Fw 200 operations on 29.12.43

[schnellmeyer]

I am currently trying to trace down a Fw200 Condor that was active over the Bay of Biscay on 29.12.43 , I would be very grateful for any help , thanks.

[Tim O.]

Jerry Scutts lists this loss for 29th Dec 1943:

Fw 200 C-8/(C-5) (0246) F8+IR (TO+XB) TO+XD

Hptm. Georg Schobert
FhjOfw Wilhelm Friedrichs
Ofw Kurt Scheunert
Fw Paul Böber
Uffz Erwin Pauli
Fw Johann Aixner
Uffz Frity Lautenschläger
Uffz Siegfried Radauer

Missing Atlantic.

Best wishes
Tim O.

[Brian Bines]

The 'K' report for the Dette crew Pows on 28-12-43 said in order to protect blockade-runners (MV Munsterland ?) III/KG40 were maintaining continuous recon. over 0400 to 2200hrs daily from Dec 21st. So it is possible to be the same type of mission on which the Schoder crew was lost.

[schnellmeyer]

Thanks for your help Tim O , on 29 Dec a Irish Merchant ship MV Kerlogue picked up German Naval survivors from a battle with two RN Cruisers , three German ships were sunk , Z27, T25 and T26 with no loss to the RN .
I am friendly with some of the German Naval survivors and one of them told me that on the day they were rescued a Fw 200 flew over them and also fired flares at the MV Kerlogue to signal where the survivors were so they could be picked up .
I was hoping to try and track down the crew of the Fw200 , thanks.

[Chris Goss]

The Scutts loss list in his book came from me and this crew are still missing.
I am sure I have been asked this question before. 4 FW 200s took off between 0507 & 0523 hrs for a recce 55 degrees 30 mins to 47.30 N, 9 degrees to 13.30 west
0824 hrs in PlQ 24W/3615 ship spotted
0912 hrs in 24W/3623 an Irish freighter was spotted 800-1000 BRT course 65 degrees.
0915 hrs red & white flares seen
0922 hrs 30 dinghies seen
0924 hrs in 24W/2787 a dinghy with 6-7 men spotted which was Hptm Dette's crew lost 28 Dec 43. They signalled them that they would be getting a ship to get them
0930 hrs in 24W/1721 an Irish freighter of 3000 BRT spotted

...and this goes on until 1205 hrs when they got the Irish freighter to rescue them (mentions use of flares).

Contact me if your friends want a copy of the transcript but the only crew names I have are for the FW 200 lost

[schnellmeyer]

Hi Chris , thanks for your help . Yes , I would be most grateful for any material that you could give me . I will pass it on to my Naval friends in Germany , out of interest one of them has a drawing he done showing a Fw200 flying over the survivors , can make a copy for you if you want . Many thanks again for all your help .

[schnellmeyer]

Just out of interest who picked up Wilhelm Dette's crew , did he crash due to enemy action ? So many questions !!!!

[Chris Goss]

Thought you had the Scutts book? Outer starboard engine caught fire, ditched 46.15N 13.14W 1110 hrs 28 Dec 43; Rescued by Lord Nuffield 0200 hrs 1 Jan 44

[Brian Bines]

'K' report for Dette says two hours into the flight the Bm reported that the outer starboard engine was using a large amount of fuel, but the captain decided to press on. At around 1030hrs they saw a Sunderland coming out of broken cloud. The Condors gunner fired off a burst at the Sunderland with unkown results and the Sunderland flew back into cloud without returning fire. Shortly after this the outer staboard engine which was still giving trouble, burst into flames. This was put down to a leak in a fuel connection, and the Pilot ditched, losing Fw. Seving who was swept away. Some accounts credits the Sunderland with shooting the Condor down, but the above is what the 'K' says ?,

Brian Bines

[Chris Goss]

I have no record of a Sunderland in combat with a FW 200 and have the chap as died as Sewing