Ju 188 – Desertion to Portugal April 1945

[Steve Coates]

Does anyone know anything more about a Ju 188 which was flown from Munich (not clear which airfield) to Portela Airport Lisbon in Portugal on 6/4/45?

There are a few brief documents on this episode in the FO (Foreign Office) files at Kew (Reference FO371/49525) enabling part of the story to be pieced together. The Ju 188’s markings are given as ‘V63/1’ . It was crewed by Alfred Funke (Pilot), Hans Schwender (Wireless Operator) and a mechanic with the surname of Raithel. The crew were taken into custody by the Portugese Police.

Funke had emigrated to Canada in 1929 where he worked as a civilian pilot and was granted Canadian nationality in 1938. During the early part of the war he worked for Junkers as a flight test engineer and more latterly worked at Munich flying tests for de-icing equipment. Funke and his crew had apparently been planning their desertion for approximately six weeks. Schwender was apparently an Austrian whose parents were in Switzerland and Raithel had spent considerable time in South America.

The Ju 188 took off at 08.57GMT and landed at 13.47GMT. Portugal had been chosen as their destination rather than Spain as it was considered this would only have resulted in early repatriation.

Funke offered to place his services at the disposal of the Allies. This offer was ultimately declined as it appeared following further investigation that Funke had been dismissed from his position with Canadian Airways on the outbreak of war for ‘behaviour suspected to be detrimental to the defence of Canada and passing pro-Nazi remarks to plane passengers.’ Funke’s Certificate of Naturalisation was revoked following his request to return to the Allied side ‘for disloyalty and dissatisfaction to his Majesty’. Funke appealed this decision, seemingly unsuccessfully and would appear to have been subsequently returned to Germany.

Can anyone add anything to this story? Do any photos of the Ju 188 exist? What ultimately happened to it?

The same file also contains a couple of very brief documents on the landing of a twin engined German machine from Norway at approximately 09.00GMT 29/4/45 at Pedras Rubras airport in Porto / Oprto. This machine had a crew of two and the ‘usual GAF markings and letters IR’. No other details can be found in the file. Again, can anyone provide additional detail?