Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Hello Martin,

20.08.40 : 2 Fw 200 took off from Bordeaux at 6.55 and 7.05 am

22.10.40 and 05.02.41 : sorry, no information

Regards
Marc

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Hallo Marc,

Thank you very much for that helpful information. I have the impression that most or all Condor missions from Bordeaux began in the early hours of the morning. Is that correct ?

Regards,

Martin.

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Not necessarily. They would take off as & when tasked

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

In 1944 there are a number of deciphered messages warning friendly forces that a Fw 200 will be crossing the French coast at a particular time and returning (when they didn't go on to Norway) between two times.

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Hallo Chris and Nick,

Thanks for that useful information. In the last few days I have been looking again at my notes taken from the Irish Defence Forces reports on this crash. I found something that might be of interest to Condor buffs. A diary belonging to the meteorologist on board, Reg. Rat. Dr. Erhard Herrstrom was recovered. It contained details of 3 flights he took part in;

29-12-1940 Start 540 (sic) Bordeaux, Land 1700, reporting on weather.
3-1-1941 Start 0612 Bordeaux, Land 1737, reporting on weather.
15-1-1941 Start 0617 Bordeaux, Land 1848, reporting on weather.

Hope this is of interest,

Martin.

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Hi Martin , super topic . The take-off time I have for F8+KH is 5.00am , this I got from the Flugbuch of Fw.Ludwig Wochner who was the flight engineer on this Condor .

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Hallo Schnellmeyer,

Thanks for that information. However it complicates matters again ! Two hours difference is significent but I am in no position to doubt it or determine which is the more accurate. Back to the drawing board !

Regards and thanks once more,

Martin.

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Hello Denis (Schnellmayer)

I see you tracked down the 0015 data plate at last on the Axis History forum.

Lucky one that. Was it the same person you had been in contact with years before?

regards

Dennis

Re: Three FW200 Condor take-off times, 1940 and 1941
 

Martin is quite right, back to the drawing board!

Kurt Mollenhauer (B) in conversation said take off was " around 5.30 am" ,
Hans Bell (Bf) in correspondence says " before dawn"
Kurt Kyck (Bf) in conversation said 4 am.
Ludwig Wockner (Bm) says 5 am, ie as mentioned by Schnellmeyer quoting from his flugbuch. A question now is when was the flugbuch written up. It was not on board the aircraft, which would be against orders. Was it written up sometime after his release from internment? Can we rely on the often quoted codes F8+KH and werke 0015?. I think not, even though I used to quote them myself. They may be correct in the final analysis but can we obtain a source in the meantime?

Marc may have solved the times if he can please quote a reliable source reference.

To add further confusion I believe that a third Condor left Bordeaux that morning but I do not have any more information.

I'll get my coat and run!!!!
Tony K