Date: 18th January 1943
Time: 04.30 hours.
Unit: 7 Staffel/Kampfgeschwader 2:
Type: Dornier Do 217 E-4
Werke/Nr. 5591
Code: U5 + MR
Location: Rear of Pilgrim House (Chalk pit) near Westerham, Kent.
Pilot: Unteroffizier Joachim Schnabel 58214/198 Killed (Born 05.06.1919 in Lauta.)
Observer: Gefreiter Willi Schaefer 58214/197 Killed (Born 19.01.1920 in Essen.)
Radio/Op: Gefreiter Erich Raab 58214/194 Killed (Born 03.02.1923 in Muenchen.)
Gunner: Unteroffizier Richard Hartenberger 58214/191 Killed (Born 07.03.1917 in Jaegerndorf.)
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was shot down over Westerham, Kent by W/Cmdr C. M. Wight-Boycott and F/O E. A. Sanders in a Beaufighter V8270 of No.29 Squadron.
A.I.(g) Report No. 7/28 states the following;
This aircraft crashed at 04.30 hours on 18.01.43 near Pilgrim House, Westerham, Kent. It is believed to have been intercepted by a Beaufighter at almost 12,000 feet. It crashed at a steep angle into a chalk hillside and is almost entirely buried. A petrol tank exploded on impact and wreckage caught fire and was burning furiously 12 hours later.
There is little to be reported on this crash.
One MG 131, 13mm gun and one MG15, 7.9mm calibre were traced. Portions of kutonase cable cutter were seen and a few broken pieces of armour. One ESN 5 recognition cartridge was found which presumably was the colour of the day.
Gefr Schaefer, Gefr Raab, Uffz Schnabel and Uffz
Hartenberger killed in action
Observer Gefr Willi Schaefer
German Military Cemetery Cannock Chase
Burial details:
Deutsche Soldatenfriedhof Cannock Chase, Staffs.
Unteroffizier Schnabel and his crew all lie together in a
joint grave. Block 9, Grave 57.
