Re: Luftwaffe Cant Z506 crash on 9 March 1944
Dear Laurent, are you sure about the Werk-Nummer 45463 that you qoute for the Z.506 that forcelanded in Switzerland on 9. March 1944. I have this aircraft reported arriving in Köln (Cologne) in transit from France to the Baltic coast of Germany on 07. March 1944. On 20. April 1944 the plane was reported by Luftzeuggruppe (See) in Travemünde.
When Italy surrendered to the Allies in September 1943, German forces took control of the remainder of the country and secured all war materials in the process. This also included all italian seaplanes. The Luftwaffe set up a special Kommando for this task led by a Hauptmann Gaul. They rounded up a large number of aircraft, both aircraft already in service, and those still under production. The plans for the use of the Z.506 was within the Seenotdient. Several aircraft were transferred via Berre in France to the E-Stelle (See) in Travemünde for testing and to the Fl.Erg.Gruppe (See) in Kamp on Rügen for the training of crews. The bulk of Z.506' went to the 6. Seenotstaffel operating mainly in the Adriatic, which at its peak at the end of May 1944, had a total of 22 Cant Z.506B's on strength, of which about half were serviceable. In mid. July 1944, the 6. Seenotstaffel was disbanded.
Remaining italian Aircraft were most likely broken up. I have never seen proof that Z.506 Aircraft were used operationally in the Baltics. Only for training and only for e very short period.
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