This is an authentic and very rare, glass-framed red painted propeller spinner fragment recovered from a German Luftwaffe Heinkel He111 shot down in the battle of Britain. The relic which is in lovely condition still retains most of its original wartime finish and original red paintwork remains which the hubs were painted, making it an attractive and increasingly scarce piece from one of the Luftwaffe's famous aircraft lost in the battle of Britain.
The aluminium section was torn, bent and distorted by the impact of the crash but remains in good, solid condition. It has been carefully cleaned while preserving its original character and wartime patina.
The relic is presented in a glass-fronted box frame, complete with aircraft information also many pictures, diagram and crash site picture, making it an excellent display piece for any aviation or Second World War collection. The frame measures approximately 12 half inches by 12 half inches.
The part comes from an aircraft shot down on 15th September 1940, historically celebrated as Battle of Britain Day, a German Heinkel He 111H-2 bomber was shot down and made a forced landing at Trafford Farm in Benenden, Kent. [1, 2]
The Combat and Crash
The medium bomber belonged to the 5th Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 53 (5./KG53), carrying the Luftwaffe aircraft code A1+LN (Werknummer 5718). [1, 2]
During a massive afternoon Luftwaffe assault targeting London, the bomber formation was heavily intercepted by Royal Air Force fighters. At approximately 14:30 hours, the Heinkel was targeted and heavily damaged during combat over London by Pilot Officer Roy Mottram flying a Supermarine Spitfire with No. 92 Squadron. [1, 2, 3]
Unable to sustain flight back across the English Channel to its base in occupied France, the pilot executed a crash landing into the fields of Trafford Farm. [1, 2, 3]
Crew Casualties
The aircraft carried a standard crew of five. The impact resulted in two fatalities, while the remaining three crew members survived to become prisoners of war (POWs): [1, 2]
Feldwebel O. Maier (Pilot/Crew) – Killed
Gefreiter A. Hoffmann (Crew) – Killed
Leutnant H. Bansch – Captured (POW)
Unteroffizier S. Bauer – Captured (POW)
Unteroffizier E. Buttler – Captured (POW) [1, 2]
Upon coming to a halt on the farm, local Benenden residents—including John Masters and Walter Daw—rushed to the crash site to disarm the surviving crew members before the local Home Guard or authorities took formal custody of them.
This is an authentic and very rare, glass-framed red painted propeller spinner fragment recovered from a German Luftwaffe Heinkel He111 shot down in the battle of Britain. The relic which is in lovely condition still retains most of its original wartime finish and original red paintwork remains which the hubs were painted, making it an attractive and increasingly scarce piece from one of the Luftwaffe's famous aircraft lost in the battle of Britain.
The aluminium section was torn, bent and distorted by the impact of the crash but remains in good, solid condition. It has been carefully cleaned while preserving its original character and wartime patina.
The relic is presented in a glass-fronted box frame, complete with aircraft information also many pictures, diagram and crash site picture, making it an excellent display piece for any aviation or Second World War collection. The frame measures approximately 12 half inches by 12 half inches.
The part comes from an aircraft shot down on 15th September 1940, historically celebrated as Battle of Britain Day, a German Heinkel He 111H-2 bomber was shot down and made a forced landing at Trafford Farm in Benenden, Kent. [1, 2]
The Combat and Crash
The medium bomber belonged to the 5th Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 53 (5./KG53), carrying the Luftwaffe aircraft code A1+LN (Werknummer 5718). [1, 2]
During a massive afternoon Luftwaffe assault targeting London, the bomber formation was heavily intercepted by Royal Air Force fighters. At approximately 14:30 hours, the Heinkel was targeted and heavily damaged during combat over London by Pilot Officer Roy Mottram flying a Supermarine Spitfire with No. 92 Squadron. [1, 2, 3]
Unable to sustain flight back across the English Channel to its base in occupied France, the pilot executed a crash landing into the fields of Trafford Farm. [1, 2, 3]
Crew Casualties
The aircraft carried a standard crew of five. The impact resulted in two fatalities, while the remaining three crew members survived to become prisoners of war (POWs): [1, 2]
Feldwebel O. Maier (Pilot/Crew) – Killed
Gefreiter A. Hoffmann (Crew) – Killed
Leutnant H. Bansch – Captured (POW)
Unteroffizier S. Bauer – Captured (POW)
Unteroffizier E. Buttler – Captured (POW) [1, 2]
Upon coming to a halt on the farm, local Benenden residents—including John Masters and Walter Daw—rushed to the crash site to disarm the surviving crew members before the local Home Guard or authorities took formal custody of them.
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