Junkers Ju88-A5 Werk No. 6213 F1+AD of KG 76, crashed on the Roaches on the night of the 7th / 8th May 1941.

 

Name

Rank- if applicable

Position e.g. Pilot

Status

Dietrich Heistermann Von Ziehlberg

Major

Pilot

Killed

Walter Lemke

Oberleutnant

Observer

Killed

Rudolf Schwalbe

Oberfeldweber

Radio Operator

Killed

Georg Mahl

Feldweber

Gunner

Killed

 

The aircraft, from KG 76, was one of a number of aircraft tasked with bombing Liverpool on the night of the 7th / 8th May 1941. The aircraft was being flown by the O.C. of the unit, Major D.H. Von Ziehlberg who had flown nearly 70 missions and had been awarded the Iron Cross.  The crew arrived over the target, where the weather was fine with good visibility, and dropped their bomb load before turning back for France. After turning back towards base the aircraft’s wireless operator broadcast a message to the other aircraft saying they had been hit and were on fire. Immediately after that he reported they were going to abandon the aircraft.  The crew jettisoned the lower gondola but they had lost too much height and seconds after the first man left the aircraft it ploughed into the top of a steep valley side and was completely destroyed by fire. The one man who did exit the aircraft hit the ground before he could open his parachute and was killed instantly.

 

 

In this photo you can easily see the small remains of the aircraft.

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