[Ian Jewison]

Gents,

I am researching a group to an Observer who was missing as a crewman on the following:
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Basic Loss Data
20.01.1943 Aufkl.St.Ostsee, Luftflotte 1 (Gulf of Finland)

Aircraft
Focke-Wulf FW 189 A-3 WNr. 2138 H7 + YH 100%

Crew
Fw. Bray, Paul. F Verm
Lt. Beyer, Hans. B Verm
Gefr. Buss, Otto. Bs Verm
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H7 of course belonged to Aufklärungsstaffel (F) Ostsee, also known as Aufklärungsschwarm Reval and Aufklärungsstaffel Reval for a short time based at Reval-Laksberg.

The station was run by Fliegerhorst-Kommandantur E 4/III (See), renamed February 1943 to Fliegerhorst-Kommandantur E 19/I.

Fw 189 A-3: Two-seat dual-control training aircraft. Built in small numbers.

My question is.....if a FW 189 A-3 was a two seat dual control aircraft, why would there be 3 crewmen on board?

The person in question was only with this unit for maximum of 2 months....so is it safe to say this was a familiarisation flight or was this a converted aircraft for front action?

Thanks
Ian