Heinkel III identification

[Selwyn]

I am planning to build a model of a Heinkel III shot down by a defiant over  Manchester.  the aircraft was Heinkel He111 Werk Number 2871, G1+LH of KG55  shot down on the night of the 7th / 8th May 1941. The aircraft crashed close to Hazel Grove.

Can anyone tell me what mark of Heinkel III this aircraft was?

 

Selwyn

[elger]

A Google search leads to this discussion, according to which it was a P-2. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/archive/index.php?t-24826.html

 

Others may know more...

[cdk]

Hello,

WNr2871 is a He111 P-2. Source is Manfred Griehl, Heinkel He 111, Motorbuch Verlag. The book is in german language.

Hope it helps.

Claus

[Selwyn]

Cheers! Strangely according to the elger link it was the first production P-2!

 

Selwyn

Edited June 1, 2020 by Selwyn

[G.R.Morrison]

A minor point, I have WNr.2871 “G1+LH” as a P-4 with the 1./KG 55, lost (combat with a Defiant from 256 Sq., F/L Deansley & Sgt. Scott) on a mission to Liverpool.

The crew, pilot Oblt. Adolf Knörringer, observer Ofw. Alois Kloos, radio operator Uffz. Ludwig Rathsam & flight engineer Ofw. Karl Kohlhepp survived to become prisoners.

 

The KG 55 had a long war, eventually tallying in excess of 54,000 sorties, losing 710 personnel killed, with another 747 missing.

 

Good luck with your build (the new Airfix kit, or the immense 1/32 by Revell?), GRM

[Selwyn]

41 minutes ago, G.R.Morrison said:

A minor point, I have WNr.2871 “G1+LH” as a P-4 with the 1./KG 55, lost (combat with a Defiant from 256 Sq., F/L Deansley & Sgt. Scott) on a mission to Liverpool.

The crew, pilot Oblt. Adolf Knörringer, observer Ofw. Alois Kloos, radio operator Uffz. Ludwig Rathsam & flight engineer Ofw. Karl Kohlhepp survived to become prisoners.

 

The KG 55 had a long war, eventually tallying in excess of 54,000 sorties, losing 710 personnel killed, with another 747 missing.

 

Good luck with your build (the new Airfix kit, or the immense 1/32 by Revell?), GRM

The aircraft had been taking part in a raid against the Trafford Park area of Manchester not Liverpool.  It was shot down by a Defiant of No.256 squadron which was based at Squires Gate, crewed by Fight Lieutenant Christopher Deanesley DFC,and gunner Sergeant Jack Scott DFM. The aircraft had been spotted by anti-aircraft gunners who opened fire on the aircraft, Deanesley had seen the bursting shells and headed over to investigate,  He spotted a bomber emerging from the bursting shells and pursued it. Scott held his fire until they were only 100 yards from the aircraft . The pilot of the bomber took evasive action going into a steep dive, Deanesley dived and overtook the bomber and Scott again fired at the aircraft scoring hits on both engines causing them to set on fire. At that point they broke away from the bomber and followed it. The crew began to abandon their stricken aircraft, landing in a string from Cheadle (near to the modern-day M60 motorway) to within 500 yards of the crash site. The crew of four The crew, pilot Oblt. Adolf Knörringer, observer Ofw. Alois Kloos, radio operator Uffz. Ludwig Rathsam & flight engineer Ofw. Karl Kohlhepp parachuted safely. The pilot landed near to Boundary Road in Cheadle. The Bomb aimer on a rooftop in Bramhall. The Flight Engineer landed on playing fields in Hazel Grove owned by the engine manufacturers Mirrlees. And finally the Radio Operator came down 500 yards from where the plane crashed at Springfield Farm. The airmen where all quickly captured by ARP Wardens, Firewatchers and even two Solicitors.

1/ KG 55 had a bad time that night also losing the two following aircraft:

He111 Werk Number 2908, GI+HP, crashed at Llwyn Knottia Farm, near Wrexham

He111 Werk Number 2874, GI+LL, crashed off Bagillt in the Dee Estuary

 

You might have confused GI +LH with one of these aircraft which by their crash positions may have been raiding liverpool.

 

Selwyn

Edited June 1, 2020 by Selwyn

[G.R.Morrison]

In the Luftwaffe's Gen.Qu.6.Abt. reports, a lost aircraft's intended target (or supply mission, etc.) is listed in parentheses, and while they may have been bombing a part of Manchester, their intention had been Liverpool.

 

Yes, the KG 55 had a bad night, five lost, and one damaged (20%) in a belly-landing at Fl.Pl. Villacoublay upon return.  KG 4, KG 27 and KG 53 also had losses that night (and far away in North Africa, the II/KG 26 had 'difficulties' with their intended target, the Suez Canal).

 

Fw. Walter Hottenrot's "G1+HP" was with the 6./KG 55

Lt. Heinz Dunkerbeck's "G1+LL" was with the 3./KG 55

The belly-landed machine, WNr.1709, was the only P-2 listed among KG 55's losses, and belonged to the III/KG 55.  No Kennung was recorded as this happened in 'friendly' territory.

 

This is intended to shine light, not heat, GRM

[MJC]

For what it's worth, I have researched this incident and understand it to be a P4 variant.

I'd love to find out what happened to the crew after they were apprehended.