Seeking info on crash of He111P-2 WNr2437 in the Antwerp area probably in mid-May 1940

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

A new photo has surfaced of the badly smashed tail (no rear fuselage) of an He111P-1 or P-2, most likely W.Nr.2437, that appears to have been badly shot up by flak or fighters before it crashed during the Western Campaign. The bomber appears to have broken up at altitude and the the very end of the tail, including the fin, rudder and horizontal stabilizer broke off and fell to the ground. The rest of the wreckage, probably in very poor condition, must have fallen nearby. Hand lettered on the back of the photo is "Antwerp" Belgium. There is no useful background for identification purposes. The crew would have either had to have bailed out or would have been killed. As most of you know, LW records during the Western Campaign period do not record W.Nr. with a/c loss data. W.Nr.2437 shows no history entries, which indicates that it was probably lost prior to the beginning of the practice of entering W.Nr. with loss data, which started later in 1940.

By a process of elimination, we have found these three as the most likely candidates:

"10 May 1940: 6./KG27 Heinkel He111P-2. Shot down by S/Lt Goumy, Sgt Lagrange of GC 6/1, and P/O Dini of No.607 Squadron, during sortie to attack rail targets around Ghent, and crashed 2 km north-west of Munkzwalm (Belgium) 5.50 p.m. FF Uffz Heinz Zimmermann, HB Uffz. Günther Wackerhagen, BM Uffz Horst Börnicke, and BF Uffz Felix Beinhoff all killed. Aircraft 1G+GP 100% write-off."

"11 May 1940: 2./KG27 Heinkel He111P-2. Shot down near Tienen (Belgium) during sortie to Antwerp and possibly one of those attacked by Sgt Allard and S/L Oliver of No. 85 Squadron near Maastricht p.m. FF Fw Franz Ratzing and BM Fw Wilhelm Föcking both captured wounded, BO Fw Werner Efselmann and BF Uffz Jonny Schulz both captured unhurt – all later released. Aircraft 1G+HK 100% write-off."

Note: did this crew possibly bail out?

"13 May 1940: Stab II./KG4 Heinkel He111P-2. Attacked by Adj Hôtellier, Lt Weiss, and Sgt Joire of GC I/4 between Wuestwezel and St Leonhard during sortie to bomb troop concentrations at Ghent. Also hit by AA fire and crashed at ‘Nollekens’, north-east of Brecht (Belgium), 6.30 p.m. BO Oberlt Erwin Schacht (Gruppennavigationsoffizier) killed, BM Hauptgefr Walter Peil, and BF Gefr Rudolf Winkelmann (both of 6 Staffel) also killed, FF Oberlt Erich von Werthern (Gruppenadjutant) believed baled out and captured wounded. Aircraft 100% write-off."

Does anyone have other possible photos or info about the loss of W.Nr.2437, or any of these three a/c above, which might help determine the correct identity of this aircraft? I know that this is a long shot, but we've solved tougher mysteries that this before.