Fw 200 crash in Orel on 23 December 1941

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hello,

On 23 December 1941 the Fw 200 WNr 3098 had a landing accident on Orel airfield. This aircraft had been part of the "Fuhrer Staffel" before.

I would like to know the usual details of this accident, especially is the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and if there were casualties.

Thanks in advance

Laurent

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I have received by mail an extract of the book "Hitler's personal pilot: the life and times of Hans Baur", by C. G. Sweeting. ISBN 1-57488-288-0:

"Drastic measures had to be taken to halt the Soviet winter offensive and stabilize the front. Even Baur and his special squadron were called on in emergencies to transport not only important personnel, but also vital cargo. In late 1941, an urgent request for help was received at the Fuhrer's headquartes from General Guderian, who requested that many of his tank and vehicle crewmen were suffering from frostbitten feet. Baur immediately sent several transports to the city of Minsk, where a large felt factory had recently begun the manufacture of felt winter boots for the Wehrmacht. Several thousand pair were flown directly to an airfield near Orel for immediate issue to the troops. On December 23 the Fuehrer's accompanying aircraft, Fw 200 A-0 (S-8), WNr 3098, NK+NM, piloted by Flight Captain Ludwig Gaim, crashed on landing at Orel in a storm while delivering a load of "Fuehrerpakete", Christmas packages from the Fuehrer, for soldiers at the front. Two crewmen were killed and two seriously injured. The injured men were flown back to Koenigsberg in East Prussia for treatment two weeks later when they were well enough to travel."

With the pilot name I have found a source telling that the aircraft was destroyed and that Gaim was one of the wounded.

I am now searching the names of the casualties (and confirmation that Gaim was one of them).

I also wonder if this Ludwig Gaim was the same as the WWI ace, that became a SS-Standartenführer on 9 November 1943. It seems that most of the pilots of the Fuhrer squadron has SS ranks, so it is possible.

Thanks in advance

[Brian Bines]

Laurent,

This might be of help :-http://www.fpp.co.uk/Hitler/filmfound/Sentinel.html

Regards

Brian Bines

The Karl-Heinz Regnat publication on the Condor indicates that 3098 was a total loss in the landing accident at Orel with a broken back ( gebrochenem Ruckgrat )

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks a lot Brian