Dornier 17Z (WN 2537), 6 Oct. 1940, KG3

[pointedeflèche]

Hello,

Does anyone have details regarding the loss of Dornier 17Z-2, Werknummer 2537 (5K+AK), Kampfgeschwader 3. The plane crashed near Hamme-mille (Belgium), 6th October 1940.

All four airmen on board were killed. Their names were:

Leutnant Ernst BERGHAHN
Unteroffizier Erich-Dietrich DANKENBRING
Gefreiter Theodor WELLMANN
Obergefreiter Heinrich SCHEIBELER

What caused this aircraft to crash?
What mission were they on?
Was it a day or night mission?
What was the target?

I thank you in advance for your help.
Dirk

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Hi Dirk,
I have this loss on the 5. October not the 6. What is your source? Unfortunately I have no details about the crash.

Norbert

[pointedeflèche]

Hi Norbert,

According to the online search engine of the 'Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge' they all died the 6th of October 1940.

See: http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche/content_suche.asp (the online Gräbernachweis des Volksbundes Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V.)

Perhaps the crash occurred in the night 5/6 Oct. 1940. Unfortunately, I have no first hand source. Are there any KG3 experts who know what happened that day?

Regards,
Dirk

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

The aircraft is listed as coming from 2. Staffel. The reason given is only 'Absturz', so we can only speculate what happened. They were on an operational flight, but I do not know what KG 3 was tasked to do on this date.

The loss is reported in the loss record of 06.10.1940, with the loss date given as 5.10.1940. I thus suspect that this crash would have taken place before midnight.

Best regards,
Andreas B

[Flupke]

As far as I know it was damaged over London and was not able to reach
Le-Culot
Regards
Phil

[pointedeflèche]

Andreas and Phil,

Many thanks for the information.

Phil, may I ask you what source you consulted with regard to the plane being damaged over London?

Regards,
Dirk

[tux1303]

Hi,

my information is:

5K+AK => Absturz beim Start => 3 Uhr am Morgen; Ziel London