Fw58 KT+AF

[Brian]

Hi guys

I hope someone will kindly advise to which Flying School this FW58 belonged, please?

Thanks in advance

Brian

[JoMe]

Hi Brian

In Oct. 1940 this plane belonged to Erg.ZGr. in Vaerloese/DK and was flown on 08. Oct. 1940 because wrong navigation to Sweden.

JoMe

[Brian]

Many thanks JoMe

Just what I was after.
Cheers
Brian

[Stig Jarlevik]

Brian

Not sure how much details you have
Crew: Olt Wilhelm Küster, Fw Fritz Giehl, Gefr Wilhelm Oechsle, Fl Otto Meier.
During a routine navigation flight from Vaerlose, outside Copenhagen, the crew lost its orientation and fixed themselves upon a Swedish Sk 14.
Not knowing at the time how agressive the Swedish aircraft might be, or maybe of their own position, the Fw followed the Sk 14 to its base at Ljungbyhed and landed at 10.45H. The Swedish trainer was crewed by Ltn Per Svensson and his pupil at the time. The German crew was interned at the time while the Germans was informed of what had happened. The German crew was handed back to the Germans on November 29th at Helsingor. The aircraft itself was flown to Satenas on November 12th, most certainly for investiagtion, and on December 12th it was flown by the Swedish test pilot Lambert Mueller back to Kastrup.

For those perhaps unaware of the geography we are talking about very small distances here and autumn haze can be quite tricky....

Cheers
Stig

[Brian]

Thanks Stig

That adds to what I already have.

Cheers
Brian

[Dean M. Wick]

Greetings: Curious if the Fw. Fritz Giehl on this flight might be the same pilot who flew with I/ZG2 in Poland, was shot down and POW of French, I believe in November of 1939 (working off memory). Perhaps released at Armistice and posted to Vaerlose as instructor? Any comments welcome. Regards Dean.

[Stig Jarlevik]

No problems Brian, glad to be of help for a change

I notice that the WNr of the Fw is not mentioned here, and might be old news for you, but for the sake of completeness to others, it was WNr 58297
Anything else you need regarding forced landings in Sweden during WW 2, just give me a shout, OK!

Dean
Interesting question. Indeed a Fw Fritz Giehl was shot down on Nov 6th, 1939 in a Bf 109D of JGr 102 (I./ZG 2) and became POW to the French.
Since the unit was supposed to be operational with the Bf 110 but used the 109 while waiting to be re-equipped, it could well be the same guy.
Would not be unusual for him in his further career to fly the twin-engined Fw 58.

I wonder if Larry, Peter or perhaps Douglas Stankey have more on this guy and perhaps can put one and one together...

Cheers
Stig

[S Sheflin]

Stig,

Thank you for the information regarding the Werknummer of Fw 58 KT+AF, 58297.

Does anyone know who built Fw 58s in the 58XXX range?

Steve Sheflin

[Jaap Woortman]

According to Luftfahrt international Nr.1 from Jan./Febr. 1974 at page 26:
FW 58B-2
Production Miag:58001 bis 58050; 58052 bis 58088

FW 58C-2
Production Miag: 58089 bis 58112; 58114 bis 58247; ab 5248 bis ?; 58451/D-OJIA.

FW 58G-1
Production Miag:58099; 58168 (Umbau FW 58C-2); 58190 (Umbau FW 58C-2); 58285; 58324.

FW 58G-3 (Umbaumuster aus FW 58B-2)
Production Miag: 58002; 58023; 58039; 58046; 58072

Other supply centres with WNr. 58XXX have not been mentioned.

Jaap Woortman

[Dean M. Wick]

Greetings: Further to my initial inquiry on Fw. Fritz Giehl, I have also noticed that a second member of this flight, Gefr. Wilhelm Oechsle, appears to have also flown with I/ZG2, as Bf. to Lt. Franz Mentzel, and was shot down on 15.5.40, becoming a POW. He was also released at Armistice. Does anyone have access to personnel rosters for the Erg.Zerst.Gr. at Vaerlose? As it appears that many former aircrew with ZG2 ( Hoffmann, Elsterman, Vollbracht for example) ended up posted there after the disbandment of ZG2 in the fall of 1940. Regards. Dean.