Recon. Losses July 1940

[Brian Bines]

I would appreciate any help with the loss/crew details of the following :- Ju88 of 4(F)/122 on 13-7-1940, Do17P of 1(F)/120 on 20-7-40 and a Ju88 of 4(F)/122 on 23-7-40,

Thanks

Brian Bines

[Peter Cornwell]

Brian,

Your first query was reported in the Ob.d.L.Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt.Nr.3520/40 g.Kdos.(IC) returns for 20 July 1940 (issued 22 July) back-dated to 13 July. However, I believe that it was indeed lost on 20 July as confirmed by both the Namentlicheverlustmeldung and A.I.1.(k) Report No.193/1940 as follows:

20 July 1940: 4.(F)/122 Junkers Ju88A-1 (231). Shot down by Blue Section of No.56 Squadron (F/L E.J. Gracie, F/O P.S. Weaver, and P/O A.G. Page) during photo-reconnaissance sortie. Belly-landed in flames and burned out at Cockett Wick Farm, St Osyth, 5.50 a.m. BO Oberfw Hans-Eberhard Prölss, FF Uffz Theodor Hermsen and BF Obergefr Walter Plock all captured unhurt, BS Flgr Rüdiger von Hase captured badly wounded. Aircraft F6+BM 100% write-off.
Rüdiger Georg Walter Felix von Hase was among a number of badly wounded prisoners repatriated to Germany via the International Red Cross in 1943. He later joined the Volksturm and died in Berlin on April 24, 1945.

20 July 1940: 1.(F)/120 Dornier Do17P-1. Shot down by Blue Section of No.603 Squadron (F/L W. Cunningham, F/O R.McG. Waterston, P/O B.G. Stapleton) during reconnaissance sortie and crashed in the sea 30 miles east of Aberdeen 12.05 p.m. FF Lt Hubert Heuer BO Fw Walter Hinz, and BF Uffz Gerhard Bergmann all missing. Aircraft A6+HH 100% write-off.

Your third query was reported in the Ob.d.L.Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt.Nr.3590/40 g.Kdos.(IC) returns for 24 July 1940 (issued 26 July) and back-dated to 23 July. I have it listed next day confirmed by the Namentlicheverlustmeldung as follows:

24 July 1940: 4.(F)/122 Junkers Ju88A-1. Crashed in the Channel during reconnaissance sortie over south-east England, cause unknown. FF Uffz Heinz Motejus killed, BO Lt Martin Forster, BF Uffz Walter Eichler, and BS Flgr Hans Krautschick all missing. Aircraft 100% write-off.
The body of Heinz Motejus was later washed ashore on the Dutch coast.

[Brian Bines]

Peter,

Thank you very much for this information, much appreciated,

Regards

Brian Bines