German aircraft at Dakar July 1940

[Brian]

Hi guys

I somehow doubt that the answer will be forthcoming (or should I not doubt our experts on TOCH?)

On 27 July 1940, a German transport aircraft (Ju52/3m ??) arrived at Dakar to start repatriation of 100 or so mainly German merchant seaman who had been stranded following the loss of their vessels since the beginning of the war. These flights continued until 3 August.

However, according to author John Williams in 'The Guns of Dakar', one of those repatriated was "a badly wounded German flying ace".

Now, I appreciate the term 'ace' in this case probably means experienced, but who was he and where did he come from?

Cheers
Brian

[edNorth]

Hi Bian.
Seems Ju 90 or FW 200 whould have been more suitable for such long distance flights. FW 200´s (If I am correct) did fetch German sailors to Spain, Portugal and/or the Canaries around that time. I have this notes:

- D-ARHW DLH "Friesland" 27.07.1940 - Flew one flight to the Canary Islands in December 1940 (also to Algeria and Casablanca?) -
- D-ADHR DLH "Saarland" ret September 1940 - Flew one flight to the Canary Islands in December 1940 -
- D-AEQP DLH "Kurmark" September 1940 - Used for special flights to Algeria and Casablanca until October 1940

Not an exact answer, however could lead to one ´expert of experts´ by name of Gunther Ott, answering, maybe.

Best regards
ed

[Brian]

Many thanks Ed

Let's hope Gunther reads this. Is he a member of TOCH?

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

Günther is not a regular visitor to this site but I will draw his attention to it

[Günther Ott]

Thanks for the "flowers", Eggert. It is correct that Fw 200s were involved in the repatriation of German citizens from Dakar during July - September 1940. As agreed in consultations of the Franco-German Armistice Commission, this was to be done as a civil operations employing Lufthansa planes and crews since it involved also flying over neutral Spanish territory.

Two Fw 200 A-O, D-ADHR "Saarland" and D-ARHW "Friesland", were used flying in and out Dakar as follows with transit stops at Gando/Las Palmas:
26JUL/27JUL D-ADHR
28JUL/29JUL D-ARHW
29JUL/30JUL D-ADHR
31JUL/01AUG D-ARHW
01AUG/02AUG D-ADHR
03AUG/05AUG D-ARHW
10AUG/11AUG D-ADHR

The majority of the passengers were indeed German merchant seamen whose vessels had been seized in ports under French authority already at the beginning of hostilities. It is not known if the French had made any efforts of shipping German POWs to West Africa prior to the armistice. This might be the only possibility, but rather doubtful that they would have done it with "a badly wounded German flying ace".

I hope this helps.

Günther Ott

[Brian]

Many thanks Gunther, Chris and Ed

I should not have doubted the members of TOCH after all!!

Happy New Year to one and all.

Cheers
Brian

[Brian]

Hi guys

A P.S. to the aforementioned -

Apparently there was 1,000-tons of French, Belgian and Polish gold bullion hidden within the vicinty of Dakar in 1940.

I assume this was later recovered? Any details?

Cheers
Brian