Date: 3rd January 1944
Time: Between 21.35 and 00.40 hours.
Unit: 16 Staffel./Kampfgeschwader 2
Type: Messerschmitt Me 410A-1
Werke/Nr.420005
Coded: U5 + AJ
Location: In the sea off Dover (Straights of Dover), Kent, England.
Pilot: Feldwebel. Friedrich Hess. 58214/272 – Missing. (Born 25.01.1921 in Bechtheim).
Radio/Op: Unteroffizier. Max von Poblotzki. 57359/525 – Missing. (Born 07.10.1921 in Penzing).
REASON FOR LOSS:
This aircraft was intercepted and shot down by F/O R. D. Bergemann (NZ) and F/O K. R. Bishop in a Mosquito HK461 of No. 488 Squadron. The Messerschmitt Me 410 exploded in the air and crashed into the Straights of Dover.
Feldwebel. Friedrich Hess missing in action. (Brownless/King).
Friedrich's pilot badge donated to the Aircrew Remembrance Society
by his surviving sister. (Brownless/King).
Translation of letters of condolence from 16./KG2 Staffelkapitän Oblt. Hermann Walther to the father of Friedrich dated January 1944.
German lost at sea memorial.
Burial detail:
None – Sea Grave.
Researched and compiled by Melvin Brownless. Special thanks to Katherina Hess for her help in constructing this page of remembrance in memory of her lost brother. January 2014.