Bismarcks Ar 196's

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

I understand that the four Ar 196's that were on board Bismarck must have gone down with the ship ?

I had thought that at least one had survived and was now in a museum somewhere ?

Are there any photos of these aircraft

What of the Luftwaffe personnell Pilots, observers and technicians on the ship did they survive ?

Thanks

Alex

[Adam]

Hi Alex,

I have the following:

W.Nr.052 T3+IH
Pilot: Uffz Ernst Lange.
Observer: Lt Günter Lademann.

W.Nr.110, T3+AK
Pilot: Fw Oskar Andersen.
Observer: Lt.z.S Rolf Hambruch.

W.Nr.123, T3+DL
Pilot: Fw Josef Kempfle.
Observer: Oblt Siegfried Mühling.

W.Nr.150, T3+MK
Pilot: Fw Werner Seeliger.
Observer: Lt Martin Lange.

I'm not sure of their fate

Regards

Adam

[Boris]

Hi Alex.
According to Volksbund all above mentioned crews were KIA or MIA.
Regards
Boris

[Fairlop]

Hi Alex,

If I remember right all Arados sunk down. Two were damaged by raids from Victorious and Ark Royal but main problem was damaged catapult by one of torpedos.
A Cameron´s expedition to wreck in 2002 showed one of a/c in destroyed hangar.

Regards,
Michal

[Yves Marino]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

I had thought that at least one had survived and was now in a museum somewhere ?

In the Sola-Museum in Norway only the frame of one of the Blucher's (not Bismark's) Ar 196 A2 is in the exposition.
The only 3 preserved Ar 196 in the world are in Bulgaria, NMNA (NAS Pensacola Florida) and NASM Washington (actually in the Garber Facility).

[Steve49]

None of these aircrew appear in the list of Bismarck survivors in Admiralty Battle Summary No5. According to that the aircrew all came from 5./Ku.Fl.Gr.196

[ju55dk]

Originally Posted by Steve49

None of these aircrew appear in the list of Bismarck survivors in Admiralty Battle Summary No5. According to that the aircrew all came from 5./Ku.Fl.Gr.196

Actually they belonged to Bordfliegergruppe 196!

Junker

[Alex Smart]

Hello to you all,

many thanks for your replies.

As for tha air crew's fate.
Malte Gaack's list in KBismarck.com has crosses alongside all the names given here.
None are in his survivors list.

Where can I find information on the Air Units mentioned,

Bordfliegergruppe 196
OR
5/Ku/Fl.Gr.196

Thanks again

Alex

[Yves Marino]

Originally Posted by Alex Smart

Where can I find information on the Air Units mentioned,

Bordfliegergruppe 196
OR
5/Ku/Fl.Gr.196

Thanks again

Alex

Here: http://www.ww2.dk/ (under "Maritime units").

[Steve49]

The interrogation of Bismarck survivors (document C.B. 4051, published in 'German Capital ships and raiders in WWII, Volume I'; by Frank Cass) revealed the following information about the embarked flight. The aircrew were four pilots and two observers from the Luftwaffe and two observers from the navy. Six mechanics and an instrument mechanic maintained the aircraft. These all were provided by 5./Bordfliegergruppe 196 (sorry about the Ku for a Bo!) and there appears to have been only one survivor; Mechanikerobergefreiter Ernest KADOW.