Whitburn | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane was shot down by gunfire from HMS Southsea and crashed into the sea off Whitburn. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Paul Thallmaier, pilot,
Uffz Henry Maisbaum, observer,
Fw Albert Leise, wireless operator,
Uffz Paul Hippenstiel, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-3 off Whitburn

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1940 at 1152 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

1H+ER

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Stavanger - Stavanger

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Stavanger on a bombing mission over Sunderland. After dumping its bombs, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Spitfire. The crew ditched the aircraft offshore. While the aircraft sank and was lost, all four crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew (7. Staffel III/KG 26):
Uffz Otto Denner, pilot,
Fw Willi Haertel, observer,
Uffz Gustav Karkos, mechanic,
Uffz Fritz Feinekat, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.