Heinkel He 111 dig "Where and When"

I think that nails it. Welcome to the forum.

Hi,
The picture that staffellied posted is actually members of the Medway Military Research Group. This picture was taken in 1976 – 1977 and is one of three digs Medway Military Research Group did there to recover the Heinkel Jumo 211 engine.

The location is about 1 mile of Upchurch Marshes in the River Medway mudflats.
Over the three digs they went down to a depth of four feet in total.
The Jumo 211 engine was recovered and myself and other members of MMRG helped to clean it. When the super charger was stripped for cleaning, the other alloy casing was corroded but the internal gears etc were in perfect condition,like they had just left the factory.

This engine is on display at Manston.
I have spoken to Keith Gulvin, one of the founder members of Medway Military Research Group this week about this photo, and he has promised to forward on copies of the complete three digs to recover the engine to Kent History Forum.

In the picture that staffellied posted the people are from left to right
Steve Watts, Keith Gulvin in green suit, Billy Hamper AKA Billy Chyldish and Steve Jennings and Geoff Harvey took the picture.

I have attached another photo showing their faces,from left to right
Keith Gulvin, Steve Jennings, Billy Hamper AKA Billy Chyldish, Steve Watts photo taken by Geoff Harvey.

Paul

[ATTACH=CONFIG]238984[/ATTACH]

Thanks Beaufighter, I think we can rest this one…

Regards,

melvin

Battle Of Britain 16th October 1940 Heinkel He 111H-5 IT+JK Nr. 3510 of 2/KGr.126
Collided with barrage balloons and crashed Shotley Suffolk
This aircraft hit a balloon cable and crashed on the foreshore at Shotley, Suffolk during mine laying operation. Two unexploded mines were found in the crashed aircraft and taken away at the time.
Oblt W.Stender, Fw Guenther, Uffz Martin and Oberg Irrgang were killed in the crash.

Display of some of the items recovered in EAG Museum at Duxford, visit this weekend, located behind History of Duxford Display.

Melvin,

That’s a report on the He111 referred to in posts #4 and #7, the site now occupied by the Shotley marina.

Hi again,

Now that Beaufighter has identified one of the chaps as being Mick Rushen from the EAG. I searched for my EAG Information booklet (3rd Edition) and found the following entry concerning Heinkel He 111 Wnr.3510 lost on the 16.10.1940, please see attachment.

Regards,

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.co.uk

Thanks again to Ian, Trolley Aux and Beaufighter VI.
look forward to your reply Beaufighter!

Kind regards,

Melvin

This was an Essex Aviation Group dig. Mick Rushen secretary of EAG is to be seen in the green outfit. Will come back later with details.

The Shotley HE111’s tail was sitting on the surface and removed with a DUKW over that weekend in 85/86 by I think Andy Saunders and Steve Vizard among many others with bits going to all points of the compass, not sure this is it but I did think it maybe the MkIX off Shoebury point?

Unlikely to be 5536 as I think the engines were too deeply buried. A pre excavation photo would show the horizontal section of the tail sticking out of the mud but not much else. It made a good place to sit after the long trudge out to the site.

Hi Guys,

Thanks to everyone who has tried to help with this mystery, I am leaning towards the recovery of Heinkel He 111H-2 Wnr.5536 which crashed into the River Stour, near Parkeston Quay on October 29th 1940.
Major recovery by Steve Vizard back in 1984-85.

Thanks again everyone,

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.co.uk

Angle between ‘Southend Pier’ and Canvey tanks too large for the scope of the photo and location given on the chart?
Try River Stour (Essex/Suffolk border), taken in 1970s. Looking east, horizon at centre of photo now occupied by the extended port of Felixstowe, Shotley pier to left and storage tanks at Parkstone Quay to right.
Tony, if Shotley He111 there should be some sign of the quays at Felixstowe and the tanks to the right would not fit.

My money is on Shotley Marina He111…..I have some parts from it

I used to live here its somewhere between Canvey Island and Southend. If you look at the picture top is the end of Southend Pier, Mid centre is a Thames Barge and to the left are oil/gas containers these could be Canvey Island or on the opposite bank from the angle of the picture its probably about 1 mile the grey splodge in the middle is the top of a sand bank out in a place commonly know as the Ray Sands. Hope that helps. See image (black line is Southend Pier, red line is the Ray , red dot is the probable spot open to interpretation in or out the black cross is the approximate position of the barge and blue dots are again approximate positions of refinery containers)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]229957[/ATTACH]

Not the mud off Skinflats – Longannet is much more prominent on the other bank than that shown in the photo.

Yes quite right Ross. Just checked a photo we took flying over there last year and Longannet definitely would be more prominent. Thanks for the info about the Hurricane.

Battle of Britain Then & Now does have an entry of engine parts from a Heinkel 111 being recovered from the foreshore at Shotley in 1981 by members of the Essex Aviation Group. Shotley is on the opposite side of the Stour from Harwich.

Hi Mothminor,

Not the mud off Skinflats – Longannet is much more prominent on the other bank than that shown in the photo.

However if you were to go to the mudflats and stand about the same transits for Longannet and the tank farm as you are thinking about you would be about right for a prop boss with stumps of three blades, a Merlin and internal cockpit components lying on the surface of the mud.

First estuary wreck I visited when I lived in Grangemouth in the mid 70s. Only recently managed to identify it as Hurricane L1803.

Regards
Ross

Is it definitely England staffellied? Maybe north of the border? Pic is very reminiscent of old Kincardine Bridge on the River Forth, Longannet chimney centre and Grangemouth storage tanks to right.
Wouldn’t be surprised if there were quite a few wrecks in that area but it is just a suggestion.