I have a copy of a pilots account of shooting down a Heinkel 111 at Westerhope in Newcastle and it has the aircrafts recognition No as 5F + ./KG4 The plus sign is supposed to be the German cross Further on in the account it is given as 5F + IH and I also have it as Henkel 111 5F + IH of 1./KG4 Can someone explain
5F+ = Part of the aircrafts ID down the fuselage. /KG4 is part of the Unit. Was it shot down over France or the UK? If so do you have a date?
This is the only one that nearly matches. 1/KG4 Heinekel He 111H-5 (3520) Shot down by night fighter during an attack on Greenock and crashed at Whorlton Park, near Newcastle 3.00am. Obergefr. W Koch killed. Hptmn. E Eichler, Fw F Olssen and Gefr. H Schiedlinski captured. Aircraft 5J+1H Destroyed. ATB-The Blitz Vol.2
Quote......A Heinkel He 111H damaged by a night fighter in an attack on Greenock, eventually crashed at Whorlton Park near Newcastle at 03.00. Three of the crew were captured and one was killed, and according to the book 'Front Line' another bomber fell into the sea at Druridge Bay, from which there were no survivors. NE Diary 1939-45; Incidents 28th April 1941 to 7th/8th May 1941
At 3am on the morning of 6th May 1941a Heinkel 111 (5F + 1H) crash landed after an encounter with a Defiant Nightfighter, T4943 of 141 Squadron, on Coley Hill North Walbottle. Fighter Command claims for the following two nights The night of 5-6 May 1941. 141 Squadron. P/O. A D. Meredith He111 destroyed. Cresswell. 0035 hrs P/O. A D. Meredith He111 destroyed. Largs. 0035 hrs F/L. D F. Wilson He111 damaged. Glasgow. The night of 6-7 May 1941 141 Squadron. F/L. D F. Wilson He111 destroyed. Glasgow. 0110 hrs F/L. D F. Wilson He111 destroyed. Glasgow. 0142 hrs
Copy of a transcription containing the account of Sgt G.L. Lawrences shooting down of Heinkel 111 5F + 1H http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af6/peterhastie/d.jpg http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af6/peterhastie/e.jpg
This is all very interesting, My Dad was somewhere near Newcastle in the early months of WW2. He told me about a crashed Heinkel 111 and that he had the downed aircraft's Makers plate...... He gave it to me. It reads ..... Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke Rostok TYp- 111H W.NR. 3520 Abnahmedatum 26.7.40 I believe this is the name plate from the very aircraft which was crewed by W. Koch, E. Eichler, F. Olssen, and H. Schiedlinski....... downed by a Defiant from 141 Sqdn (Prestwick}.
Spanollie, Hello and welcome to the Forum. You appear to have an exact match with the Works number. Regards Tom
And I reckon this is the crew of the Defiant... London Gazette 6 June 1941 p3228 Distinguished Flying Cross..... Flying Officer Robert Lionel Frank DAY (41263) Ni 141 Squadron Pilot Officer Francis Charles Anthony LANNING (79580) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve No 141 Squadron. In May 1941, Flying Officer Day and Pilot Officer Lanning were the pilot and air gunner respectively of an aircraft engaged in night fighting operations. Observing an enemy aircraft at about 1,000 feet below him, Flying Officer Day skilfully closed in to attack and enabled Pilot Officer Lanning to shoot down the raider. The same night, on further patrol, these officers destroyed another enemy aircraft. Flying Officer Day and Pilot Officer Lanning have carried out many hight operational flights and both have displayed great courage and devotion to duty. The speed with which it appears seems a little too eager to show the public that enemy aircraft WERE being shot down. Sadly, there is also this.. DAY, ROBERT LIONEL FRANK. Rank: Flight Lieutenant. Trade: Pilot. Service No: 41263. Date of Death: 18/06/1944. Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force. 132 Sqdn. Awards: D F C. Grave Reference: Cemetery: CONNELLES CHURCHYARD (The only CWGC burial here, I wonder if the local populace care for his grave as one off their own?). Lanning seems to have survived, no CWGC match nor a PoW record. EDIT: A little more from Googling.. http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/10177.php 18/6/44: In the afternoon 6 aircraft of 132 sqdn. flew a sweep in the Fecamp-Evreux area, and running into 6 FW 190's flying north on the deck in the Evreux area. A combat ensued during which 1 FW 190 was damaged and shared by S/L Page DFC and F/O Collings (N.Z.). F/Lt Day was hit by flak. He was last heard to say over the R/T that his rudder was hit but his ailerons were O.K. He was at 5,500 ft. at the time and there is every possibility that he was able to bale out. This report is from "Those other Eagles" by Christopher Shores, published by Grub Street (ISBN 1-904010-88-1) ‘Bingo’ Day was from Herne Bay, Kent, and attended Belvedere School and King’s College, Canterbury. He received a short service commission in August 1938, and on completion of his training was posted to 111 Squadron on 31 August 1939. Three days later he moved to 54 Squadron, and then after another 3 days to 604 Squadron. He returned to 111 Squadron at the end of September, but was then posted to the 11 Group pool for operational training. On 5 December he joined 141 Squadron to fly Defiants. When his unit converted to Beaufighters, he was posted to 410 Squadron, RCAF, which was still operating Defiants. He and 79580 Plt Off Francis Charles Anthony Lanning, his air gunner, were awarded DFCs, gazetted on 6 June 1941, having flown twice during the night of 6/7 May, shooting down a bomber on each occasion. Subsequently Day flew a second tour as a Spitfire pilot with 132 Squadron, but on 18 June 1944, by which time he had become a Flt Lt. his Spitfire IX, ML120 FF-P, was shot down by Flak whilst he was chasing a FW 190 near Evreux, and he was killed. He was buried in Connelles Churchyard, France. He seems to have been very active the following night, too, so DFC's well deserved. 7 May 1941: Heinkel 111 (a) flying Defiant N1796 (141 Squadron) nr Ashington; Junkers 88 (b) flying Defiant N1796 (141 Squadron) in the Glasgow area. (a) Heinkel 111H-5 WNr 3550 A1+CK of 2/KG53: Uffz Karl Rassloff eventually crash-landed in the grounds of St. George’s Memorial Hospital, Morpeth: crew PoW (b) Junkers 88A-5, WNr 7177, 4D+EN of 5/KG30, forced landed on Holy Island, Northumberland; Uffz Hans Schaber’s crew set fire to the aircraft and all became PoWs.
I guessed so, Tom, and was amazed about the amount of information I have been able to access through this site. Thank you for your comment too. I would put a photo of the nameplate 'on screen' for interested parties to see but I'm not sure how to do it. Kindest regards to you.
If you click on FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) you will see a tutorial on posting photographs. It is always difficult negotiating or navigating your way around a new site, but good luck with posting a photograph. Any Problems send me a PM (Private message) and I will try and talk you through the process. Regards Tom
