21st September 2009, 13:59
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 533
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Re: Transfer of two 5./196 Ar196s in September 1942
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Smart
Hello,
Any news of Komet's aircraft please ?
Side numbers/letters - aircrew etc ?
Were they used to find the B I Ship "Devon" on the 19th August 1941 ?
When Komet was eventually caught up with were the aircraft with her ?
Thank you
Alex
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Oops! I let this one slip by me, apologies for not coming back with the answer. My copies of the KTB are not accessible at the moment but I will consult them as soon as I can.
Yes, Komet had an aircraft aboard the night she was sunk. She had just finished a refit, during which the first Arado was found too troublesome and a second was supplied, sometime in September (possibly late August, will confirm. I am certain that all aircraft equipment aboard was new, or at least replacements: my strong impression was that all aircraft gear from her first patrol had been replaced). Komet then sailed from German waters and was attempting to break out into the Atlantic via the Channel to begin her second patrol when she was sunk with all hands on the night of October 13/14 1942. The wreck was found in 2007, the first such find of a German Auxiliary Cruiser.
Regards,
Bruce |