Heinkel He 115 in British Service
In June 1940, five Norwegian Air Force Heinkel He 115 ( four A-2s and a captured B-1) seaplanes escaped to the United Kingdom before they were captured by advancing German forces. Unfortunately, one (F.54 was lost during the flight and made an emergency landing in the Shetlands) The British re-numbered the aircraft BV184 to BV187, added additional fuel tanks, additional gun armament and modified the canopy.
Two aircraft, (BV184 and BV185) manned by Norwegian crews were sent to Malta, where they were used for clandestine missions, sometimes painted with German markings. Both were lost during an air raids on Malta.
The other two He 115s remained in Scotland where similar missions were intended to be flown to Norway. On one occasion, a Heinkel was attacked by two Spitfires when returning from a mission. The starboard propeller was shot of and starboard wing burst into flames. However, the crew managed to make a safe emergency landing at sea, but this aircraft was later lost in a refuelling fire and subsequently reduced to spares by BOAC in July 1942.
