Main Image - Erich Reiser.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Extract taken from R.A.F. Intelligence report: A.D.I.(k) 31/1944 (National Archive)

Apparently hit by AA fire, it flew low over the hospital travelling in a north easterly direction with one engine on fire. Shortly afterwards it hit a line of trees at high speed, and crashed when either the tanks or a bomb exploded causing a crater 10 ft. deep.

An Ausweis, a photograph, two or three collar patches and shoulder straps, and an undated food card in Dutch and German were virtually all that remained of the crew, but a P/W (prisoner of war) from 2./KG 2 has identified the photograph and the name on the Ausweis as those of Uffz. Kaplitz and Uffz. Kanz, a W/T operator and observer of his Staffel. They usually flew together in the U5 + EK, with an Uffz. Sauer as B/M (flight engineer) and an Offizieranwärter as pilot. One of the shoulder straps found was that of a Fähnrich so it seems likely that it was this complete crew which was flying the present aircraft.

Researched and compiled by former member Melvin Brownless with special thanks to Trevor Williams and the Reiser family for allowing us the use of their images for this page of remembrance. December 2015. Page reconstructed by Alexander D King September 2025.