[Kari Lumppio]

Hei Kyrre and others too!

This is one interesting plane. The photo is BA-MA Koblenz 514 257 69 and Valtonen's caption gives the time as early March 1944 at Alakurtti where General Kammhuber inspected NSGr 8. *

Thing is that 8. Ilmavalvontakomppania (AIr Observation Company) log has records of following Do 217 flights:

February 1944
7.2.1944 Do 217 "G9KW" 12:30 Tallinn - Pori, cancelled
8.2.1944 Do 217 "CGKW" 15:20 Riga - Pori, cancelled
9.2.1944 Do 217 C9KW 14:10 Tallinn - Kemi

(IIRC Lfl 1 HQ was at Riga that time (and they announced the flight?). It might explain the Feb 8th "hop" to Riga when the plane probably really was at Tallinn all the time - waiting for weather?)

March 1944
9.3.1944 Do 217 C9KW Pori - Insterburg

Above was from my "Helsinki" notes, but cannot find my Pori and Rovaniemi (33. Iv.K) notes. But according to my memory the Do 217 C9KW flew to Alakurtti and back. IIRC (again) there are no other recorded Do 217 flights for the Finnish area before Summer 1944. IIRC (third time) Do 217 N9AA does appear later in 1944, but I should really verify that. Earlier N9AA was a Ju 52.

EDIT: I found one Do 217 N9AA flight:

July 1944
14.7. Do 217 N9AA Schaulen - Riga - Tallinn - Pori


Based on the records I am assuming that Kammhuber's Do 217 originally was coded C9+KW. Does anyone have Stkz and or WNr for that?

I have also been told that there is a published photo of the Do 217 with the code N9+AA. Is anyone able to say where it was published?


With Best Regards,
Kari


*I guess that the photo of winter-camo II/JG 5 BF 109 G-6 Black "4" and others at Alakurtti spring 1944 is taken during the same time (and probably others too). Photo published for example in German Aircraft in Finland by Keskinen et al ( ISBN 952-5026-07-8 )