Heinkel He 111H-1, WNr. 2117
History
On April 21, 1940, during the German invasion of Norway, He 111H-1 Wk Nr 2117 was forced to make an emergency landing on the frozen surface of Lake Storvatnet near Agdenes in Sør-Trøndelag, Norway. The aircraft had suffered damage during a reconnaissance mission and was unable to return to base. The crew survived the landing, and the aircraft was abandoned on the ice.
In August 1974, Norwegian and British divers recovered the tail fin and one of the Junkers Jumo 211 engines from the lake. These components were subsequently transported to the UK and became part of the IWM's collection. The aircraft's markings are unknown, but it is believed that they began with "F6," indicating its unit affiliation.
The Heinkel He 111H-1 was a variant of the He 111 medium bomber, which was initially designed as a civilian airliner but was adapted for military use. The H-1 version featured the distinctive "greenhouse" nose and was powered by two Junkers Jumo 211 engines. It was primarily used for reconnaissance and bombing missions during the early years of World War II.
Today, the recovered tail fin and engine are displayed in Hangar 4 at IWM Duxford, offering visitors a tangible connection to the early stages of the war in Norway.