Date: 14/15th March 1944
Time: 22.25 hours.
Unit: 7 Staffel./Kampfgeschwader 2
Type: Dornier Do 217 M-1
Werke/Nr.6335
Coded: U5 + MR
Location: Near RAF Friston, Eastbourne, Sussex, England.
Pilot: Unteroffizier. Herbert Ballwieser 57359/585 – Killed. Born 12.09.1921 in Nuremberg.
Observer: Oberfeldwebel. Werner Hofmann 57359/630 – Killed. Born 29.09.1916 in Schoeneck.
Radio/Op: Gefreiter. Albert Rasch 57359/611 – Killed. Born 15.11.1923 in Hallstadt.
Gunner: Unteroffizier. Helmut Lenz 57359/407 – Killed. Born 28.09.1920 in Netzbruch.
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was shot down by AA fire from the guns of 71 A.A Brigade with 26 rounds of 3.7in HE. (High Explosive) RAF Intelligence A.I.1(k) reported: The local A.A. states that they engaged this aircraft at a height of about 23,000 feet and that after catching fire, it dived into the ground at high speed. The wreckage was buried in a deep crater and burned for many hours; consequently few documents of value were recovered. The aircraft was presumably on its way to the target since the remains of a A.B.B. 500 was found.
L to R; Albert Rasch, Herbert Ballwieser, Werner Hofmann and Helmut Lenz (Hall).
The shattered remains of Herbert Ballwieser’s Dornier Do 217 near Friston (Parry).
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Death notice Albert Rasch Crew originally buried Friston (St.Mary) Churchyard
Burial details:
This crew are laid to rest in the same grave at the Deutsche Soldatenfriedhof Cannock Chase, Staffs.
Block 9 – Row 10 – Grave 62
Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless, with thanks to Simon Parry, Steve Hall, and Clive Ellis who all contributed to this page. May 2013.
