Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

Does anyone know if any seaplanes were lost by AS/88 in operations in Spain. If so, what, where and why?

TIA

Adam

Re: Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

Adam,

According this list I found on http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6808
AS/88 had 16 fatalities, including 11 KIA.

So it's safe to assume that several aircraft were lost. Unfortunately the website gives no further details...

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

Adam,

Even if you don't understand Spanish (much), then perhaps this list on a Spanish Civil War forum can be of help. It gives some details about the Condor Legion He-59 losses. Scroll down a bit on
http://guerracivil.forumup.es/post-8...erracivil.html

It boils down that 10 He-59s were lost: 5 AA fire, 3 accidents and 2 shot down by fighters of Republican forces.


Regards,

Leendert

Re: Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

Many thanks Leendert. Time to go looking for my Spanish/English dictionary

Re: Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

'Condor' by Patrick Laureau refers to Seefliegerstaffel AS/88 and identifies the following losses;

13/1/37: 1x He59 -Crashed into sea off Pollensa durng a night mission. 1 Killed (Uffz H. Kahl).
5/2/37: 1x He59 -Shotdown by a I-15 (Charle Koch) off Malaga. 1 Killed (Lt D. Leicht). (1x He60 (512) -Suffered damage to port wing after being hit by the shotdown He59. Forcelanded on sea and recovered by Spanish Cruiser CANARIAS).
11/2/38: 1x He59 -Badly damaged in a storm at Pollensa, subsequently written off.
26/2/38: 1x He59 -Damaged by I-15 near San Sebastian, able to return to base despite pilot being wounded (Oblt Salcher).
15/3/38: 1x He59 -Shotdown by AAA whilst attacking a train. Crashed in a olive grove. 5 POW's.
21/3/38: 1x He59 -Crashed. Either shotdown by D.510 or caught in blast of own bombs. 3 Killed (Oblt Jurgens, Zunker and Keitzel)
2/8/38: 1x He59 -Hit by ground fire forcelanded in the sea. Crew recovered by a Nationalist Trawler. 1 slightly injured.
29/8/38: 1x He59 (532) -Made hard landing on return from mission off Pollensa. Ripped off floats and turned over. 1 Slightly injured.
31/12/38: 1x He59 - Shotdown by AAA near Vals. 4 Killed (Lt Schmidt, Prinz, Jeck and Bulling).
1/1/39: 1x He59 -Lost during mission, possibably due icing. 4 Killed (Poeschel, Schobel, Zervas and Herold).
6/1/39: 1x He59 -Badly damaged after interception by Republican fighter. Returned to base, but written off.
22/3/39: 1x He59 -Made emergency landing in sea and then sank (may have been shotdown by a Republican Grumman-CCF). Crew recovered by a British destroyer.

The books reports that the staffel lost a total of 12 aircraft in accidents and 5 through enemy action.

Regards

Steve

Re: Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

Hi Adam
Putnams published "Aircraft of the Spanish Civil War" by Gerald Howson and from it there is some supplementary information but with no great detail. It lists losses:-
26 and 31 July '37 2 He 59s forced down in the sea by AA fire but towed back to Pollensa.
28/1/38 1 He 59 hit by AA and landed in the sea nr Mallorca but sank.
31/3/38 1 He 59 shot down by Capt Corral of Grupa 71 in a Dewoitine D 510 whilst bombing Barcelona
31/12/38 1 He 59 Shot down over Vallis
5/3/39 1 He 59 shot down by Grumman GE-23s
some of those in Steve's post are not mentioned in the book so an element of caution about accuracy is suggested as to whether Howsons book has got everything there is.
Regards
Dick

Re: Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

Many thanks to both of you.

Steve - do you know which destroyer picked up the crew on 22.3.39?

Thanks, Adam

Re: Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

Adam, I'm afraid the book doesn't identify it.

Steve

Re: Condor Legion Seaplane Losses
 

Oh well, thanks for looking anyway

Adam