Heinkel He.111 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane was engaged in a bombing mission over Rives, in France. While returning to its base in Germany and overflying Switzerland, it was shot down by the pilot of a Swiss fighter and crashed in a wooded area. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Nös, pilot,
Sgt Hans Kaltenbach, observer,
Pvt Otto Müller,
Cpl Emil Heimann, mechanic,
Engelbert Plötz, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Swiss fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111J into the North Sea

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1940 at 1102 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

M7+AK

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an engine failure and was ditched into the North Sea some 185 km north of Norderney. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-2 in Surjoux: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over the Rhône Valley. While cruising south of Bellegarde, the aircraft was shot down by an enemy fighter. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located in Surjoux, some 10 km south of Bellegarde. Two crew were injured, two others were unhurt and the fifth occupant was killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an enemy fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111J on Mt Jizerské: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

DD+BT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

5050

Location:

Mt Jizerské

Liberec Region (Liberecký kraj)

Country:

Czech Republic

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in bad weather conditions, the airplane impacted trees and crashed in hilly terrain in Mt Jizerské. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Paul Reuter, pilot,
Gefr Walter Sauer, radio operator,
Lt Paul Schulz, observer,
Uffz Simon Wagner, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111J in Weissbach: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

5050

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor visibility due to fog, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain near Weissbach. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Paul Reuter, pilot,
Lt Paul Schulz, observer,
Uffz Simon Wegner, mechanic,
Gefr Walter Sauer, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111P7 in Steenkerke: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1940 at 1010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

9K+??

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by the pilot of an RAF Defiant from the 264th Squadron and crashed on a farm owned by Mr. Bulcke Lodijk and located in Steenkerke. All five crew members were killed as well as six Belgian soldiers in the farm.
Crew:
Gefr Alfred Kassegger,
Gefr Paul Bartelt,
Lt Rudolf Gild,
Fw Alfred Göttlicher,
Uffz Heinz Kannewurf.

Probable cause:

Shot down by an RAF fighter.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111 into the Gooimeer: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

1T+?H

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Marx - Marx

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gooimeer. Four crew members were killed and a fifth was injured.
Crew:
Fw H. Laube, pilot, †
Lt H. Spiegel, observer, †
Uffz E. Raffler, radio operator, †
Fw F. Dreyer, mechanic,
Ogfr H. Thiele, mechanic. †

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-3 in Groede: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1940 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

L1+BH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Düsseldorf - Düsseldorf

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing after the aircraft has been hit by enemy fire. A crewman was killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
Ofw H. Kassing, pilot,
Ogfr K. Schneider, observer, †
Ogfr G. Filla, radio operator,
Gfr W. Knappe, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-4 into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

1T+?H

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Sea off the Belgian coast while on a mission to Dunkirk. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz R. Kaufmann, pilot,
Ofw A. Eke, observer,
Gfr W. Schirrmann, radio operator,
Ogfr W. Schröder, mechanic.