Left: The famous Trollveggen in the background

Heinkel He 111H-3 Rauma river at Fiva, Romsdal

4./II.LG 1(Lehr-geschwader) L1+KM 25.04 1940

Pilot Uffz.Helmuth Nolte (PoW). Navigator/Observer Gefr.Herbert Schmidt (PoW). Radio Operator Uffz.Hans Schrader (KIA). He rests at Havstein Cemetery in Trondheim. Gunner Uffz.Harry Frerichs (PoW).

Took off alone from Schleswig at 8.30 hours. Their target was the cruisers "Carlisle" and "Curacao". This was their second mission to Norway. They managed to drop some of their bombs, but missed the target. Suddently they were attacked by British Gladiators and received several hits. The radio operator was seriously wounded and one of the engines caught fire.The pilot managed to make a forced landing, wheels up in a snow covered field, but the aircraft skidded into the river.

The Heinkel was shot down by Gloster Gladiators of 263 Sqdn. RAF (Donaldson/Mills)

 

Left: Picture of the bomber lying in the river. "Bomber livsfarlig". Tinde museum 2007

Summer 2001 kjell sørensen
Photo taken by some German soldiers in 1940
photo via Ralf-Roland Schmidt-Cotta
1974 © ralf-roland Schmidt-cotta
Above: Åndalsnes 1976: Rolf Larsson (left) and Herbert Schmidt-Cotta.
Some of the bombs were still on board. "Bomber livsfarlig" (bombs! Lethal Danger) was written on the fuselage.

The three survivors were captured and brought to Scapa Flow on board the cruiser "York". They ended up as PoW's in Canada. In 1946 they returned to Germany.

Schraeder døde ikke selve i nødlandingen, men ble såret og sittende fastklemt i vraket. Der fikk han tak i en pistol og skjøt seg selv.

Thor Broen NØMF
©heinz chmill, via ralf-roland schmidt-cotta
26.08 2018 kjell sørensen
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Kjell Sørensen 2018