Luftwaffe losses at Athens-Tatoi on 17 May 1941

[Lennart Andersson]

It is ‘common knowledge’ that Junkers G 38 GF+GG was destroyed in an attack by RAF Wellingtons (148 Squadron) on 17 May 1941. So why is it not entered in the German Verlustmeldungen now available in digitalised form? Volume 2 (RL 2-III/753) covers 1 January to 31 May 1941, and volume 3 (RL 2-III/754) covers 1 June to 31 July 1941, including a lot of Benachrichtigungen and late entries from the earlier period.

The only losses at Athens on 17 May that are listed are one Ju 52 at ‘Athen’, four Ju 52 at ‘Athen-Kalamaki’ and an Hs 126 at ‘Athen-Tatoi’. There is no G 38 before or after 17 May either.

Any suggestions why the Junkers G 38 loss is not listed?

[Chris Goss]

Just come across a photo of it. All that is left is the tail but it is not in standard Luftwaffe markings and paint scheme which might explain it was recorded elsewhere

[Lennart Andersson]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Just come across a photo of it. All that is left is the tail but it is not in standard Luftwaffe markings and paint scheme which might explain it was recorded elsewhere

Thank you. Could you please elborate on markings and paint scheme. What was non-standard? It was operated by the Luftwaffe, possibly by KGzbV 172, but might have still been part of Lufthansa's inventory, which could explain why it was not entered in the Lw loss lists.

[Chris Goss]

I have looked again at the photos. One showing the tail is clearly not G38 but a Ju 52 with a swastika in a disc on the tail inside a (red?) band. In the distance are the smoking remains of the G38. The second photo shows that the G38 was totally burnt out and all that remained were the engines or what was left of them