He111 of II/KG 53 lost 12 Jul 1940

[Black6]

My eyes are not what they once were but I cant find this aircraft in BBCA Vol.1 for 12 Jul 1940. Has there been a revision ? On p.40 I see the claim for it is mentioned 85 Sqdn Sgt Rust/Pilot Off Bickerdyke.

It is recorded in Cornwell (p.539) as He111 H-2 shot down by Bickerdike of 85 Sqdn over a convoy 10 miles east of Aldeburgh at 0840 hours, three NCO's killed and 2 missing.

For 12 Jul 1940 I have a lost He111 H-2 of 4/KG 53 crewed by

Uffz Rudolf Walter Franke (65115/19) born 15 Jul 1917 at Dresden (body recovered Castricum aan Zee/NL on 29 Jul 40)

Uffz Albert Anton Dombrowski (65115/44), born 27 Oct 1917 in Rossberg bei Beuthen (body recovered North Sea, buried Den Haag/NL)

Fw (BS) Paul Krink (65115/33) born 12 Dec 1911 in Dortmund (body not recovered/or not identified)

Fw Georg Freitag (65115/22) born 18 Feb 1913 at Michelau/Obfrk (body recovered Castricum aan Zee/NL on 30 Jul 40)


Please can anybody advise the crew positions and if there was another crewman

thank you Peter

[Peter Cook]

These are the published loss listings that I have:

Two III Gruppe He 111s were lost on this date, but only one from II Gruppe.

Mason - 1969 - Battle Over Britain - p. 128
Il./KG 53 - Heinkel He 111H-2 - Combat Mission - Shot down by Spitfires of Malan, Mould and Stevenson of 74 Sqn., into sea off Margate. 100% damage. Three crew killed and two missing

Ramsey/Cornwell - 1980 - BoB Then and Now - p. 539
ll/KG53 - Heinkel He 111H-2 - Shot down by Pilot Officer Bickerdyke of No. 85 Squadron in action over convoy ten miles east of Aldeburgh 8.40 a.m. Crashed in North Sea. Three NCOs killed. two missing. Aircraft lost.

Cull - 2017 – Battle for the Channel - p. 70
4./KG53 - He111 - FTR: Uffz Rudolf Franke (pilot), Uffz Albert Dombrowski, Fw Paul Krink, Fw Georg Freitag, Gfr Wilhelm Ledl (all killed); victim of 603 Sqn.

Balss - 2018 - Luftwaffe Losses & Claims - Vol. 3 p. 150
4./KG 53 - OP - Kanal
Take off Lille-Nord - North sea, 10 mi southeast of Aldeburgh - Shot down by enemy fighter (85.Sq.) 8:40 am
He 111 H-2 - 100% damage
P Uffz. Rudolf Franke KIA, B Fw. Georg Freitag KIA, Bf Uffz. Albert Dombrowski KIA, Bm Fw. Paul Krink MIA, Bs Gefr. Wilhelm Ledl MIA

In the BBCA Parry describes the downing of an He 111 by 74 Squadron in the "Other Incidents" section for this date but does not identify the Heinkel's unit.

I have made an analysis of this particular combat, which is too long to add to the forum, but if you PM me with your email address I will send you what I have.

Peter

[Black6]

thank you