Flugbuch of Wilhelm Kaufhold - FA 330 questions

[Stig Jarlevik]

I was intrigued by the find of his F-buch here:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/235719865145...90.c101224.m-1

First of all his glider training where we still in 1943 find WL registered aircraft.
Obviously nobody had bothered to remove the WL prefixes.

Secondly I have never before come across what looks like FA 330 training.
Seems it started with towed take offs from the Autobahn and later continued with towed
take offs from the Zuider Zee.

Would this have been the normal training procedure?
Also there are a lot of digits when it comes to individual FA 330.
Would anyone be able to explain these numbers please? WNr??

Cheers
Stig

[Steve Coates]

Stig

Thanks for this. I'm not sure the continution of the WL prefixes in 1943 was restricted to Gelnhausen. Didn't the Stkz come in later for gliders than fixed-wing aircraft?

In terms of Fa 330 training. Initial type familiarisation took place at Chalais-Meudon being deemed the safest option. From Chalais-Meudon, training then proceeded to Bautzen where the Autobahn training took place before being completed at Schellingwoude.

I have to confess I've still not been able to get completely to the bottom of the W.Nrn of the Fa 330s especially the 'split numbering' system. I still hoping for a flash of inspiration.

[JoMe]

The six-digit numbers of the Fa 330 are WNr., I cannot assign the other numbers.

[Steve Coates]

Even the six figure W.Nrn though have a far greater span than the production run with the break points not being at all clear.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Guys

The glider registrations were based on in which area (Kreis?) they were in.
Sometimes this area was written with Roman digits but mostly with standard western ones.
I have so far not found out if each area had their own digit range, or if these digits were in
one single range, ie D-1-1 was the same aircraft as D-17-1 and only ment it had changed its area,
or D-1-1 and D-17-1 were two entirely different aircraft.
Still a bit surprised though that the WL prefix was still shown on quite a few in mid 1943

With regard to the FA 330 training. Thanks for showing how it was done. I think I have to re-read
those sections in your book Steve. Before doing that, is it known any exact production figure?

Cheers
Stig

[Steve Coates]

Stig

I'm away from my material at the moment and haven't quite bottomed it out but it's around 200 - 250.

Steve

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks again Steve
Cheers
Stig