|
Re: Dornier Do 24 Units
Part Three is the 'wild card' because - not content with the confusion already created - in the March 1941 OQu. KTB, there is a single report of another completely different Do 24 being despatched to the Mediterranean as RLM WNr. 5.
Since we are dealing with only a very few aircraft though, by process of elimination this second iteration of a Do 24 N assigned RLM WNr. 5 can be deduced with almost total certainty to have actually been RLM WNr. 8, KK+UM, for which there are several BA photographs showing it on the water at Syracuse.
So Part Three is this single reference in the March 1941 KTB (Bundesarchiv, BArch RM 6/188 Kriegstagebuch Oberquartiermeister: Bd. 19)
KTB ----# ---KTB -----KTB Entry --KTB -----WNr. ----Stkz.
------------Page No. --Date -------Entry Time
Mar-41 -7 --- 8 -------06-Mar-41 --0945 --- 5 -----No mention
and the elimination table identifying WNr. 8 as the most likely actual candidate for the Do 24 N now being transferred to Syracuse is below:
Status 6-Mar-41
12 Do 24 N delivered by end-Feb'41 (BA-MA RL 3/534 - Jan to Nov 1941 C-Amts-Monatmeldungen)
# Avio c/n RLM WNr. "D-Kennz. -- Date Lost OR Date Arrived at Syracuse, Sicily
--------------------/Stkz."
A. Already lost (chronological order of loss)
1 Avio 75 (WNr. 2) KD+GE 28-Oct-40
2 Avio 77 (WNr. 4) D-APDA 15-Aug-40
3 Avio 82 WNr. 9 KK+UN 04-Jan-41
4 Avio 79 WNr. 6 KD+GF 21-Feb-41
B. Already assigned to 6.Seenotstaffel before end Feb'41
5 Avio 78 WNr. 5 KD+BH Late-Jan-41
6 Avio 80 WNr. 7 KK+UL 27-Feb-41
7 Avio 84 WNr. 11 KK+UP 27-Feb-41
C. Assigned to 1.Seenotstaffel at this date
8 Avio 83 WNr. 10 KK+UO Lost on 14-Mar-41
D. Disqualified from consideration for use by 6.SNS by engine fit (Bramo 323s - no other Seenot aircraft fitted with this engine yet)
9 Avio 76 WNr. 3 KD+GJ Probably still at E-Stelle Travemünde
E. Available
10 Avio 74 WNr. 1 KD+GA Photographed at Syracuse painted with Balkan Campaign Tactical Identification Markings (so most likely arrived after 6-Apr-41)
11 Avio 81 WNr. 8 KK+UM
12 Avio 85 WNr. 12 KK+UQ Delivered Feb-41 and probably not yet in front-line service.
N.B. Consistent use of RLM Werk-Nummern instead of using the Avio c/n as the WNr. seems only to happen in the March/April 1941 period.
|