Excavations > 2010>

	Dig1940, He111 Somerset

Heinkel He 111H-5
Wn.3595, 1H+ED
Stab.III/KG 26

Crashed 4 April 1941
West Hewish, Somerset

Crew:
Ofw. Herbert Rose (Pilot) Prisoner
Fw. Georg Fietzek (Observer) Prisoner
Uffz. Ernst Groschle (Flight Engineer) Prisoner
Ofw. Erich Blüher (Wireless Operator) killed.
Gefr. Mathias van Kaldenkerken (Gunner) killed.

Shot down by F/O Crew and Sgt Guthrie in a Beaufighter of 604 Squadron

To represent the night Blitz, the excavation of an He111 was selected. Previously dug in the 1970s it was known that both engines were likely to remain buried – too deep for the original recovery attempt to reach. The Heinkel had dived vertically into soft ground and a particularly large digger was needed to get to the engines which were both brought to the surface. This Heinkel had been intercepted while attempting to bomb Avonmouth by Flying Officer Edward Crew; his son was one of those present during the filming.

	The crash site at West Hewish was in a soft meadow. It was known that wreckage would be deeply buried, but its depth even suprised the team.
	Little wreckage was found near the surface as it had been removed by an excavation in the 1970s, but a trail of disturbance lead deeper.
	Digging into the lower peat level both engines were eventually recovered.
	Steve Vizard explains the intricate details of engine (or something) to Jules Hudson and Jeff Carless tinkers!
	One of the shattered engines.
	The Werke Number 3595 was found on one of the tiny manufacturers labels, confirming the identity of this Heinkel.
	A very clean Gareth poses with a bent blade.