Crash of a German helicopter, 4 December 1943

[Laurent Rizzotti]

In December 1943 the Fa 223 V12, after completing a long cross-country flight from Germany, was flown to Mont Blanc to perform a rescue of 17 people trapped on the mountain. Unfortunately, a mechanical link failure resulted in a rotor disintegrating, and, although the machine touched down on its wheels, it was hurled against an embankment and the crew (a pilot and a passenger) were killed.

The crash was at around 1345 hrs on 4 December 1943 near the sanatorium "Martel de Janville" at Passy, Haute-Savoie.

I am searching the names of both crew and their unit.

Thanks in advance

PS: nice picture of this helicopter in the following link: http://www.crash-aerien.aero/forum/post440132.html

[Matti Salonen]

I have only the pilot, Olt Klaus Brenneke from Erpr.-u.Lehr.Kdo 24. Also, I have the owner of the helicopter Focke-Achgelis & Co.

Matti

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks again

With the name of the pilot and thanks to Google, I could find the name of the passenger, and more about this crash:
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=144218
http://germaniamagna.forumup.ch/abou...aniamagna.html

[Steve Coates]

A full account of the crash is given in my book 'Helicopters of the Third Reich'. The purpose of the flight remains surrounded in a little mystery. It almost certainly wasn't to rescue stranded mountaineers.

I also published a couple of photos of the machine pre and post crash in my book. Further photos have come to light recently via a very helpful board member.