loss of governor of the Aegean in Ju52

[David Pausey]

4th July 44 603 Sqn shot down a Ju52 seaplane W of Syros, intelligence later reported that the aircraft was carrying several officers including the governor of the Aegean. Can any one provide more details ?

[Larry deZeng]

"Governor" sound like either an Auswärtiges Amt position or a position filled by an official of the collaborationist government. Should no one come forward with an answer to your question, here is a book that may have what you are looking for:

Mazower, Mark
Inside Hitler's Greece: The Experience of Occupation, 1941-44
New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1995

L.

[byron-]

Hello David,

The title "Governor of the Aegean" did`nt exist. On the other hand, the highest rank Officer who died in year 1944 in Greece on a plane crash was:

Chef des Stabes 68 A.K. : 25.03.43-17.10.44 Oberst Helmut Görhardt, (+) 17.10.44

[Snautzer]

pictures of incident https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/thread...0#post-1852034

[RSwank]

A few more photos here:
https://saafww2pilots3.yolasite.com/...-july-1944.php

This facebook page has more complete description of the incident, includings photos and a image of the squadron report:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1640.../?locale=ps_AF

Posting was made by Michael Balss

"4. July 1944. 4 Beaufighter of the 603. Sq. Made a offensive recces., one pair in the Western Aegean and the other in the Central Aegean. Aircraft “K” and “W” . (K: F/Sgt. E.F.Pennie & F/Sgt. G.W. Hinde and W: W/O L.F. Sykes & F/Sgt. G.W. Hinde) in the Central Aegean sighted just West of Syros a Ju 52 float plane, flying due East at 50 feet. As our aircraft turned to make stern attacks, the enemy aircraft turned as if to take cover by alighting in fog along the west coast of the island. Both aircraft closed and attacked, scoring strikes on the starboard engine and mainplane, as a result of which flames immediately broke out. When the Beaufighter left, the float plane had alighted in a small bay on the south-west of Syros, was blazing from and to and a number of survivors were swimming in the sea.
Source photos and document: IWM “The National Archives (GB)”; own Luftwaffe losses database
The Ju 52 belongs to:
4.July 1944, 5./TG 4, Ju 52/3m g8e, WNr. 3377, Markings G6 + BN, lost in flight from Gadurra to Tatpi, reason unknown, crew: Pilot Ofhr. Heinz Faulhaber MIA, Co-pilot Uffz. Reinhold Wenger MIA; Obs. Uffz. Max Helber KIA; Wop Ofw. Gerhard Stender MIA; FIng. Fw. Rudi Müller KIA.
Passengers are not mentioned in in the Loss record."

[BrianC]

Hi guys

I understand that the dignitary (governor) was an Italian. Does that help?

Take care
Brian

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by BrianC

Hi guys

I understand that the dignitary (governor) was an Italian. Does that help?

Take care
Brian

It might because the Comando Supremo war diaries are online (in Italian, naturally) and the loss os someone so high-up would probably be mentioned.

[Gianandrea Bussi]

In 1944 there wasn't an italian governor in Aegean, the last one was Ammiraglio Inigo Campioni, arrested on 18 september 1943 by the german, delivered to the Repubblica Sociale Italiana and shot on 22 may 1944.
The highest italian auctority in 1944 was IginioUgo Faralli, vice governor since may 1943 but it was obviously subordinated to the german military authorities that were occupying the former italian Dodecaneso. Faralli passed away in 1965.

[BrianC]

Hi guys

Presumably RAF Intelligence incorrect in this case. But who were the passengers?

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Luftwaffe loss records rarely list passengers