WW2 German plane crashes in St Audries Bay, West Somerset, England,

[Svenja]

Hi Goldie

As I said before you could search in old newspapers or you could search more people who could remember something (maybe with a story in the local newspapers as Malcolm said).

Or I could put the names of the crew (Lt Bruno Adler, Uffz Fritz Bartol, Uffz Kurt Skowronnek, Gefr Johann Egger) and some details on two or more German Forums. I'm member of two Genealogy-Forums but I also know two other forums about World War II.

Or we could wait first for the answer of the Volksbund, could be that they are able or have the contacts to do more researches, but it could also be, that they ask you to send them more details.

Regards
Svenja

[Goldipaws]

Hi Svenja
I think to put the names on the German forums a very good idea, and any relevant info you think helpful,  that would be splendid thank you.  I got the impression that there may not be any positive news from Volskbund if there were no records there?

Although the local newspaper was contacted and they did an article it was around the 11th November.  Maybe as there was so much activity around then it would not hurt to contact another newspaper and ask if any locals know any more details.  One thing I have heard is that over the years no one would believe that there were any German bodies in the churchyard! It is only recently that it was proven!  So, will wait and see what it brings up this time.
Regards and thanks
Goldie

[Malcolm33]

I'm so pleased your happy with all that! I'm smiling as I must look so dumb! But at least it all makes sense to you, so now what's the plan? I've asked for more answers from my friend but I don't know if there will be any, but fingers crossed!
I love puzzles but this is amazing.
Many thanks again
Goldie

    We're all smiling with you Goldipaws for it isn't often we get such good answers and finds.   You don't look at all dumb but very clever to find the Luftwaffe discussion forum.   It is all the puzzles that keep our old minds alive and still active, so many thanks for bringing this one up.
    We should be able to find families now and with this information the authorities will want to do something more, I feel sure.   So it is all thanks to you.       

     Malcolm

[Goldipaws]

Oh Malcolm that would be wonderful, wonderful for the families too, so fingers, eyes, toes and knees crossed!
Many, many thanks
Goldie

[Goldipaws]

Interestingly I've just heard of a book " Somerset at War"  apparently it says the Dornier that crashed at St.Audries is mentioned with the crew unknown, missing!  So it sounds like it's old news? I wonder why nothing has ever been done about these poor chaps, could it be because the bodies were not intack I wonder?  There are only two in St Audries graveyard but there are another two in Stogursey church yard who are probably from the same flight as they are also thought to be German airmen shot down that night and washed up at Lilstock.  They have or had iron crosses on the graves but as yet they are 'unknown'.
Regards
Goldie

[Svenja]

Hi

Is the Volksbund informed that there were two planes shot down at that night?
And that there were two different burial places with two soldiers each?
Has someone searched for both reports of the German Luftwaffe?
I still don't know where we can find the reports of the German side.
I'm not sure if at that time every Dornier had four crew members.
The four man buried there could be all from one crew but we
don't know what happened with the crew of the other Dornier.

Regards
Svenja

[Goldipaws]

I'm afraid I can't answer all those questions and I wouldn't know how to start.
 But as far as I know two Dornier planes came down that night, the Other Dornier plane came down in the English Channel near Sidmouth and not in the Bristol Channel as did the one I think we are talking about with the airmen buried near here. 
I looked up Dornier planes and they usually had a four man crew,so that would fit, and it would seem that the other two bodies were found at around the same time if not the same night?

Would the German forums you talked about be able to shed more light on those questions perhaps?

Best Regards
Goldie

[Svenja]

Hi

I don't have much knowledge of the geography there, so it was a bit difficult to understand.
The German Genealogy Forums could help to find any descendants or other relatives. There are also some people who have more knowledge about the German Army than me. I also know some special Forums about WWII, but there I'm not a member, but I think I know someone who is there.

I'll write the german text tonight and put it on both the German Genealogy Forums.

Regards
Svenja

[Malcolm33]

I followed your lead, Goldi, to Somerset at War and found this page - http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/21096-boulton-paul-defiant/    This is mainly about a Defiant that crashed into the sea near Watchet, but in August 1940.  Anyway I've joined this forum and will raise the topic there.
I haven't heard back from the Volksbund so will try with them again, this time with the names you gleaned from the Luftwaffe Discussion forum.