Loss of Do 215 at Ontajärvi in 1943?
 

From a report posted by Finnish Sissi os. Grönroos on March 19th 1943.
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=3587177

"An own plane, though to be a Dornier 215 by an ex-Finnish Air Force officer, was found at grid x = 7150, y = 3530 [east of Ontajärvi /Martti]. The plane probably made a crash landing as a result of lack of fuel since it had not burned. The engine [sic] had seperated [from the fuselage], the whole plane had cut trees from large area while landing. Russkies had removed all valuable parts from the plane and booby-trapped it and the surroundings. Pilot's [sic] body was not in the plane".

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=6...44452&t=h&z=10

Re: Loss of Do 215 at Ontajärvi in 1943?
 

I don't think Luftwaffe used Do 215 in this area.

On the other hand, Aufklärungskette (F)/Lappland lost three Do 17 P in 1941 and 1942:

10 July 1941: Do 17 P WNr 1079 missing with its crew

12 September 1941: Do 17 P-1 WNr 4173 shot down by Soviet AA fire during a sortie to Ritajärvi ? Crew lost

30 April 1942: Do 17 P WNr 3547 shot down by a Hurricane of 17 GShAP (?) near Kuusamo. Crew lost

I don't know if the crashplace of the above are known, but maybe the wreck found by Finnish troops was one of these.

Re: Loss of Do 215 at Ontajärvi in 1943?
 

Hei!

Martti. Would the Nachtaufklärer loss in Valtonen's Pohjoinen Sivusta-book fit into this? I don't remember even the year. IIRC it was K7+KL but I am far from sure. It was a Do 17P? This loss has been burned to my brain because it is the only Luftwaffe Nachtaufklärer loss with a "Finnish" tie I know.

Update: It was Do 17P WNr 3552 K7+ML 3./Nachtaufklärerstaffel. Missing over Lake Ladoga February 19th, 1943.

I think Aufklärerkette Lappland lost also Do 17 at that sector of front in 1941 (or early -42). (OK, Laurent gave these to you already)

BTW Would handwritten Ontajärvi look like "Ritajärvi"?


Cheers,
Kari

Re: Loss of Do 215 at Ontajärvi in 1943?
 

Hi, all

Still haven't got all recon losses registered, so I will not commit to anything... but it seems that at least one unit which operated under Luftflotte 5 at some point had at least one Do 215. It was not in their inventory, but it was at some point damaged at Riga-Spilve:

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=121650

Conversion training, clandestine operations? No idea, but would be interesting if someone have more on this aircraft.

It is of course more likely that the aircraft was a mis-identified Do 17.

Regards,
Andreas B

Re: Loss of Do 215 at Ontajärvi in 1943?
 

This is a different plane, but maybe one of the listed planes?
http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=2918163
"December 1st 1941. [...] Circa fifteen kilometers NE of the NE end of Ontajärvi, remains of a German two-engined plane was seen. Apart from the tail the whole plane had burned".

Re: Loss of Do 215 at Ontajärvi in 1943?
 

Hello, Martti.

Is my understanding correct that these are records from the war diary of LLv 44?

In that case - NICE!

Regards,
Andreas B

Re: Loss of Do 215 at Ontajärvi in 1943?
 

They're copies of LLv.44's mission reports on LeR.4's war diary.

How's that? :p