Rommel's Storch

[Der Kommandeur]

Hi Everyone

I posted this query at www.feldgrau.net and had a seful reply

http://www.feldgrau.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=20526

but I wonder if anyone here can throw any further light on my question:

Does anyone have images they could post or web links for details (markings and camouflage) of the Fiesler Fi156 Storch used by Rommel in North Africa?

I have a photo in Liddel Hart's "The Rommel Papers" which shows a partial call sign "??+XK". Were the first two letters "5F" ?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

DK

[Jim P.]

'5F' would not have been Rommel's plane per se, but from 2.(H)/14, a recon unit the served throughout the NA campaign.

[Der Kommandeur]

Hi Jim P

Are you suggesting that Rommel had his 'own' aircraft, rather than one drawn from a unit in theatre?

DK

[Boomerang]

Hello DK

On seeing your post, I checked out a DVD German Fighter Aircraft of WW2 1939 - 1942. This includes a segment of newsreel footage which shows Rommel getting out of a Storch in which he has just landed.

The Storch was coded CB + TL.

The footage shows the Storch flying over before landing, this coding is applied to the wing undersides, as well as the fuselage. The narration states that the footage was taken during the initial phase of the Afrika Korps build up, but obviously this is far from definitive!

Sorry this isn't as good as a weblink, but the image should be available via the newsreel archives.

I cannot throw any light on whether Rommel's use of this aircraft was a 'one-off; or did continue, but I thought at least I should post this information.

Regards

Boomerang

[Der Kommandeur]

Hi Boomerang

Thank you for your contribution ... the more information the better!

My post here http://www.feldgrau.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=20526 has produced some worthwhile information too.

If Rommel's aircraft were drawn from in-theatre units I guess he is sure to have had different ones from time to time (availablity/serviceability and so on).

But "CB" ... are you sure? I'm not an expert on Luftwaffe codes, but where the first character of a call sign was a letter wasn't the second character usually/always a number? Could it be "C8"? That would make it an aircraft from KG.z.b.V.323 I think ... which operated ME323s ... which seems to have served in the Mediterranean:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...r/KGzbV323.htm

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...20323Ver-R.htm

WDYT?

Thanks in advance

DK

[Jim P.]

A lot of liason/utility/transport aircraft carried their original factory code or Stammkennzeichen versus a code designating any particular unit.

[Der Kommandeur]

Hi Jim P

Thank you for this ... this is completely new to me, and a quick Google gave me this:

http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/stammkennzeichen.html

so I'm going to improve my knowledge for sure.

This page lists "CB+TL ... Fieseler ... Fi156 C ... rommel" so it looks as if you are right after all Boomerang.

Thanks again.

DK

[David E. Brown]

Interesting topic.

Over the years I kept an eye out for any photos of Fi 156s that were associated with Rommel, culling these from various armour and aviation publications, videos, etc. My modest list is in all probability a very small sampling of the aircraft in which he was a passeneger in, though like others I believe that he did not have a personal aircraft per se, but used what was available to him when the requirement arose.

Fi 156C-3/trop DL+AW WNr.????? Wustennotstaffel, 1941
Fi 156C-3/trop CB+TL WNr.????? 194?
Fi 156C-3/trop 5F+XK WNr.????? 2(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 14, March 1941
Fi 156C-3/trop ??+?Z WNr.????? 1942

Cheers,

David

[Merlin]

Rommel, as well as all other Army commanders, did not have an own aircraft. The Kurierstaffeln were responsible for this task.

The unit serving the Deutsche Afrikakorps was called Kurierstaffel zbV. Afrika, the inventory included Ju 52, He 111, Bf 108, Fi 156 and Caudron 445 planes.

Nevertheless, sometimes the Army commanders used planes of the reconnaissance Staffeln, the flight with Fi 156 +XK was indeed with the 5F+XK from 2.(H)/14.

[Der Kommandeur]

Hi Merlin

Thank you for this.

Do yo have any information regarding codes, markings and colour schemes? Or can you point me at any sources?

Thanks

DK