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Unteroffizier Walter Neusüß posted missing, 29.5.1940


Fritz

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Unteroffizier Walter Neusüß posted missing, 29.5.1940

This is an original document dated 19.6.1940. It was given to me personally by Liesel Paulmann (née Gottwald, gesch. Neusüß) on 19.6.2006 - 66 years after it was written.
The document is addressed to Liesel Neusüß, sent by Luftgaupostamt Hamburg I,
Dienststelle der Luftpostnr. L 26 700. It is signed by a Leutnant and commander of the "remainder" - name Abenhausen


The addressee was at Hamburg 43, Tarnowitzer Weg 10
Liesel Neusüß was living there at the time with her parents, Alfred and Martha Gottwald. The house was later bombed out in 1943. Most personal possessions were lost. Later, Liesel was safely living in Langenlebarn, (Luftkriegsschule 7) in the Fliegersiedlung.
Hamburg 43 no longer exists, it is now 22049 Hamburg (Dulsberg).
The text:

Dienststelle der Feldpostnummer Den 19.6.1940
L 26 700
Luftgaupostamt Hamburg I

An
Frau Neusüß
Hamburg 43
Tarnowitzerweg 10

Durch Mitteilung des RLM (Reichsluftfahrtministerium), erfährt die Staffel, dass Ihr Mann in Schweden interniert ist. Weitere Angaben können im Moment nicht gemacht werden, da der Aufenthaltsort nicht bekannt ist.

Heil H i t l e r !
Abenhausen
Leutnant und Restkommandoführer

Translated:
Through information of the RLM (Reichs Air Ministry), the Wing has learned that your husband has been interned in Sweden. Further details can not be made at the moment, as his whereabouts is not known.
HH etc.
Abenhausen

A nice old document from the family, about the only thing left from the old days, unfortunately has been punched at some time, but otherwise in good condition. Further photos are from an old period magazine from around early 1940, unfortunately cover and some pages missing, but the central article is about The raids over the North of England, Scotland, incl. Scapa Flow and Firth of Forth. It is known that these raids took place between mid October 1939 and January-February 1940, possibly also March. It is not metioned which squadron took part, and no personal names, but the family recognised Walter Neusüß and therefore this magazine was part preserved for so many years. It is probably the magazine Die Wehrmacht, but not certain.
The next photo shows three airmen in front of their Heinkel He-111, taking a sip of tea from their thermos flasks. The man in the middle is Unteroffizier Walter Neusüß. Note the heavy flying gear and the thick dark flight overalls (Winter period). The other two men are unknown, but later W.N. flew with
Oblt. Egon schmidt (Pilot),
Fw.Walter Lippe
Uffz. Herbert Ranscht (+)
The flight from, presumably Lübeck-Blankensee to Firth of Forth and Scapa Flow, was a very long and hazardous flight, undertaken partly in darkness. The reconnaissance aircraft which preceeeded them, disappeared and was never heard from since. There must have been a great feeling of fear and tension throughout. No wonder Walter Neusüß flew for the last time at the end of 1941, and had ground duties the following year. The third photo shows the crew on the way to their aircraft, the man in the middle, is again, Walter Neusüß..
(orig. photos by Bernd Lohse of R.L.M.)
N.B.: Uffz. Neusüß went missing after his aircraft was attacked by a Hurricane whilst flying near Rombakken Fjord, near Narvik. The crippled aircraft made a forced landing near Beisfjord, 30 km from Narvik. Herbert Ranscht died in aerial combat. The aircraft was set ablaze. The remaining crew were briefly captured by French troops, but managed to escape and crossed the Swedish border, where several days later in Sjangeli, they were taken into internment, probably held at Kiruna, until returning on 12th July 1940. Walter Neusüß was sent straight to Kampfgeschwader Gen. Wever No.4

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Signature: Abenhausen

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Walter Neusüß (centre)

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Walter Neusüß (centre)

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Some further photos from the article about Walter Neusüß

- The He 111 ready to start on the runway. The squadron emblem can be clearly seen behind the cockpit Löwengeschwader KG 26

-The flight of He111s from KG 26 flying low over the waves

-Targets at Firth of Forth Bridge or Scapa Flow?

-In the cockpit: The board mechanic congratulates the pilot on his success

These are the original picture captions, copied from the magazine article:

Bildtexte (numbering refers to original pages of magazine)

3

Der Flug vom Heimathorst zum Absprunghafen liegt bereits hinter unseren Fliegern. Der Einsatzbefehl ist da, noch ein Blick auf die Karte, dann kann es losgehen – gegen England

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In dicke Pelzkombinationen sind unsere Flieger gehüllt, denn in dem herbstlichen Wetter und in den großen Höhen, die wenigstens zeitweise erreicht werden müssen, herrscht eine erhebliche Kälte

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Unmittelbar vor dem Start! Das Bodenpersonal hilft dem dick vermummten Flugzeugführer in die Anschnallgurte des Führersitzes, während die Besatzungsmitglieder – der Beobachter, der zugleich Bombenschütze ist, der Bordwart und der Funker – noch schnell aus ihren charakteristischen Thermosflaschen ihren Tee probieren

4

Jede Flugzeugbesatzung ist zu einer unlöslichen Bordgemeinschaft zusammengeschweißt. Auf unserm Bild berichtet der Bordwart jubelnd dem Flugzeugführer einen erfolgreichen Bombenabwurf

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Eine Dockanlage im Firth of Forth, von einem deutschen Flugzeug aus photographiert. Der weiße Pfeil zeigt auf ein Kriegsschiff im Dock, aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach die in der Nordsee von deutschen Kampfflugzeugen bombardierte „Hood“

5

Tief unter unseren Fliegern eine Gruppe von Frachtdampfern, die zu einem Konvoi zusammengestellt der aber von den Engländern auf Konterbande untersucht werden. Der Zerstörer (links oben) versucht, sich durch schnellste Fahrt – daher die weisse Schaumlinie – einem Angriff der deutschen Flieger zu entziehen.

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Der Angriff auf den Firth of Forth. Die berühmte Brücke ist deutlich sichtbar. Die dunklen Flecke auf dem Wasser rühren vom Bombenwürfen her. Der Pfeil weist auf eine offensichtlich von einem Bombentreffer herrührende Rauchentwicklung auf einem englischen Kriegsschiff hin

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Aufnahmen für „Die Wehrmacht“ von Bernd Lohse R.L.M. (3)

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Deutlich ist hinter der Bugkanzel das Wahrzeichen der Kampffliegergruppe zu erkennen: Der Löwe mit den Worten „Vestigium leonis“ – die Spur des Löwen. Das Zeichen wurde der Gruppe von Generalmajor von Richthofen, dem letzten Kommandeur der Legion Condor, verliehen

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Zu neuen Taten bereit! Am nächsten Tage schon startet die Staffel in vorbildlicher Ordnung zu einem neuen Einsatz

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Interesting story,

 

Looks like he was part of 3.Staffel KG.26 who conducted anti-shipping missions against Britains East Coast area with some

success

3.Staffel sank 5 small vessels near the Firth of Forth on 7th December 1939, and on 16th March 1940 attacked Scapa Flow

damaging the Cruiser HMS Norfolk and one other ship.

3.Staffel began operations over Norway on 9th April 1940 and remained until the end of the campaign in ground and maritime

operations, they would have been based at or near Trondhiem-Vaernes.

Incomplete loss records show that KG.26 lost at least 40 aircraft from 9th April - 9th June 1940.

 

The 1st German aircraft shot down over British soil in WW2 on the 28th October 1939 was a HE 111H bomber 1H+JA from

KG.26, which crash landed near the small Hamlet of Humbie near the town of Dalkeith in East Lothian Scotland.post-3823-0-18280000-1458823369_thumb.jpg

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"While carrying out a lone reconnaissance mission over the Firth of Clyde on the 28th October 1939, Heinkel He 111 H-2,  1H+JA of Kampfgeschwader 26 "Löwengeschwader" was intercepted by Supermarine Spitfires of 602 (City of Glasgow) and 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadrons. Pilot Unteroffizier Kurt Lehmkuhl attempted evasive maneuvers but the aircraft was riddled with 0.303" machinegun fire from the Spitfires which killed the two gunners in the rear, Cpl Bruno Reimann and Sgt Gottlieb Kowalke. Reimann was only 19 years old.

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With his aircraft defenseless and having been wounded in the back, Lehmkuhl brought his aircraft down at Newton Farm, Humbie, around 15 miles south of Edinburgh. This made it the first German aircraft to be brought down on British soil during the Second World War. The kill was credited to Archibald Ashmore McKellar who would go on to claim a total of 21 enemy aircraft until he was shot down by Hauptmann Wolfgang Lippert of II./Jagdgeschwader 27 just over a year later on 1st November 1940.

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Lehmkuhl and his navigator Lt Rolf Niehoff who was injured in the crash landing survived to be captured and spent the rest of the conflict as Prisoners of War"

 

Thanks for reply. Most of info already known. I last spoke to him on 5. April 2009,
As far as I know, he was with 2./KG26 - he mentioned, his aircraft was 1H+GK - that I saw in a photo taken in 1939 in Blankensee. But I learned later, that this aircraft was lost in February over the North Sea, with a different crew, all lost. He did not mention Vaernes, only Stavanger, but was only in Norway till 29.5.40. After returning from Sweden, 12.6.1940, he was posted rightaway to KG4. The rest I had to research myself. He did mention being on Rhodos and missions to Red Sea, Alexandria, etc. After April 1942, ground duties only at Luftkriegsschule 7 in Langenlebarn. More details of the Narvik episode can be seen under flyvrak - German aircraft lost. This site is directly in Norway, and the proprietor has seen and photoed many crash wrecks, incl. this particular machine in Beisfjord, which is still there today! One engine has been removed and overhauled and has been built into a reconstructed He111 for a museum, I think, in Sweden. Herbert Ranscht was not recovered from the wreck until nearly two years later and buried in the German War Cemetery in Rombakken Fjord.

https://tihlde.org/~ktsorens/flyvrak/tverrdalen.html

see also:

http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2010/uichteritz_wk1u2_sa.htm

http://www.uichteritz.de/uichteritz/feierordnung.htm

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Kampfgeschwader 30 also took part in the actions at Firth of Forth and Scapa Flow

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Hi Fritz, yes a useful site most interesting.

 

Yes he would have been at Stravanger-Sola from 16th April - 29th April, then moved to Vaernes from 29th April - end July 1940.

 

His aircraft 1H+GK was shot down by Hurricane's of 43 Squadron flying from Acklington, it crashed into the sea 15 miles east

of Tynemouth at 11-15 on 3rd Feb 1940. Three crewmen were captured and two killed, the body of one was recovered from the

sea later and was buried at Grimsby. The aircraft was flown by Offw Fritz Wiemer, this was one of three shot down that day one

crashed in the sea off Amble higher up the coast and the other crashed on land near Whitby.

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Walter Neusüß was only at Vaernes till 29th May 1940, when shot down near Beisfjord. He managed to shoot down the Hurricane that attacked them. The Huricane pilot baled out and was picked out of the sea by a British aircraft carrier, but later died in a midair collision in December of that year. The info about 1H+GK I found elsewhere in internet. It is lucky that Neusüß and his crew were not in that machine at the time. He never mentioned any other machine that he flew in. Unfortunately, I seldom got the chance of talking to him. When he was posted to KG 4, it must have been stationed at the time at either Eindhoven or Soesterberg. He must have been with either the 5th or 6th Staffel, as he did mention being on Rhodos (Summer 1941). Later that Summer he was in a Lazarett in Rumania, there is one photo thereof with inscription, and a small souvenir leather purse “Rhodi” with maltese cross design, later in possession of his daughter, photos of which are now added.

He did mention being twice wounded, once in the knee and once on the left hand, which is recorded on several photos. Apart from a selection of photographs, little remains. I assume, anything else would be in the hands of his “other familie”, i.e., after divorce in postwar years, he later remarried. This later familie has proved very uncooperative and want no contact to his original grandchildren., for whatever reason, probably due to any inheritance. Most unfortunate. Even wth the grandchildren, any mention of the grandfather is tabu, as is also war or the Third Reich. Times have changed. This practice is very widespread over here. (political correctness or whatever).
The airmen buried in Grimsby were probably later transferred to the German war cemetery at Cannock Chase, which is where most ended up.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Further to your post about fate of Heinkel 1H+GK being lost over the North Sea on 3rd February 1940,

Following crew is listed in the squadron's losses for that date in the book by Rudi Schmidt in "Achtung - Torpedos los! Der strategische und operative Einsatz des Kampfgeschwaders 26"

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Ofw. Fritz Wiemer   Flugzeugführer/Pilot)

Fw. Franz Schnee   Beobachter/Observer

Uffz. Alfred Dittrich   Bordfunker/Radio Operator

Uffz. Willi Wolf (+)   Bordmechaniker/Board Technician

 

The first three are listed as v,g = vermisst/Gefangenschaft, missing / prisoner of war. The board technician always seemed to have the most dangerous role.

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  • 1 month later...

„...Denn wir fliegen,

denn wir fliegen gegen Engelland!“

 

Fünf Uhr morgens im Heimathafen einer Kampfliegergruppe.

Es fängt gerade an, hell zu werden.

Wie Wattebäusche hängen an den waldigen Rändern des Horstes noch dicke Nebelfetzen. Verdammt, ist das eine Kälte! Kaum kriegt man die steifen Knochen in die Kombination, Flugzeugführer, Beobachter, Bordwarte und Funker gehen in die Kniebeuge und stampfen auf die Erde vor ihren warmlaufenden Maschinen, um die Gelenke einigermaßen geschmeidig zu bekommen.

Bloß das Blut ist warm, und die Herzen sind heiß..., denn wir fliegen, denn wir fliegen gegen Engelland!

Zeichen zum Start!

Motore und Propeller dröhnen auf, unter rasendem Luftzug beugt sich das Gras des Flugplatzes, zum Furioso steigert sich das Tempo der kriegerischen Symphonie – die erste Kette hebt sich in die Luft, die zweite, die dritte...

 

Im Befehlsgebäude des Absprunghafens beugen sich die Staffelkapitäne über die Karten.

Meldung des Aufklärers:

„Planquadrat ryz feindlicher Verband gesichtet! Drei Kreuzer, zwei Schlachtschiffe, bleibe in Fühlung mit dem Feind.“

Entfernung, Flugstunden, Flugroute werden berechnet.

„Noch etwas unklar, meine Herren?“

Nein, es ist alles klar. Der feindliche Verband, um soundsoviel Uhr im Planquadrat ryz gesichtet, ist anzugreifen...

Hoffentlich behält der Aufklärer in den nächsten Stunden Fühlung mit dem Feind, hoffentlich reißt die Verbindung zwischen ihm und uns nicht ab. Denn: Planquadrat ryz ist zwar eine sehr präzise Zielangabe, aber schließlich hat der Feind drei, vier Stunden Vorsprung, und wenn Wolken, Nebel und wer weiß was dazwischen kommen – so ganz einfach ist es schließlich nicht, in der weiten Nordsee einen schwimmenden Verband zu finden.

Unsere Aufklärer werden tun, was sie können. Darauf kann man sich verlassen. Da sitzen sie dem Feind auf der Pelle und lassen sich von feindlicher Flak und feindlichen Bordflugzeugen so wenig vertreiben, wie man mit der Fliegenklappe eine Mücke los wird. Nur wenn ein feindlicher Flugzeugträger in der Nähe ist, wird die Geschichte brenzlich für unsere Aufklärer – den einsamen, aufopferungsbereiten Spähtrupp und Gefechtsvorposten unserer Luftwaffe!

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Auf dem Flugplatz des Absprunghafens arbeitet das Bodenpersonal, daß ihm trotz der herbstlichen Kühle der Schweiß über die Stirnen fließt. Tanken, Bomben laden, letzte Inspektion...

Rot leuchtet an den Flanken der angriffsbereiten „Bomber“ das Wahrzeichen der Staffel: der Löwe und über ihm die Worte „Vestigium leonis“ – die Spur des Löwen -, Zeichen und Wahlspruch, die Heinrich der Löwe auf den Spuren seiner Feldzüge gegen die polnischen Eindringlinge hinterließ. Generalmajor von Richthofen, der Spanienkämpfer und letzte Befehlshaber der Legion Condor, hatte dieses Feldzeichen der Gruppe verliehen. Heute hat es eine ganz besondere aktuelle Bedeutung.

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In majestätischem Auftakt beginnen wieder Motore und Propeller ihre dröhnende Melodie.

Die Maschinen starten, starten gegen Englands „unüberwindliche Waffe“.

Der Himmel hat sich bedeckt. Bis auf vierhundert Meter, zieht sich die Wolkendecke herunter; sie ist dicht und geschlossen wie ein Teppich.

Erst zielwärts lichtet sie sich ein wenig; hin und wieder zeigt der Himmel sein Antlitz.

Die Funker der einzelnen Maschinen lauschen in ihre Kopfhörer, als ob nichts sonst auf der Welt für sie existierte: Monoton wie das Pausenzeichen des Rundfunks oder das Ticken der Uhr lässt sich das Peilzeichen des Aufklärers, der am Feind klebt, vernehmen. Ab und zu eine Meldung aus der Heimat, eine eigene Meldung an den Verband, an den Absprunghafen, an die Verbände, die vielleicht folgen...

Und sonst gespannte Erwartung. Die Besatzungsmitglieder sind untereinander mit Telephon und Kehlkopfmikrophonen verbunden, und jeder hört, was jeder andere tut, sagt, flüstert, spricht. Da summt einer eine Melodie vor sich hin, und wenn der Text auch alt ist, sie ist neu und steckt heute allen in den Knochen:

„...denn wir fahren, denn wir fahren gegen Engelland!“

5

Nach 75 Minuten wird der feindliche Verband gesichtet.

Unsere Kampfflieger, denen sich vier Stuka angeschlossen haben, fliegen immer noch unter der Wolkendecke. Bis auf drei Seemeilen pirschen sie sich an den Gegner heran, um das Wild, das sie jagen wollen, in Ruhe auszumachen.

Es sind zwei Schlachtkreuzer, und einer von ihnen muß Englands Stolz, die „Hood“ sein, und eine paar leichte Kreuzer und Zerstörer als Bedeckung.

Jetzt hat der Feind die Deutschen erkannt. Der ganze Verband löst sich auf; im Zickzackkurs versucht jede Einheit sich vor dem drohenden Angriff zu retten. Eine leuchtende weiße, bizarre Spur zeichnet jedes Schiff auf die schwarzgraue Fläche des Meeres.

Die Wolkendecke ist aufgerissen. Die deutschen Flugzeuge steigen, um sich über die Wolken die beste Angriffsposition zu suchen; die Stukas gehen auf 4000 Meter Höhe.

Das aufregende Katz- und Mausspiel beginnt: Der Gegner versucht verzweifelt, einen Wolkenfetzen zwischen sich und die deutschen Kampfflieger zu bringen, und er ist nicht ungeschickt: Unsere Maschinen müssen eine ganze Weile herumkrebsen, bis sie die beste Angriffsmöglichkeit haben; der erste Anflug ist umsonst, aber der zweite sitzt, und es ist kein Zweifel, dass die „Hood“ schwer getroffen ist.

„Verdammte Schweinerei!“

Der Beobachter und Bombenschütze, der lang ausgestreckt in der Bugkanzel vor dem Zielgerät liegt, sieht sich um.

„Was ist denn los?“

Was los ist? Das Peinliche, was einem bei einem Angriff passieren kann: Die Bomben gehen nicht los!

Da muß sich irgendetwas verklemmt haben – die Dinger sitzen fest wie angeschraubt.

Hm! Der Flugzeugführer, der vom Bombenabwurfgerät etwas versteht, schnallt sich los und übergibt –

 

(Fortsetzung auf Seite 10)

 

mitten im Angriff – den Knüppel dem Beobachter.

Dann läßt er sich den Bordwart kommen.

Und nun fingern beide an den Klinken und Hebeln herum, Verdammte Sauerei! Nichts zu machen! Wenn der Flugzeugführer wüsste, dass hier irgendjemand was verpatzt hat und wenn er diesen Irgendjemand in diesem Augenblick vor sich hätte...Na, schweigen wir.

Die Bomben jedenfalls belieben sich erst auf den Feind zu stürzen, wenn man etwas mit der Hand nachhilft.

Und nun begibt sich etwas , das an die allerersten und primitivsten Anfänge der Kampffliegerei erinnert:

Der Bombenschütze macht sein Ziel aus, hebt den Arm, und hinten fingert einer am Abwurfgerät herum, bis die Bombe fällt.

Das kann man immer nur bei einer Bombe machen, und da der Kommandant nicht daran denkt, Schluß zu machen, bevor er seine letzte Bombe los geworden ist, zieht sich die Sache in die Länge...

Als alle Anderen längst im Heimathafen sind und es bereits dunkel geworden ist, klippert die Maschine heil und gesund nach Hause.

Nerven...

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Glück muß der Mensch haben!

Seit geraumer Zeit folgt ein deutscher Verband den Peilzeichen eines Aufklärers, der feindliche Streitkräfte in der mittleren Nordsee gemeldet hat. Plötzlich hören die Peilgeräusche auf.

Ist der Aufklärer abgedrängt? Ist seine Funkanlage gestört?

Nicht festzustellen!

Der Verband fliegt nach Norden. Immer weiter nach Norden. Längst liegt die Höhe des nördlichsten Schottlands hinter den deutschen Fliegern. Die Wolkendecke ist dicht wie ein Zeltdach.

Plötzlich reißt sie auf und gibt einen schmalen Streifen frei, ein Band von etwa 50 Kilometer Breite zwischen dem norwegischen Festland und der See, und haarscharf am Rand dieser geplatzten Wolkendecke machen die Flieger einen britischen Verband aus. Wie gesagt – Schwein muß man haben.

Die Engländer haben alle Ursache, sich hier vor deutschen Fliegern sicher zu fühlen: sie befinden sich nördlich des 61. Breitengrades; wie zum Teufel, sollen deutsche Flieger bis hierher kommen können?

Aber sie sind nun einmal da, und leugnen kann das später höchstens Mister Churchill, aber nicht die britischen Seeleute, die sich erst einmal ihrer Haut zu wehren haben – Das Abwehrfeuer der Engländer liegt gut. Die Deutschen greifen in Ketten an, und jede Kette ist über zweitausend Meter gestaffelt; das niedrigste Flugzeug fliegt in 3500, das höchste in 5500 Meter Höhe. Ein schwieriges Ziel für die feindliche Flak, die eigentlich nur noch Sperre schießen kann.

Aber dennoch müssen unsere Flieger wahre Akrobatenkünste zeigen, um durch Kurven, Abkippen und Steigen dem feindlichen Feuer zu entgehen. Daß sie sich darauf verstehen, , zeigt der Befund im Heimathafen,; ein einziger Flaktreffer, der ein Loch von Walnußgröße gerissen hat.

Ein Flugzeug macht nach dem Angriff noch einmal kehrt. Der Kommandant ist neugierig und durchaus sehen, ob er etwas getroffen hat, bevor er sich in die Wolken verkrümelt.

Es geht reichlich aufgeregt an Bord zu; jeder bemüht sich, seinen Senf dazuzugeben, bis ein energisches „Wollt ihr mal die Schnauze halten!“ die Ruhe für einen Augenblick wiederherstellt.

„Da! Da! Auf dem mittleren Kasten ein Treffer!“

Der Funker hat seine Vorlaute Schnauze geöffnet! Diesmal sogar mit Recht: Aus einem Kasten qualm es, dann scheint etwas in die Luft zu fliegen... Ohne Zweifel, ein Treffer*)!

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Firth of Forth!

Tief unter den deutschen Flugzeugen, die weltberühmte Brücke. Aber nicht sie ist das Ziel der Bomber; der Auftrag lautet auf bewaffnete Aufklärung; wir wollen wissen, welche von Majestys Pötten England dem Schutz dieses Fjords anvertraut.

Sonderbar, unten auf dem Land und auf den Schiffen stehen die Menschen und winken. Ist das Luftschutzdisziplin? (Später stellt sich heraus, dasz kein Luftschutzalarm gegeben worden war.

Die ersten deutschen Bomben sind schon gefallen –

Und nun erst hat sich der Gegner gefaßt, und seine Flak feuert wie der Teufel.

Nutzt ihm nichts, die Staffel lädt ruhig und sauber, wie auf dem Übungsplatz, ihre Bomben ab und –

Trifft. Auf dem Kasten, es ist Seiner Majestät Kreuzer „Edinburgh“, qualmt es, und wenn Mister Churchill später behaupten sollte, da habe es sich wohl gerade der Capt’n eine Zigarre angesteckt – diesmal kann man es Seiner Lordschaft schwarz auf weiß beweisen,; denn ein Beobachter hat beim zweiten Anflug kaltblütig die Kamera gezückt und die brennende „Edinburgh“ photographiert.

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Ein Riesenauftrieb unten auf dem Wasser: Frachter über Frachter kreuz und quer durcheinander.

Soll hier ein Konvoi zusammengestellt werden?

Es scheint so, denn als sich die deutschen Flieger nähern, machen die kleinen Schiffe – Zerstörer sind es – Dampf auf, spritzen auseinander und lassen leuchtend weiße Zickzackschaumlinien hinter sich.

Weiter! In Backbord taucht Schottlands Spitze auf. Immer weiter! Da oben, nordwestlich liegt das Ziel: Scapa Flow!

Und da ist sie, die riesige Bucht, deren Namen Deutschlands Kriegsflotte weltberühmt gemacht hat.

Aber heute ist sie – leer!

Priens U-Boot-Angriff muß den Englishmen gewaltig auf die Nerven gegangen sein; sie haben die Bucht, die „unangreifbare“ geräumt und ihre schweren, kostbaren Pötte woanders vor den deutschen U-Booten und Fliegern versteckt.

Nur ein paar leichte Kreuzer sind auszumachen, und dann ein einziger großer Kasten, nach Silhouette und Aufbauten das Schulschiff „Iron Duke“.

Die Maschinen steigen über die Wolkendecke, die zahlreiche Risse und Löcher aufweist; und durch diese Löcher greifen sie an.

Aber was ist das? Die Briten auf den Kreuzern und der „Iron Duke“ sperren Mund und Nase auf: Vom Himmel trudeln langsam und sachte zwanzig, dreißig, fünfzig – offene Regenschirme Grüße unserer humorvollen Flieger an Mister Chamberlain...

Dann aber wird es ernst. Die ersten Bomben liegen auf der „Iron Duke“. Hoch spritzt das Wasser auf; der von den Bomben aufgewühlte Bodenschlamm steigt als Serie schwarzer, öliger Kleckse an die Oberfläche...

Die nächsten Bomben liegen besser, und jetzt qualmt es an Deck der „Iron Duke“ – getroffen!

Die Flieger verschwinden in die Wolken – ihr Auftrag ist erfüllt. Ab dafür, Richtung Heimat!

Was ist das für ein sonderbarer Kasten da unten, dicht an der Küste? Ein Schiff mit völlig glattem Deck; keine Spur von Aufbauten, ein winziger Dampfer daneben?

Später, bei der Bildauswertung, wird sich das Rätsel lösen; Das Schiff kieloben im Wasser, es ist eines der deutschen Schlachtschiffe, die vor zwanzig Jahren in Scapa Flow freiwillig und ruhmreich untergingen und von denen die Briten ein paar gehoben haben. –

Die deutschen Flieger kümmern sich nicht um die britische Flak; das Feuer sitzt viel zu tief. Die Spannung des Angriffs hat nachgelassen. An Bord des Flugzeuges, das die letzte Kette führt, ist es still geworden; irgendjemand singt leise vor sich hin; der Flugzeugführer sieht nach der Uhr: Dann und dann wird man zu Hause sein, noch bei Licht, gottseidank – wenn nichts dazwischen kommt.

Es kommt etwas dazwischen. Über den Wolken erscheinen plötzlich vier britische Jäger, Hurricanes, und stürzen sich auf die Deutschen, die schleunigst Deckung in den Wolken suchen.

Aber die Engländer sind zäh; kaum stecken unsere Flieger aus der „Erbsensuppe“, sind auch schon die verdammten Briten wieder da, immerhin gute zweihundert Meter entfernt. Aber bei solchem Versteckspiel in den Wolken kann es leicht zu Überraschungen kommen: Dem Heckschützen des Führungsflugzeuges sitzt plötzlich eine Hurricane auf fünfzig Meter vor der Nase. Der Schütze hat gerade eine neue Trommel ins MG eingelegt; ehe der Engländer überhaupt dazukommt, sitzt ihm eine ganze Trommel in Rumpf und Trageflächen.

Die englische Maschine bäumt sich auf, taumelt, und schon sitzt eine zweite Trommel in der Breitseite, und das ist das Ende: Mit schwarzer Rauchfahne stürzt der Engländer, tödlich getroffen, in die Wolken.

Der Schütze läßt den Schaft des Gewehres sinken. Das wäre geschafft! Ein Blick auf die Uhr: Wenn wir Schwein haben, kommen wir wirklich noch bei Licht nach Hause...

Ein zweites deutsches Flugzeug hat es weniger leicht. Es ist einem Engländer gelungen, es unter die Wolken zu drücken...

Mit 54 Treffern und zerschossenem Höhenleitwerk entwischt es schließlich dem Briten – und niemand an Bord ist verwundet!

Es ist schon dunkel, als er nach mühseligem Flug im Absprunghafen landet...

 

 

Dies war wohl der Angriff vom 16. Oktober 1939

(aus einer Wehrmachtszeitung um Frühjahr 1940, als Fragment erhalten)

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Just posted - 5 pages Din A4 from the original article about KG26 raids on Firth of Forth and Scapa Flow between October 1939 and the following year, from the original periodical "DIE WEHRMACHT", probably from early 1940. Unteroffizier Neusüß and crew is featured in this article, but not mentioned by name. Photos and captions already posted, see here. Original German text, I hope most members are able to read this. Translation would be a bit elaborate at the moment! If anyone has any questions on the text, I would be pleased to answer these.

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Here we go Paul, if it's not quite right feel free to edit it :)

 

Five in the morning at the home port of Kamp Fliegergruppe.
It is just beginning to get light.
As cotton balls hanging on the forest edges of the nest still thick patches of fog. Damn, that's a cold! Hardly get to the stiff bone in the combination, pilot, observer, board room and Funker go in the squat and stomp on the ground in front of their hot running machines to get the joints reasonably smooth.
Just the blood is warm, and the hearts are hot ... because we fly because we fly against Engelland!
Mark the start!
Motors and propellers droning on, under a furious wind bends the grass of the airfield, the Furioso, the pace of martial symphony increases - the first chain rises in the air, the second, third ...

In command building bounce port the squadron commanders on the cards bend.
Message of the Enlightenment:
"Grid Square ryz hostile Association spotted! Three cruisers, two battleships, stay in touch with the enemy. "
Distance, flight hours, flight route will be calculated.
"Still somewhat unclear, gentlemen?"
No, it's all right. The enemy Association to sighted sound much o`clock Planquadrat ryz is to attack ...
Hopefully the reconnaissance reserves in the next few hours contact with the enemy, hopefully breaks the connection between him and us is not from. Because Planquadrat ryz is indeed a very precise target information, but eventually the enemy has three, four hours ahead, and if clouds, fog, and who knows what's to come in between - so easily, it is ultimately not in the wide North Sea a floating association to find.
Our spotter will do what they can. Then you can rely on. They sit the enemy on the Pelle and be scared away from enemy flak and enemy aircraft board so little how a mosquito is the Flapper going. Only if an enemy aircraft carrier near, the story gets hot for our reconnaissance - the lonely, self-sacrificing prepare patrol and combat outposts of our Air Force!
-
On the airfield the bounce port ground staff that it flows despite the autumnal chill of sweat on the foreheads works. Refueling bombs load, final inspection ...
Red lights on the flanks of the attack are preparing "Bomber" the symbol of the season: the lion and his words "Vestigium leonis" - the trace of the lion -, mark and slogan that Henry the Lion in the footsteps of his campaigns against the Polish invaders left. Major General von Richthofen, the Spanish Civil War and last commander of the Condor Legion had awarded this field mark the group. Today, it has a special current importance.
-
In majestic prelude restart engines and propellers their droning melody.
The machines start, start against England's "invincible weapon".
The sky has been covered. Up to four hundred yards, the cloud cover pulls down; it is dense and closed like a carpet.
Only goal-wards it thins out a bit; now and then the sky showing his face.
The radio operator of each machine to listen to their headphones, as if nothing else in the world for it existed: Monotonous like the pause character of broadcasting or the ticking of the clock can be the Peilzeichen the Enlightenment, the sticks to the enemy, hear. From time to time a message from the home, a separate message to the association, to bounce the port, to the associations that might follow ...
And otherwise anticipation. The crew members are interconnected by telephone and throat microphones, and everyone hears what everyone else does, says, whispering, talking. As a humming a tune to himself, and if the text is too old, it is new and puts today all in the bones:
"... As we go, because we go against England Country!"
5
After 75 minutes, the enemy is sighted Association.
Our fighters, including four Stuka have joined, are still flying under the clouds. Up to three nautical miles they stalk up to the opponent to make out the game they want to hunt in peace.
There are two battle cruisers, and one of them has to England proud to be the "Hood", and a few light cruisers and destroyers as escort.
Now the enemy has recognized the Germans. The whole association dissolves; zigzagging each unit tries to save himself from the threat of attack. A glowing white, bizarre track records each vessel on the dark gray surface of the sea.
The cloud cover is torn. The German aircraft climb in order to search through the clouds the best attack position; the Stukas go to 4000 meters altitude.
The exciting cat and mouse game begins: The opponent is desperate to bring a wisp of cloud between them and the German fighters, and he is not clumsy: Our machines have around crayfish for quite a while, until they have the best opportunity to attack; The first approach is nothing but the second sitting, and there is no doubt that the "Hood" is badly hit.
"Bloody mess!"
The observer and bombardier, who stretched out is long in the Bugkanzel before the target device, looks around.
"So what's going on?"
What is up? The embarrassing thing that can happen in an attack: The bombs failed to go off!
Because something must have stuck - the things stuck as screwed.
Hm! The pilot, who understands something of the bombing device, strapped himself away and passes -

(Continued on page 10)

the middle of the attack - the stick to the observer.
Then he can come to the board Wart.
And now both fingers around the handles and levers, damned mess! Nothing to do! If the pilot knew that anyone here has marred what and when at this moment in front of him had these Somebody ... Well, we are silent.
The bombs kipper anyway to pounce on the enemy only when nachhilft something with her hand.
And now something that is reminiscent of the very first and most primitive beginnings of military airmanship goes:
The bombardier makes his goal, raises his arm, and the back of fiddles at the discharge unit until the bomb drops.
One can always make only one bomb, and since the commander has no intention to make an end, before he became his last bomb going, the thing is dragging on ...
As all the others have long been the home port and it has already become dark, the machine Klippert safe and sound back home.
Annoy...
-
Luck must have man!
For some time, a German association follows the Peilzeichen a reconnaissance, the enemy forces reported in the central North Sea. Suddenly the Peilgeräusche listen to.
If the reconnaissance pushed? Is its radio system failure?
Can not be determined!
The association is flying to the north. Always further north. Long since the height of northern Scotland is behind the German airmen. The cloud cover is dense like a tent roof.
Suddenly she tears open and releases a narrow strip, a band of about 50 kilometers wide between the Norwegian mainland and the lake, and narrowly on the edge of bursting clouds make the Aviator a British association of. As I said - pig must have one.
The English have every reason to feel safe here before German airmen: they are located north of the 61st parallel; how the hell are German airmen far to come?
But they are now there once, and can deny the later more than Mr. Churchill, but not the British sailors who once to defend their skin - The defensive fire of the English is good. The Germans attack in chains, and a chain is staggered over two thousand meters; the lowest plane flying in 3500, the highest in 5500 meters altitude. A difficult target for the enemy flak that really only can shoot lock.
But still our flyer must show true acrobats arts to escape through curves, tipping and climbing enemy fire. That they understand it, the finding shows the home port ,; a single hit by flak, who has torn a hole of a walnut.
An airplane makes after the attack again versa. The commander is curious and quite see if he has taken a little before he crumbles into the clouds.
There is plenty excited about on board; each strives to his two cents to admit to a vigorous "Will you shut up time!" restores the peace for a moment.
"There! There! In the middle box is a hit! "
The operator has opened its cheeky snout! This time, even with law: From a box it qualm, then something seems to fly in the air ... Without a doubt, a hit *)!
-

Firth of Forth!
Deep beneath the German planes, the world-famous bridge. But it is not the goal of the bomber; the order amounts to armed reconnaissance; we want to know which entrusts to this Fjords of Majestys pots England.
Oddly, the bottom of the country and on the ships are the people and waving. If the air-raid discipline? (Later, it turns out Dazs no air raid alarm had been given.
The first German bombs have fallen -
And now only the enemy has conceived, and its anti-aircraft fire as the devil.
Utilizes him nothing, the season invites quiet and clean as on the training ground, the bombs and -
Meets. On the box, it is His Majesty's cruiser "Edinburgh", it smokes, and if Mr. Churchill should argue later, since it had probably just the Capt'n lit a cigar - this time one can prove it his lordship in black and white ,; since an observer has coolly unsheathed the camera while the second approach and burning "Edinburgh" photographed.
-
A giant lift the bottom of the water: crossing freighter freighters and across each other.
If a convoy here is compiled?
It seems so, because when approaching the German airmen, making the small ships - destroyers are - steam, splashing apart and let bright white zigzag foam lines behind.
Continue! In port appeared on Scotland's peak. Keep on As above, the northwest is the goal: Scapa Flow!
And there she is, the huge bay, whose name Germany navy has made world famous.
But today it is - empty!
Prien's submarine attack must have gone to enormous Englishmen on the nerves; they have the bay, the "unassailable" cleared and hidden their heavy, precious pots elsewhere before the German submarines and planes.
Only a few light cruisers can be discerned, and then one large box, by Silhouette and structures the training ship "Iron Duke".
The machines rise above the cloud cover, which has numerous cracks and holes; and through these holes they attack.
But what is that? The British on the cruisers and the "Iron Duke" lock on his mouth and nose From heaven slow spin and gently twenty, thirty, fifty - open umbrellas Greetings our humorous flier on Mister Chamberlain ...
But then it gets serious. The first bombs lie on the "Iron Duke". High splashing on the water; the churning of the bombs bottom sludge rises as a series of black, oily smudges on the surface ...
Upcoming bombs are better, and now it smokes on the deck of the "Iron Duke" - hit!
The flyer disappear into the clouds - have been fulfilled. As for the way home!
What kind of a strange box down there, close to the coast? A ship with a completely smooth deck; no trace of bodies, a tiny steamer next?
Later, in the image evaluation, the riddle is solved; The ship keel up in the water, it is one of the German battleships, who perished twenty years ago in Scapa Flow voluntary and glorious and all of which have a few lifted the British. -
The German pilots do not care about the British flak; the fire is sitting too deep. The voltage of the attack has subsided. On board the aircraft, leading the last chain, it has become quiet; someone singing softly to himself; the pilot looks at his watch then, and then you will be at home, even in the light, thank God - if all goes well.
It is something in between. Suddenly above the clouds appear four British fighters, Hurricanes, and pounce on the Germans who quickly seek cover in the clouds.
But the English are tough; hardly put our flyers from the "pea soup", the damned Brits are back again, after all, a good two hundred yards away. But at such a game of hide in the clouds, it can easily lead to surprises: suddenly to the snipers of the guide planes sitting on a Hurricane füngzig meters in front of the nose. The shooter has just installed a new drum into the MG; before the Englishman to come at all, a whole drum sits him in the trunk and supporting surfaces.
The English machine rears up, staggers, and already sits a second drum in the broad side, and that's the end: With black plume crashes the Englishman, fatally, in the clouds.
The shooter leaves the stem of the rifle decline. That's a wrap! A glance at the clock: When we have pig, we really come in light home ...
A second German plane has less easily. It is an Englishman managed to push it under the clouds ...
With 54 hits and zerschossenem tailplane finally escaped the British - and no one on board was wounded!
It is already dark when he lands in bounce port to laborious flight ...


This was probably the attack from the October 16, 1939
(Obtained from a Wehrmacht newspaper around the spring of 1940, as a fragment)

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Well done, Ken, a brave attempt. I feel guilty giving you so much work, I hope you didn't spend hours over a dictionary. Translation can be a thankless task. Even prof.translators say it, I have known a few in my time, also done occasional translations. I will check through text and make some suggestions. It's also a question of having to look from one text to the other, which is also nerve robbing.

I think the article makes exciting reading, not just propaganda, these were real life reports, there was always somebody on board, who wrote these articles and took the official photos - often the Kriegsberichtserstatter. Such articles are much better than any ficticious thriller novel.

Some comments:

Grid Square ryz hostile Association spotted! - Verband = unit or formation

Pelle = skin

Absprunghafen = (airfield of departure)

Schwein muß man haben = you have to be lucky

Planquadrat = a specific space on the map

Bugkanzel is the cockpit at the front end of the machine

Bordwart is the board mechanic or technician, the word Wart being similar to the old english word "Ward", a guardian or someone responsible.

herumkrebsen means simply moving around - circling (probably North German idiom)

Suddenly the Peilgeräusche listen to - Plötzlich hören die Peilgeräusche auf -

(hören....auf...) Aufhören = to cease

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No problem Paul, don't feel guilty , I could take the credit :rolleyes: but really I used

 

https://translate.google.co.uk/

 

it's a very handy tool , it's not perfect but gives a good basis which can later be edited. You should give it a try :)

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Personally, I wouldn't rely on such translation assistants such as google, the texts often don't make sense afterwards. Translators I have known for years have also said this. There are specialised words and phrases, which are no longer present in everyday language, which would not be recognised by these systems, and they are certainly not suitable for complicated or longer sentences. Only years of experience in both languages is essential. I myself, am not a translator, but have done occasional translations, and appreciate the difficulties in such issues. I may later attempt a translation when I get settled with my new computer system.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Two photos of a souvenir of Rhodos (Gr.Island of Rhodes) from Summer 1941, have now been added to above articles.

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Walter Neusüß - decorations, a reconstruction.

All decorations were taken by the Americans in 1945. This is an attempted reconstruction, according to photo material at hand.

The decoration on far right is the Bulgarian soldiers cross with swords for bravery, which he received at a later date, probably 1943/44, before Bulgaria collapsed in Summer 1944. The flight clasp shown is a bronze version, whereas he had the gold version. No uniform photo shows him wearing a wound badge, but as he was twice wounded, he would theoretically be entitled to this. He also had the Sports Badge in Bronze

 

A set of arm rank badges as worn by an Oberfeldwebel on the heavy winter flight suit. This set unissued.

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post-173-0-90802000-1466169657.jpg

image.thumb.png.5b80d0f0b35dd9b4d4b60e9c1a221335.png

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  • 2 weeks later...

Walter Neusüß' squadron, Kampfgeschwader 4 wore this cuffband, although I have not seen Walter wearing this in any of the photos.

It was probably only the original "Stammpersonal" of the squadron, who wore this, and not the "Ersatz" transferred as replacements.

This is a recent acquisition, I have had my eye on for some time, a good embroidered version for nco and other ranks.

image.thumb.png.fb6e2f432e64e9a4b1561c6bcedb379d.png

The emblem of KG 26, always on a white shield. The first Group had a black lion.
From the book by Rudi Schmidt

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Kampfgeschwader 4

KG4Unit.jpg

image.thumb.png.32d93fb5d0f9f9f83c410056ac2da28e.png

(Imperial War Museum)

Heinkel 111 Kampfgeschwader 4 shot down during stage III of the Battle of Britain over Hunsdon Herts, England, August 30, 1940
(Wiki)
July 1940:
I. Gruppe - Soesterberg
II. Gruppe - Eindhoven
III. Gruppe - Amsterdam
IV. Gruppe - Fassberg
As from mid July 1941 the entire squadron was based at Prowehren (Königsberg), after mine-laying raid around Oesel and Dagö, it took part in raids on Moscow.

grafik.thumb.png.cb268ca699e23297057e822719afc036.png

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Several new pictures now added, noted, 1.July 2016

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  • 1 year later...

Re- Shooting down of Heinkel III 1H+GK 5th member of crew was Uffz Karl-Ernst Thiede (Gunner).

The aircraft was in the vicinity of merchant shipping off the Tyne and was shot down by Sgt Frank

Carey (L1726) and Sgt Ottewell (L1849) of Yellow Section, A Flight, 43 Squadron, Acklington.

Eyewitness report by the Skipper of the Swansea trawler Harlech Castle (SA42) that rescued the grew

of Heinkel 1H+GK, skippered by Thomas Trendall states that the 5th grew member (Thiede) seemed

to be dead in the water as the trawler went alongside and his body disappeared before it could be

retrieved. However, it seems that he did not die from injuries. His comrades claimed that Thiede was

not wounded but his buoyancy aid had been punctured and thus it seems likely that he had drowned

before help arrived. Of the rest, The skipper treated their wounds as best he could, one had a broken

leg. Another looked as though he wouldn't last very long ( Wolf ) he died before they reached Grimsby,

All of them except the pilot could speak English.

Story from the book ( Broken Eagles 2 Luftwaffe Losses Over Northumberland & Durham 1939-1945 by

Author Bill Norman.

 

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As I mentioned in my post of 9.4.2016, the official losses are stated as:

Ofw. Fritz Wiemer (Pilot)

Fw. Franz Schnee (Observer)

Uffz. Alfred Dittrich (Radio Operator)

Uffz. Willi Wolf (+) (Board Technician)

That is very strange about the fifth person. Occcasionally, a fifth person would accompany the flight, this was usually either a war reporter / cameraman or someone like a Metereologe from the Reichsluftfahrtministerium. A further gunner flying with the crew sounds unusual, although Liesel Neusüß did mention that there was sometimes a fifth man on board.
Will just take another look at the losses list. In fact, you are right, I only took the first four names for each group of a day's loss, further losses for that day (03.02.1940) are:

Uffz. Karl-Ernst Thiede, verwundet
Uffz. Walter Remischke, tot
Lt. Luther v. Brüning, tot
Fw. Herbert Panzlaff, tot
Fw. Herbert Petersen, tot

All listed under I./KG 26 (I. Gruppe)
 

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  • Fritz pinned this topic

Further Info, pilot Wiemer had no choice but to ditch his aircraft as both engines were out, he had

spotted the trawler below and ditched as close as he could to it, this probably saved their lives as

the conditions at the time were a south-east gale blowing with very heavy sea and squalls of snow.

Had they not been picked up so quickly then it's likely they would have died.

Subsequent searches of the crew revealed that they were not carrying personal papers. However, one

notable exception was found in the pocket of a flying jacket. The find consisted of a Signals Table

giving details of wireless frequencies, recognition signals and call signs of the entire KG26.

In addition there were details of the call signs and radio frequencies used by aircraft of 1/(F)122, the

unit which was carrying out reconnaissance for the Heinkels.

img943.jpg

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That's very interesting. The photo depicts Wiemer still as Unteroffizier, his uniform is also of the older pattern (with scalloped pocket flaps). As to personal papers, Soldbuch and Wehrpaß would give away too much information, but they still had their Erkennungsmarken, which were vital.
Where did you discover this photo, also in the same book as mentioned before?

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Yes Paul, it's a very interesting book, there's a first book about Luftwaffe Losses over Yorkshire,

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  • 6 months later...

http://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Drummond.htm

Here is a link to the biography of F/O J.F. Drummond, the hurricane pilot, who brought down the Heinkel of Walter Neusüß. Drummond was simultaneously shot down by Walter Neusüß and was rescued by nearby HMS Firedrake, Drummond was later killed in an accident over South Eastern England in October 1940.

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Further information found under

https://themerseysidefew.com/pilots/john-fraser-drummond/46-squadron-norway/

The Norway Campaign

In May 1940, the squadron was selected to form part of the Expeditionary Force in Norway, which had been invaded by the Germans on 9 April. Their Hurricanes were embarked on HMS Glorious and arrived 40 miles off the Norwegian coast on 26 May. The Hurricanes had to take off from the deck of Glorious but as the sea was flat and calm there were doubts that they could do so. Air Ministry figures suggested a 30 knot wind was necessary. The ship’s engineers managed to get HMS Glorious up to a speed of 30 knots so enabling all 18 Hurricanes to take off successfully. 46 Squadron assembled at Bardufoss in the far north of the country [Google map] and began operations on 27 May.

Drummond saw action shortly after his arrival when, on 29 May, he took off from Bardufoss in Hurricane L1794. He sighted four enemy aircraft at 12,000 feet south of Narvik and moved into attack the nearest, a Heinkel 111. Although John hit the starboard engine he had been hit by return fire causing his cockpit to fill with smoke. He turned to go back to Bardufoss but his engine failed. He had no choice but to bale out. He landed in the near freezing waters of Ofotfjord and was picked up by HMS Firedrake, an F-Class destroyer later to take part in The Battle of the Atlantic. John Drummond had scored his first solo kill, a He111 of 2/Kampfgeschwader 26.

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I meant to post this much earler, but the link and pictures were on my old computer, the rest can be read on that internet page

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