Escaped Luftwaffe crew

[winston]

I am looking for information about a crew of a FW200 Condor crash-landed in February 1941 in the south of Portugal. The crew survived, was interned but escaped after a few days. Does anyone knows any details or can give some advice where to find reports on this?
Thank You

[Larry deZeng]

Since the Luftwaffe records were 97% destroyed during the last year of the war, your best shot is this:

Records of the German Foreign Office Received by the Department of State. Microfilm Publication T120. 5,485 rolls. (Includes records of the German Foreign Office, 1867-1945, and records of the Reichs Chancellery, 1919-1945).

The German Embassy Lisbon would have been deeply involved in this and I would guess that you would find numerous reports and Fernschreiben in their records covering the incident.

The British Embassy in Lisbon would have been on it, too. You will have to go to the British National Archives in London for these records.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Winston

The new Fw 200 book from Classic says
09.02.1941 C-1 WNr 0003 F8+DK damaged by AA-fire from HMS Deptford. Landed Moura Portugal. Destroyed by crew. No names I'm afraid. Larry's advise seems pretty well based, so if you want further details they look like fair game....

Cheers
Stig

[winston]

Larry: Thanks for the advice - I think the German Embassy in Lisbon is the best as a first choice to start.
Stig: Tks for the advice - I know the name of the pilot it was Oberleutnant Erich Adam, but not yet the rest of the crew's names. Anyway, as you said Larry's advice give me 2 points to start with... will see

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Winston,

The other crew members were;
OberLt. Grasgeber,
Oberfw. Gropp,
Uffz. Reier,
Uffz. Hecht,
Uffz. Pluntke.

These details come from an index listing all the aircraft that crashed or force-landed in Portugal during WW2. From the book 'ATERREM EM PORTUGAL' by Carlos Guerreiro, published last year. I can't give you any other information as the book is in Portugese. I think Carlos occasionally visits this forum.

Hope this helps,

Martin Gleeson.

[winston]

Martin:

Thank you for your kind help, it really helps, because I still did not knew those names. So, again thanks and also for the Carlos Guerreiro's book reference.

[Brian Bines]

From Luft. QM's returns:-

Ff Oblt Erich Adam
Ff FwPaul Hecht
Bf Ofw. Dietrich Gropp
Bf Uffz Kurt Dreyer
Bm Ofw Erich Grasberger
Bs Uffz Herbert Pluntke

Regards

Brian Bines

[cpaige5@hotmail.com]

How many more Luftwaffe planes landed in Portugal? What happened to those crews? I know that Luftwaffe crews that landed in Sweden and Switzerland were returned after due time. Ireland the crews were stuck there for the duration. Spain and Turkey also had interned planes and crews. Does anyone know if these crews were also exchanged?

[winston]

cpaige:

As much as I know 3 more crashed ( one of them some month later near my village - again) but (as much as I know) their crews did not survived.

Brian: Thank You