Date. 21st May 1940
Unit: 1 Staffel/Fernaufklaerungsgruppe 121
Type. Heinkel He 111
Werke/Nr. 5566
Code: 7A + HH
Location: Roos - Warendin, 10 km north of Douai, France.
Pilot: Feldwebel. Helmut Marx 53501/20. Born 09.09.1914 in Oberndorf. Killed.
Observer: Leutnant. Georg Henke 53501/7. Born 20.02.1917 in Mainz. Killed.
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier. Arthur Neubert 53501/44. Born 06.09.1913 in Oelsnitz. Killed.
Gunner: Unteroffizier. Georg Gawron 53501/31. Born 01.12.1915 in Kiel. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Extract from WASt Verlustmeldung:
Investigation of troop movements by road and any other courses in the area of Lille - Bethune - Arras - Orchies - Menin - Roubaix - Mouchin.
This aircraft was shot down during the recon sortie by Dewoitines D-520s of Groupe de Chasse II/3.
The following pilots claimed this aircraft; Andre Naundy, Maurice Bissoudre, Adjt Henri Briard, A/Cf Charles Dessault, S/Cf Robert Tourne and C/Cf Karel Koerber (Czech).
The ill-fated crew of He 111 Wnr. 5566 (D. King and M. Brownless)
Burial detail:
This crew now rest in the Kriegsgraeberstaette Bourdon, France in a collective grave: Block G. Row 1. Grave 9.
Researched by Melvin Brownless A.R. Society with thanks Jan Jolie from the Netherlands who provided me with the WASt Verlustmeldung and corrected the Wnr. 5566 not 5560 as previously recorded. October 2011.
