Me321' Gigant' - Willy Messerschmitt colour home movie 1941
 

Home movie taken at Leipheim in Bavaria in early 1941 by Willy Messerschmitt who was overseeing the prototype Me 321 assault glider development (Messerschmitt is seen in multiple shots in the footage).

The shots of the Ju52 being towed into the air by the "troike-schlepp" triple-tow Bf110s highlights the initial dangers of this towing arrangement. Later footage in black and white shows further test film of this aircrafts development including the Gnome Rhone powered 4 and 6 engined Me323 variants. Also seen is redoubtable test pilot Hanna Reitsch talking to Messerschmitt towards the end of the film.

Hope it is of interest

The film begins at 00:16:28 and the thumbnail can be expanded to full screen.

http://www.archiv-akh.de/filme?utf-8...rschmitt+321#5

Re: Me321' Gigant' - Willy Messerschmitt colour home movie 1941
 

Wow
Junker

Re: Me321' Gigant' - Willy Messerschmitt colour home movie 1941
 

Thanks for sharing - I had to tear myself away after 2 hours of surfing around on that site... What an amazing window into the more 'boring' aspects of daily life during WW2.. as a modeler, it also offers endless ideas for dioramas.
Cheers,
- Art

Re: Me321' Gigant' - Willy Messerschmitt colour home movie 1941
 

super, thanks !

GC

Re: Me321' Gigant' - Willy Messerschmitt colour home movie 1941
 

Very interesting ! The blue Bf 108 could be Willy Messeschmitt's personal plane.
Note also a Lockheed 14 (former Air France ?) and the Me 323 V1 with only 4 motors, maybe from Léo 451 ? (different cowlings ).