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 $Helmut Henz Herdla, Norway Jun 1940 00_jpg.jpg)
 $Helmut Henz Herdla, Norway Jun 1940 01_jpg.jpg)
 $Helmut Henz Herdla, Norway Jun 1940 02_jpg.jpg)
Messerschmitt Bf-109E JG77.4 (W13+-) $Helmut Henz Herdla, Norway Jun 1940 00
Messerschmitt Bf-109E-1 'White 13' flown by Hptm. Helmut Henz, Staffelkapitan of 4./JG77 'White 13 . was finished in a 71/02/65 scheme which included mottles in these colours on the fuselage sides. The badge of II./JG77 appeared on the forward fuselage and below the cockpit was a personal motif consisting of the overlapping letters L and F. The machine retained a rounded canopy but had been modified to include curved head armour to protect the pilot's head and shoulders during attacks from the rear. Note the additional aerial wire running to the horizontal stabiliser.
Messerschmitt Bf-109E JG77.4 (W13+-) $Helmut Henz Herdla, Norway Jun 1940 01 Photo 01: A Rumanian officer posing in front of 'White 13', the aircraft normally flown by Hptm. Helmut Henz, Staffelkapitan of 4./JG77.This aircraft carried no fuselage band, but the pilot's personal marking, LF, probably the initials of his wife or girlfriend, are just visible aft of the Gruppe's famous Seeadler badge. Messerschmitt Bf-109E JG77.4 (W13+-) $Helmut Henz Herdla, Norway Jun 1940 02 Photo 02: This earlier photograph of the same aircraft, taken in June 1940 when the Staffel was based on the island of Herdla in Norway, is included to show details of the aircraft not visible in the photograph. At this time the cowling was still in its normal camouflage colours and had not yet been painted yellow. Oblt. Helmut Henz is seated on the cockpit sill and his LF marking is clearly visible below the windscreen.
Helmut Henz was born on 27 January 1911 at Berlin. Following fighter pilot training, Henz was posted to I./136, based at Jever in Germany. Henz gained his initial combat experiences with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. Oberleutnant Henz was assigned to 4. Staffel of J88. He served in this conflict for part of 1937. The beginning of World War 2 saw Oberleutnant Henz serving as Staffelkapitän of 4./JG77. He participated in the first battles with RAF bombers over the Heligoland area in late 1939 gaining his first victory over a RAF Wellington twinengine bomber on 14 December 1939. Henz claimed another Wellington shot down in Wangerooge area on 18 December. Henz served in Norway with 4./JG77, relocating there on 11 April 1940. Here he gained a further victory when he shot down a RAF Blenheim twin-engine bomber near Stavanger on 30 April 1940. Promoted to the rank of Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG77, Henz led the unit through the invasion of the Balkans. Henz encountered Blenheims attempting to bomb shipping at Maleme in Crete on 25 May 1941. It would appear that fire from the bombers’ gunners struck Henz’s Bf109E-7 (W.Nr. 1271), who was killed when the aircraft crashed into the sea off Antikythera Island, Greece.
Helmut Henz claimed six victories. All his victories were recorded over the Western front. No Date Time A/c Type Unit Location / Comments 1 14.12.1939 15:25 Wellington 4./JG77 N Wangerooge 2 18.12.1939 14:55 Wellington 4./JG77 NE Wangerooge 3 30.4.1940 18:35 Blenheim 4./JG77 W Stavanger - Blenheim IV (N6202) of RAF 110Sqn $S/Sgt R Abbott 4 8.9.1940 12:10 Hudson 4./JG77 Bergen 5 15.2.1941 18:50 Beaufort 4./JG77 20km N Brest - Beaufort of RAF 217Sqn 6 14.5.1941 6:05 Hurricane 4./JG77 Crete Victories: 6 Awards: Units: J/88, JG77.4
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