Ensigns captured by the Germans in France 1940

[paulmcmillan]

Originally Posted by Brian

Hi guys

I have read that BOAC Ensigns G-ADSZ Elysian and G-AFZV Enterprise were both captured in France in May 1940, fitted with Daimler-Benz engines and used by the Luftwaffe to transport VIPs. Is this correct? Any further details available?

Cheers
Brian

Brian

You should become a member of Air Britain as this subject came up recently on the Air Britain Information Exchange and thoroughly bebunked...

It is too long a correspondence to be posted here.. I will PM you but the highlights are:


G-ADSZ Elysian - Destroyed at Merville - Research in the German archives found that Lufthansa showed interest in the engines of an Ensign (referred to as Armstrong) for fitting to their DC3s but no mention of FZV, or any other Ensign, being re-engined.

G-AFZV Enterprise - NOT captured in France in 1940. This was forced down 300 miles north of Bathurst on the West African coast by engine trouble and abandoned [3.2.42]. 'Enterprise' was later repaired by the French and flown to Vichy France, eventually falling into German hands. This is probably the one that ended up in Finland

The other Ensign in France in 1940 was G-ADSX Ettrick

G-ADSX Ettrick was destroyed by the British military authorities after being damaged. Photo Evidence: (Air Enthusiast, Sep/Oct 97, p 77)

The important bit is WHY waste time and effort on fitting 1 or possibly 2 aircraft with 4 DB Engines, when you have no other airframe spares.. So much easier getting some Ju52s!

The Wright Cyclone Ensign engines were probably more valuable as pares for the Luftwaffe DC3's than the aircraft themselves!