. He reached Narvik with other liberated German prisoners aboard a fishing boat and was flown to Trontheim finally returning to his unit on 9 July 1940. I regret that I have no knowledge of his subsequent movements.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Wow ! I was certainly not hoping so much data for my second point. For my first, with the birth date, if someone has the NVM for the 1943 loss he may confirm it was the same guy.

Thanks a lot, Peter

[Chris Goss]

There was a Lt Friedrich-Karl Mahn who was a BO with 1/NAG 5 and awarded DKiG & Ehrenpokal?

[Matti Salonen]

Laurent,

For your first, the same guy!

Matti

[Knut Larsson]

This aircraft was lost at Kjeldal, SE of Dalselv, S of Mo i Rana and close to shore of Ranfjorden. From a photo it looks like the pilot had been able to forceland very well in a difficult and remote terrain.

It was brought down by 40mm Bofors cannons of F Troop, 55 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery placed north of Dalselv this day. Also the next day this British unit was able to brought down a Luftwaffe aircraft, A Bv 138 A (WNr.369) of Transportstaffel 9./III./KGzbV 108 See who crashed just W of Mo i Rana.

Nordranafjord is best translated into English as "Northern part of Ranfjorden" (not Ranafjord).

Sourche: Norwegian historian Ulf Larsstuvold

Regards from Norway
Knut Larsson

[ghostwriter2]

Just a short additional remark: Mahn started the war as observer, was later trained as pilot on Bf 109 recce and ended the war as Hauptmann and KC-winner (awarded on Jan 24, 1945). He deceased in 1981.

Greez
ghost