Aircraft: Heinkel 115 seaplane
Nationality: German
Serial number: Not known
Unit: 3 / KuFlGr 906
Call sign: 8L + EL
Date of loss: 07/06/1940
Laying mines from seaplanes could be a hazardous business. This particular mine-laying aircraft took off from its base in Norderney, Germany, on a mission to lay magnetic mines in the approaches to the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich. The aircraft crashed and exploded in an orchard at Eyke Rectory near Woodbridge, Suffolk at 23.31 hrs. The crew of three were all killed or mortally wounded. Originally it was claimed that pilot had been dazzled by searchlights causing the aircraft to crash. However, at the time of the crash the ground was covered in a thick ground mist and it may well be the case that the pilot was attempting to land his aircraft on what he thought was sea in order to lay his mines.
In 1982, the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum recovered some small items of wreckage from the crash site including this part of the engine and a small piece of airframe.
Crew: Pilot – Fw Paul Randorf (died of wounds 9/06/1940), Observer – Obltn zur See Adolf Van Hullen and Radio Operator Fw Ludwig Fehr ,all killed.
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