FW 200 Condor Losses

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

According to the EoE Luft loss list, this is listed as:

"October 22, 1940: 2./KG40 Focke-Wulf Fw200C-2 (0024). Crashed off the west coast of Ireland during weather reconnaissance sortie over the North Atlantic, cause unknown. FF1 Oberlt Theodor Schuldt (Staffelführer) and Reg. Rat. Meteorologe Dr Hans Sturm both killed, FF2 Fw Walter Berghaus, BF1 Fw Friedrich Gruber, BM Fw Friedrich Hoeger, and BF2 Gefr Walter Grässle all missing. Aircraft F8+OK 100% write-off.
The body of Theodor Schuldt was found on Aillebrack beach, near Ballyconneely, on November 12. Dr Hans Sturm was found washed ashore the same day on Dinish Island, near Lettermullen, County Galway."

Was there any eye-witness or other reporting that put the location of this crash more precisely than off the W. coast of Ireland (obviously somewhere near Dinish Island if the bodies washed ashore the same day)?

Does anyone know of the existence of photos prior to the crash for F8+OK? This would make a good subject for a color profile if it can be further documented with a photo of the a/c. Since "O" was not a common a/c letter in 1940, especially for a unit that didn't often have a full TO&E of a/c, it's possible that this is an error, although double checks of the source Luft records confirm that an "F8+OK" is what is recorded there.

Also, Chris lists this a 3.KG40, whereas our listing and the a/c code would indicate a 2 Staffel machine. Is there any explanation for the difference?

Regards,