Brothers Witte KG4

Regulus · 30 January 2005, 09:47 AM

Hi,

I had this text :

11/12 June 1918 bombing raid Compiegne

The crew of Lt. Hans Witte observer, Unteroff. Karl Müller pilot and gunner Fliegerschütze Willi Schwalm crashed with their AEG of Bosta 19 while attempting to land at the fog-shrouded aerodrome of Canizy. They were buried at Ham cemetery on the 13th June with funeral music of the Elisabeth Garde Grenadier Regiment no 3

The twin brother of Hans Witte, Lt Manfred Witte of Bosta 21 and observer perished somewhere in the vincinity of Compiegne, it seems the aircraft crashed behind enemy lines. (Check what happened other crewmembers)

At IDFLIEG (the site) I found a different version :

Lt. Hans-Wolf Witte °Arnsberg 23/08/1895 observer + 11/06/1918 Canizy Bosta 19

Lt. Manfred Witte °Arnsberg 24/04/1898 observer + 10/06/1918 Canizy Bosta 21

I also found : unteroff. Woitow Friedrich pilot + Canizy Bosta 21 (so he probably was in the plane of Manfred Witte)

So it already is clear they were no twin brothers if we look at the date of birth, but just brothers. Nevertheless a sad story...

Other Bogohl personnel was lost at Compiegne it seems : Unteroff. Albert Arnold - Gefr. Erich Bischoff - Unteroff. Walter Held

Questions :

Was the bombing raid in the night of the 10th on the 11th or as originally mentioned in the night of the 11/12th June (which I think is wrong) ?

Did Manfred crash at Compiegne or also in the fog at Canizy, just like his brother ?

Who was the surviving (?) crewmember of the Witte-Woitow plane ?

Were the three other persons mentioned, KIA over Compiegne indeed BG4 personnel ? Anything on circumstances of death ?

Ah so many questions ! Sorry

Thanks and best from Johan

Rick · 30 January 2005, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR.R.

Other Bogohl personnel was lost at Compiegne it seems : Unteroff. Albert Arnold - Gefr. Erich Bischoff - Unteroff. Walter Held

I show the crew of Arnold/Held being from Schlasta 3. Bischoff, however, might be a possible candidate for the missing BG 4/21 man with Witte/Woitow?? R.

Regulus · 4 February 2005, 09:09 AM

Hm, interesting Rick ! Any idea what Schlasta 3 was doing there at the same time as the bombers ?

Best from Johan

Rick · 4 February 2005, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR.R.

Hm, interesting Rick ! Any idea what Schlasta 3 was doing there at the same time as the bombers ?

Best from Johan

They were part of Schlagru 3 supporting the German 18. Armee during the Battle of Matz (Operation Gneisenau-Yorck) which had commenced on 9Jun18. R.