Information concerning loss of Oberfeldwebel Otto Sigl - killed 23.09.1943

[rickback4444]

Hi,

Can anyone provide information on the loss of Oberfeldwebel Otto Sigl who was a pilot in a transport staffel.

He was an experienced flier with the EK I, Golden flight Badge, wound badge and Was Merit Cross First Class with Swords

He was killed on the 23rd September 1943 over Italy.

He was 29 years old and from Munich.

Many thanks

Rick

[Leendert]

He was pilot of a Savoia SM 82 of III./TG 1, reportedly shot down by a destroyer ('Zerstörersbeschuss') east of Corsica.
Fate of other crew not known to me, presumably also killed.

Leendert

[rickback4444]

Many thanks Leendert,

You took me by surprise with Sigl being lost on an Italian model.

Do we know if it is true that this aircraft SAvoia 82 was the most used foreign aircraft in the Luftwaffe?

Rick

[Laurent Rizzotti]

In this case I guess that Zerstörer is to be understand as heavy fighters, like the German Bf 110 and in this case British Beaufighter: 39 Sqn claimed 3 "S.82" NE Bastia in the morning, 47 Sqn 1 S.82 and 1 Ju 52 NE Corsica and 39 Sqn 2 Ju 52 near Bastia in the afternoon.

III./TG 1 lost 4 SM 82 (11 KIA, 2 MIA) includng MM61179 flown by Ofw Otto Sigl, who was killed with the 4 other crew, while III./TG 2 lost 3 Ju 52, 4 KIA, 3 MIA and 1 WIA.

A quick check on my Lufwaffe loss lists scanned files show no detail for the above loss, administrative situation of luftwaffe in the area was probably very bad, one of the losses of this day for III./TG 1 is reported as late as 29 October and I am still missing two (I checked between 24 September and 2 November).

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by rickback4444

Many thanks Leendert,

Do we know if it is true that this aircraft SAvoia 82 was the most used foreign aircraft in the Luftwaffe?

Rick

Fairly possible with around 300 produced for Luftwaffe after September 1943, to be added to the ones captured when Italy switched sides, but also to the ones used by the Luftwaffe before the Italian armistice, a Savoia-Staffel was created in Italy in summer 1942 with this model.

[rickback4444]

Thanks Laurent,
Can you provide full list of crew lost with Sigl?

Is there an aircraft code for this plane?

Many thanks

Rick

[Leendert]

Re # 2 but to be verified by a Lw loss expert: names of other crew: (Bf) Ofw. Bruno Heiss, (Bm) Gefr. Adolf Watzke, (Bs) Uffz. Franz Mansfeld and (Bs) Uffz. Martin Flöthmann.

Laurent: correct with 'Zerstörer', perhaps was thinking in naval terms myself....

Leendert