FW200 F8+OK lost 22 October 1940

[Brian]

Hi guys

On 22 October 1940 F8+OK of I/KG40 commanded by Oblt Schuldt FTR from a sortie over the Irish Sea.

On this same date, the Irish steamer Kerry Head was attacked and sunk by a German bomber at about 1400 hours off Castletownbere.

A witness reported seeing the bomber crash into the sea following the attack.

Do two and two make four?

Cheers
Brian

[John Beaman]

The loss record states it was on a weather recon. Did such missions go "armed" with bombs?

Fw200C-2, 0024, Schuldt, Oblt. Theo, 2./KG 40, schwarze O, F8+OK, 22-Oct-40, MIA with crew while on weather recon. 6 crew missing., Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #2)-Vol.3; BoB, T&N, p.693; Mason, p.455, txt., vor Irland Küste

[Don Pearson]

You may also see the notes here:

http://homepage.eircom.net/~wrgi/tableker.html

Don

[Brian]

Thanks guys

That is interesting and confusing. The Irish website states that the crew was rescued by the Irish Lights vessel Nabro, whereas other records state there were no survivors. At least two were lost, the pilot (Schuldt) and the meteorologist (Sturm), their bodies having been washed ashore a few weeks later. So, were the remaining four crewmembers rescued?

Cheers
Brian

[robert]

Hi,

I also red that two bodies were later found. I also know that this plane took off in the morning.

Regards

Robert

[Chris Goss]

Ac usually flew bombed up because of targets of opportunity

[Stig Jarlevik]

Brian

This site is also pretty useful
http://www.skynet.ie/~dan/war/crashes.htm

Cheers
Stig

[Stig Jarlevik]

All

Further to my mail this WNr 0024 is a bit of a mystery.

Nowarra in his Fw 200 book states that
0024 F8+DK with III./KG 40 was 55% lost 27.4.1942 at Orleans

Salgado in his recent book states
0024 F8+OK missing Irish Sea 22.10.1940

Question
If Salgado is correct then what was lost at Orleans 27.4.1942? I know that Nowarra is unreliable although he got better and better. His final books are far more reliable than his early ones. So if I presume Nowarra did not just have fantasy what was really lost on 27.4.42?

Cheers
Stig

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo all,

Brian.
There is no evidence that I know of to connect both incidents, though it is very possible. What the witness 'saw' and what actually happened can be two different things - as we all know to our cost ! I have yet to view any witness reports to this attack but there are probably some in the relevant coastal look-out post logs which I have not seen.

John.
To judge by the number of attacks made by Condors and other aircraft on Irish and other vessels off the Irish coast in 1940-1941 it appears most unlikely that any of these Luftwaffe aircraft did not carry bombs. An observation from a review of files of reported attacks on shipping in the Irish Military Archives.

Don and Brian.
Basically ignore the incorrect and mixed-up information on that website. Dennis Burke's website (see Stig's post) is much more reliable.

Robert.
You may hold the key here ! Do you know the exact take-off time ?
AFAIK the attacker/unit of the Kerry Head on 22 October 1940 has never been identified.
Two bodies were indeed found (Schuldt and Sturm), the others were never recovered (or perhaps identified). Schuldt was found washed ashore on 12 November 1940 at Aillebrack, near Clifden, County Galway on the west coast of Ireland. Sturm was found washed ashore on the same date at Dynich Island, near Lettermullen, Co. Galway.

Stig.
0024 is correct for 1940, while 0025 was the 1942 loss. This information came from contributions on this very forum in 2002 and 2005 by Jim P., Chris Goss and Peter Cornwell.

Hope this helps,

Martin Gleeson.

[Brian]

Thanks Martin

Good to hear from you again. Trust you are well.

I am now getting a clearer picture of events.

Cheers
Brian