Date: 8th October 1940
Time: 7.30 p.m.
Unit: 8 Staffel/Kampfgeschwader 55
Type: Heinkel He 111P-2
Werke/Nr. 1715
Code: G1 + MS
Location: Stanstead Park, Rowlands Castle, Hampshire.
Pilot: Feldwebel Ernst Ens 58246/237 Killed
Observer: Leutnant Ulrich Flügge 58246/212 Killed
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier Johannes Ehrensberger 58246/211 Killed
Fl/Eng: Unteroffizier Ernst Herber 58246/214 Killed
Gunner : Gefreiter Hans Pawlik 58246/271 Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was shot down by ground fire and exploded on impact with the ground killing all onboard.
Report from Ofw Fritz Pons who was flying as gunner in the G1 + LS remembers the day well:
"My C.O. Oberleutnant Jürgen Bartens said to me that as it was my birthday we would go on a raid to England to celebrate. Three aircraft were detailed for this mission, the G1 + LS, G1 + MS and G1 + BS. The gunner of the G1 + MS, Gefreiter Pawlik was a special friend of mine. I was like a father to Pawlik, who was a happy and cheerful type, who before the war had been a barrow-boy selling fruit and vegetables in a German village. On this day I remember that Pawlik was very gloomy and told me that he would rather not go on the mission. Right up until the time of the take-off he remained with me and I tried to reassure him.
Just before dusk the three machines took-off from Villacoublay and set course for England, flying very low to escape detection by radar.
On crossing the English coast we were surprised to see a Wellington aircraft taking off from an airfield directly ahead, it flew towards us and passed about 50 metres above. I recall plainly that there was nobody in the rear turret. The pilot of the Wellington had not seen our three He 111's. I asked my C.O. if I could open fire, but was told that it was not our duty on this mission and that we had something else to do. So we went on to bomb England and the British plane went out to bomb Germany.
We flew low over a town and looked down a long straight road seeing the surprised faces of people looking up at us. A short time afterwards we were fired on by some A.A. guns hidden in some trees on our left hand side. I opened fire immediatly with my twin MG15 machine guns. As soon as I opened fire the ground fire ceased. I was however, aware of an explosion on my right hand side. There was a huge mushroom cloud of smoke and fire coming from the trees below and there was only one aircraft following. My pilot, Oberfeldwebel Franz Vonier, shouted over the radio to ask me what had happened.
I replied that it must have been Ens. There could be no survivors. After the crash of Ens we went on to drop our bombs and then returned home".
Fritz Pons (via S. Hall)
Note: The body of Feldwebel Ens was the only one of the four crew that could be identified and he was laid to rest at St. Nicholas Churchyard, West Thorney.
Lt Ulrich Flügge pictured here as Feldwebel (via Hall) Uffz Ernst Herber (via Hall)
Gefr Hans Pawlik (via Hall)
Burial details:
Ernst Ens, St. Nicholas Churchyard, West Thorney.
We cannot find any burial details regarding the other four crew members, does anyone have further details?
