Junkers 88

History and context

On 24 February 1943, at the height of the Second World War, a Junkers Ju 88 A-4 bomber (works number 140474, code 4D+MN) of II. Gruppe, Kampfgeschwader 30 (II./KG 30), based at Comiso airfield in Sicily, became disoriented returning from bombing Allied targets in Algeria. The crew mistook Menorca for Mallorca and, almost out of fuel and unable to find anywhere to land at night, ditched between s'Algar and Alcaufar, near Illa de l'Aire. The aircraft stayed afloat for a few minutes before sinking. Its four crew — pilot Unteroffizier Walter Faulhaber, observer Feldwebel Georg Pimmerlein, radio operator Unteroffizier Heinrich Kiener and gunner Unteroffizier Heinz Esper — survived the ditching and were rescued by the fishing boat Segundo Gaspar, which heard their calls for help from the water. After processing by the Spanish authorities they were taken to Palma and later repatriated through the German consulate. The aircraft's exact position was forgotten for 71 years. In 2014 two freediving fishermen, Gerard Pons and Avelino Pons, spotted the remains and passed the coordinates to diving instructor David Marqués Campillo, who filmed and documented it for the first time that autumn. The wreck sits upright on sand at 47 metres and is considered one of the best preserved aircraft wrecks in the Mediterranean.

Ditching date

24 February 1943

Aircraft

Junkers Ju 88 A-4, WNr. 140474, code 4D+MN

Unit

II./KG 30 (Luftwaffe), based at Comiso, Sicily

Cause

Disorientation and lack of fuel returning from bombing Algeria

Crew

4 men, all rescued by the fishing boat Segundo Gaspar

Depth and rediscovery

47 m on sand; documented in 2014 by David Marqués