Date: 23rd February 1944
Unit: 3 Staffel/Kampfgeschwader 100
Time: 00.12 a.m
Type: Heinkel He 177A-3
Werke Nr. 332227
Code: 5J + QL
Location: Wolsey Farm, Yoxford, Suffolk. England.
Pilot: Oberfeldwebel Wolfgang Ruppe 62727/33 Killed (Born 02.05.1917 in Charlottenburg/Berlin.)
Observer: Unteroffizier Georg Lobenz 55531/83 Killed (Born 14.01.1922 in Moosbach.)
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier Friedrich Beck 53577/1227 Killed (Born 17.02.1921 in Wuerzburg.)
Flt/Engineer: Gefreiter Georg Markgraf 55531/117 Killed (Born 12.11.1923 in Bahrdorf.)
Gunner: Unteroffizier Ernst Werner 55531/113 Killed (Born 20.01.1923 in Saarbruecken.)
Gunner: Obergefreiter Emil Imm 55531/115 Injured/POW (Born 26.03.1922 in Freiburg.)
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was shot down by F/Lt Bailie and F/O Simpson in a Mosquito Mk XVII of No.25 Squadron. Aircraft broke up in the air and was scattered over a large area. The tail gunner, Emil Imm was found some ten hours after the crash still strapped in the tail section by farm labourers, Kenneth William Kiddle and John Chapman. The tail section of the aircraft was found in a field at Park Gate Farm, Kelsale which is situated nearly two miles from the main wreckage. Mr Kiddle gave Imm some tea from his flask and revived him. He was later taken to Colchester Military Hospital suffering from shock, two broken legs and a back injury. The funeral of the five men who lost their lives took place at the Yoxford Cemetery, at 2 p.m. on Friday the 25th
February 1944. The Rev W. N. Matthews of Yoxford officiated with the senior chaplin, Major Wheelan of the Military, Saxmundham.
The bodies were conveyed from Wolsey Farm to the Cemetery, Yoxford by two R.A.F. tenders from the R.A.F. Station, Darsham. A contingent of Officers and men under the command of P/O Jones, Officer Commanding Station, acted as bearers. After the bodies had been lowered into the grave the Officers stepped up and saluted, they and the men then marched away.
Tail gunner Obergefreiter Emil Imm, the only survivor.
Copy of the East Suffolk Police Report, Saxmundham Station dated 23.02.1944
Burial detail:
Those who perished in the crash now lie in the German Military Cementry at Cannock Chase, Staffs
Wolfgang Ruppe Block 1. Grave 294, Georg Lobenz Block 1. Grave 292, Friedrich Beck Block 1. Grave 295
Georg Markgraf Block 1. Grave 293, Ernst Werner Block 1. Grave 291.
