Information concerning the loss of Uffz. Wolfgang Wirth - captured aircrew

[rickback4444]

Hi,

Have a postcard from a Uffz. Wolfgang Wirth who was interned in a camp in Canada.

Does anyone have info on how he was captured?

He is pictured with 9 other Luftwaffe men all wearing flight badges of aircrew.

Thanks

Rick

[Matti Salonen]

1940-05-10, 10./KG.z.b.V. 1, Ju 52/3m, 6786, 1Z+LU, Waalhaven/Den Haag, Notlandung. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Fw Burger, Wolfgang, verletzt
Bordfunker Ogfr Wirth, Wolfgang, gefangen
Bordmechaniker Uffz Picha, Willi, gefangen
Heckschütze Uffz Heuer, Heinrich, gefangen

Matti

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by Matti Salonen

1940-05-10, 10./KG.z.b.V. 1, Ju 52/3m, 6786, 1Z+LU, Waalhaven/Den Haag, Notlandung. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Fw Burger, Wolfgang, verletzt
Bordfunker Ogfr Wirth, Wolfgang, gefangen
Bordmechaniker Uffz Picha, Willi, gefangen
Heckschütze Uffz Heuer, Heinrich, gefangen

Matti

Well done Matti! That is impressive with so little to go on.

Captured 10th May 1940 after forced-landing at Waalhaven. Presumably the crew had been dropping paratroopers or bringing in air-landed troops before getting into trouble. The Dutch must have acted quickly to get the crew members out of the combat zone so they could not be released later when The Netherlands surrendered. I guess this may well have saved Obergefreiter Wirth's life in the longer run.

I have documents to an airman interned in Norway and later released when Norway surrendered. He was sadly killed with his whole crew in the Mediterranean in 1943.

Best wishes
Tim O.

[rickback4444]

Thanks Matti - you are a star!