Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Hello,

On 6 March 1942 a Ca 311 (unknown serial and unit) was shot down by "AA fire" (probably ground fire from partisans) in Blagaj area, during a flight between Mostar and Kragujevac. Three airmen, probably the whole crew, were killed: the pilot, one gunner and a "captain messenger", probably a passenger.

Sources:
http://www.znaci.net/00001/4_13_2_3.pdf
http://www.vojska.net/eng/world-war-.../sloda/losses/

I will be interested in the names of the casualties, and the unit and serial of the aircraft.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Hello,

A bump for this query, just in case.

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Thanks Larry, I hadn't thought to check your airfield pdf files, as I did not think Italian units will be included.

From the units listed, I will rather bet on 65° Gruppo OA. While 39° Gruppo BT was according to my source equiped with SM81s, 65° Gruppo OA used Ca 311 and could have been still based there in March 1942. But I could also have been an hack aircraft of any unit based there.

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Hello Laurent and Larry,

According to the research conducted by my late friend Vojislav Mikić, the plane belonged to 63ᵒ Gruppo, based at Pola at the time. The plane crashed at around 15.00. It was not certain if the plane fell to AA fire or for other reasons. Keeping in mind the short distance between Jasenica-Mostar airfield and Blagaj village, where the plane is said to have crashed, I'd say that the plane crashed shortly after take-off. The three-man crew was flying towards Kalinovik in Bosnia and not Kragujevac. The captain in question was observer. Unfortunately, there are no names of the crew or any other details.

Cheers,
Boris

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Thanks to both of you

Now that we have a probable unit, I can check if the war diary for it still exists in the Italian archives, and if there is more on this case.

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Since I am not sure whether the members interested in subject can follow/identify the airfield/air base names that are no longer in use, I will give the contemporary equivalents, as I understand them. If such an effort is considered unnecessary, please let me know.

Pola = Pula (HR), Zara = Zadar (HR), Lubiana = Ljubljana (SLO), Grobnico = Grobnik near Rijeka (HR) and Mostar (BH).

Regards,
Sinisa

Re: Ca 311 shot down in Yugoslavia on 6 March 1942
 

Hi Sinisa,

Is this the airfield that the Italians called Grobnico and the locals called Grobnik?


Sušak (YUGO) (45 22 45 N – 14 30 18 E)
General: landing ground (Landeplatz) at the head of the Adriatic in NW Croatia. Susak was 7.25 km NE of Rijeka (Fiume) and was incorporated into Rijeka after the war thereby losing its separate place name. History: a pre-war secondary civil airport that was used during the summer months. Taken over by the Luftwaffe in Sep 43 right after the surrender of Italy but used very little until it was finally abandoned at the end of December 1943. No record found of any Luftwaffe air units being stationed here. Surface and Dimensions: rough grass surface measuring approx. 1150 x 455 meters (1250 x 500 yards). No paved runway. Fuel and Ammunition: fuel was reportedly available. Infrastructure: had 1 small hangar with a concrete apron off the E boundary along with a small workshop building. A number of barrack-type huts were next to the hangar. The nearest rail connection was in Sušak. Dispersal: no organized dispersal facilities.

L.