Re: Rechlin - Aircraft Crash 1943: 2 Questions
This thread is very intersting to me, as I'm researching the history of E'Stelle Rechlin for decades.
Firstly: The loss report that I am aware of quotes Günter Elsner (not Eltzner), Wilhelm Konschak, and Alfred Noetzel (all killed), but not Ofw. Bernhard Schulz) Where does this name / info come from?
Secondly there were two further persons in that aircraft, both working in Abteilung F (Department F) from Rechlin: Dr. Herzog and Dr. Theodor Netzer (both injured) You can find this loss and the persons involved in our book "German Secret Flight Test Centres to 1945, on page 124.
I'm in contact with the son of another person (Dr. Owczarek, also from Abtlg. F) being aboard the He 111, who survived the crash with minor injuries. Due to whatever reasons he is not mentioned in the official crash report, although he was also treated at the hospital at Bedburg-Hau. This contact was established only after our book was published.
Just some words about "Technisches Bataillon" Rechlin. This was one of the military units at Rechlin airfield, supporting the flight test duties of Erprobungsstelle Rechlin by doing e.g. aircraft maintenance, installation of test and measuring equipment, modifications asf. It was made up of several "Technische Kompanien" and a "Stabskompanie". Soldiers of the Technische Kompanien also served as flight crew members, mainly for wireless communication (Bordfunker) and technician (Bordwart), sometimes also as pilots.
They could work for any of the departments (Abteilungen) of the E'Stelle Rechlin, not only for dept. E4.
I'd be very interested to have a scanned copy of Alfred Noetzel Wehrpass for our archive at Rechlin,as we are collecting as much documents and data about the staff of the E'Stelle and airfield (Fliegerhorst) Rechlin.
Thank you for your support.
Chr. Regel
Luftfahrttechnisches Museum Rechlin
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