Me 323 losses in the Middle East ?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
How many Me 323's were lost while in the Middle East ?
How many losses were due to enemy aircraft action ?
How many losses on the 26th July 43 ?
Thanks
Alex

[G.R.Morrison]

Here are two on 26.July 1943

Me 323 WNr.1267 (VM+IO), I./TG 5, Fw. Karallus KIA 26.July 1943 due to enemy fire. 2.F & 4.Bs KIA, rest WIA, East of Cap Rera.
2.F Fw. Ernst, Bf Ogefr. Höpner, Bm Fw. Schröder, 2.Bm Uffz. Michales, Bs Uffz. Bierstädt, 2.Bs Ogefr. Etzel, 3.Bs Gefr. Nitzke & 4.Bs Ogefr. Kamenz

Me 323 WNr.1270 (VM+IR), I./TG 5, Ofw. Böge KIA 26.July 1943 due to enemy fire. 2.F, Bm, 2.Bm & Bs also KIA, rest WIA, near Garibaldi.
2.F Ofw. Klar, Bf Uffz. Fleck, Bm Fw. Ring, 2.Bm Ogefr. Gettinger, Bs Ogefr. Ströhle, 2.Bs Uffz. Steinhäuser, 3.Bs Ogefr. Rittner & Bs Gefr. Eiden

Hope this helps, GRM

[Brian Bines]

Alex, from GQM list between 10-11-42 and 30-9-43 in Mediterranean operations I have listed 60 Me323 losses with 35 of these down to accidents or aircraft destroyed on the ground. Those lost to fighters are 11-1-43 one, 14-3-43 one, 22-4-43 fourteen off Kap Bone, 20-5-43 four, 26-7-43 two, 30-7-43 one and 30-9-53 two. These are from my best reading of the GQM where 2,3 and 5 can be confused as well as 0,6 and 8 but this should at least act as a guide,

Regards

Brian Bines

I belive there was a French publication on the Me323 giving a loss list does anyone know if this is a complete aircraft and crew listing, thanks.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

By the way both losses above were in MTO area, not in the east.

The French publication is an old Avions magazine, describing the MTO losses between Nov 42 and AUg-Sep 43 IIRC. The WNr are given, with the cause, dmaage percentage, location and number of casualties (x KIA, x WIA) but no crew name.

If someone is interested, I can find the exact reference, as I have it at home.

[CJE]

Losses lists were dealt with in the late (and sorely missed) Barry Rosch's "Luftwaffe Verband".

[Brian Bines]

Hi Laurent,

The French publication I referred to was ' Le Messerschmidt Me 323 Gigant' by Jean Lousis Roba published in 2011. If you could sort out the reference for the old Avions magazine with the MTO losses that would be a great help,

Regards

Brian Bines

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Hi Brian,

it is Avions n°36, published in 2002.

Best Regards

[Rasmussen]

Originally Posted by G.R.Morrison

Me 323 WNr.1267 (VM+IO), I./TG 5, Fw. Karallus KIA 26.July 1943 due to enemy fire. 2.F & 4.Bs KIA, rest WIA, East of Cap Rera.
2.F Fw. Ernst, Bf Ogefr. Höpner, Bm Fw. Schröder, 2.Bm Uffz. Michales, Bs Uffz. Bierstädt, 2.Bs Ogefr. Etzel, 3.Bs Gefr. Nitzke & 4.Bs Ogefr. Kamenz

some corrections/additions:

sign: C8 + DG, location: Caprera (an island) not Cap Rera, name: Bierstedt (regarding his logbook)

regards
Rasmussen

[G.R.Morrison]

Danke!

[Alex Smart]

Hello Guy's,
Thank you all for your replies they are most welcome.
Brian, what is the "GQM List " ? is it on the web ?
CJE, what is Barry Rosch's "Luftwaffe Verband" ? is it a book or a website I have not heard of this before.
Laurent, do you have this issue of "Avions" that you mention ?
Rasmussen, can you confirm the details of the a/c you picked up on ? as there seems to be quite a difference between it being coded "VM+IO" to "C8+DG"was this due in any way to the a/c being transfered from an earlier say I./TG 5, to the unit it was with at its end ?

Many thanks to you all
Alex