WaST Berlin X crews losses

[John Vasco]

Some things you need to know, if you don't already.

The main documents held by the WASt are the 'Namentliche Verlustmeldungen', which were reports filed at unit level of unit members killed or wounded. As 1940 progressed, these returns contained more information than previously submitted. Occasionally, there would be a supplementary report about the action concerned. They were used to notify next of kin, so were usually quite accurate.

The Quartermaster's Returns, on the other hand, while also submitted from unit level, contain many inaccuracies, particularly spelling mistakes of crew members names. The main purpose of the these returns was for aircraft replacement, so crew names were secondary. Many members on this forum have spent a lot longer going through the Quartermaster's Returns, so they may be able to confirm or deny my point about them.

The 'Nam Ver' and 'Quartermaster's Returns' are the main sources for damage/loss returns on aircraft, and the best scenario is that the information be considered on both concerning the same incident, in order to try to be as accurate as possible. For crew names, I would definitely go with the 'Nam Ver' before the other source.

[Nick Beale]

Just to support what John has said, the NVMs are probably more reliable for personal names since they also have a next of kin name and address in the right hand column. QMG returns aren't always too hot on spelling pace names either, especially if they aren't German ones. In the end though, any document can have mistakes in it, I recently had a file out out the National Archives and neatly stencilled on the front cover is the volume number and the title "SUMMERIES" [sic].

[RT]

Hv they, these NVM, not restricted access now ??

Rémi

[John Manrho]

To add a little....if people get a letter from the WASt with information on crashes this info is not only coming from the NVM but also from data that has been learned since the end of the war. For instance the NVM says "Raum Lingen/Emsland" as location of the loss. The letter received might say something like "1 Km south of Bawinkel" ....

[Peter Cornwell]

Rémi,

Access to the NVMs has been restricted for some years past under strict Federal data protection laws. Prior to this, photo-copies of the original documents (with certain sensitive information obscured) could be purchased from the WASt.