Do 18 D-3 WNr 819, 10 June 1940

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

I would like to know the crashplace of the Do 18D-3 WNr 819 of 2./KüGr 906, lost on 10 June 1940.

I have two possible locations:
_http://www.rafandluftwaffe.info/luftwaffe1.html gives the location of Gardvik, 40 km north of Haugesund: there is a place calle Gardvik near Etne, 45 km NE of Haugesund
_ http://www.historisches-marinearchiv.de says the crash happens "2,5 nautical miles outside Haugesund"

According to the second source, the crew was the following:
(FF) Fw. Heinrich Wraage KIFA
(B) Ltn.z.S. Max Altenkrüger KIFA
(BF) Uffz. Gerhard Krause KIFA
(BM) Uffz. Walter Ernst unhurt

To confuse things a little more, Lt Altenkrüger is on the Volksbund database: he is commemorated on the Kriegsmarine memorial at Laboe with a date of death given as 11 June 1940.
An Uffz Gerhard Krause (a far more common name) is buried in Trondheim, and is also shown to have died on 11 June.

Thanks in advance

[Peter Cornwell]

I have the following listed on 11 June 1940:

2./KüFlGr. 906 Dornier Do18 (819). Lost control and crashed into sea off Hiskosen, 15km north of Haugesund, while low-flying during early morning reconnaissance sortie 1.30 p.m. Wreckage beached at southern end of Bømlo Island. BO Lt zur See Max Altenkrüger, FF Fw Heinrich Wraage, and BF Uffz Gerhard Krause all killed, BM Uffz Walter Ernst unhurt – rescued by fishing boat. Aircraft 8L+HK 100% write-off.
A subsequent enquiry concluded that the unqualified observer was at the controls and had mis-judged their height while flying too low and into sun over calm water.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Peter. Seems to me that this happens during the night between 10 and 11 June 1940 (well, at least what is remaining of night in June in Central Norway...), hence the confusions on dates: take off probably on the 10th and crash in the early hours of the next day.

By the way, there is probably a typo in your data:"during early morning reconnaissance sortie 1.30 p.m. " should probably be read 1.30 a.m ?

[Peter Cornwell]

Laurent,

No, I'm confident that the (BST) time is correct as shown. If Robert S is following this thread perhaps he can confirm ? This loss was on 11 June 1940 during return from an early morning reconnaissance mission and not a night sortie. My wording was unclear I agree so now amended as follows:

11 June 1940: 2./KüFlGr. 906 Dornier Do18D-3 (819). Lost control and crashed into sea off Hiskosen, 15km north of Haugesund, while low-flying on return from morning reconnaissance sortie 1.30 p.m. Wreckage beached at southern end of Bømlo Island. BO Lt zur See Max Altenkrüger, FF Fw Heinrich Wraage, and BF Uffz Gerhard Krause all killed, BM Uffz Walter Ernst unhurt – rescued by fishing boat. Aircraft 8L+HK 100% write-off.
A subsequent enquiry concluded that the unqualified observer was at the controls and had mis-judged their height while flying too low and into sun over calm water.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks, it's now perfectly clear.

Best regards

[RT]

Seems the right date is 11.June , 2 times reported in the KTB , Gardvik Hiskjoe south end of the island Bömmelö about 15km north of Haugesund. a report is existing on the event

Rémi

[Knut Larsson]

Hi Laurent and Peter.

Just saw your posting to day. This area is wellknown to me. As I indicated on my website the flying boat crashed in the Hiskosen area SW of island Bømlo. The crash took place at night exactly at bay Gardvik, just close to island Hiskjo. This is also confirmed by RT. In 1940 it was a little fishing station based on island Hiskjo. I am aware that a German report that the crash took place 15 km N of Haugesund. This is probably a typo error as the distance to Hiskjo is appx 35 km N of Haugesund. According to local fishermen nothing was found of the wreck. To day Hiskjo is a wellknown outdoor area.

Greetings from wintercold Norway

Knut Larsson