Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

Discussions on all (non-biographical) aspects of the Luftwaffe air units and general discussions on the Luftwaffe.
Post Reply
Loubert150
Member
Posts: 38
Joined: 26 Feb 2013, 03:11

Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#1

Post by Loubert150 » 15 Mar 2013, 07:49

Hello, I'm looking for info on Luftwaffe losses near Crimea on Feb 29, 1944 for any Ju 52's. Looking for a pilot by the name of Otto Vandieken.
Last edited by Dieter Zinke on 15 Mar 2013, 12:30, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Correct is only "Ju 52"

User avatar
Snautzer05
Member
Posts: 312
Joined: 25 May 2011, 22:15

Re: Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#2

Post by Snautzer05 » 15 Mar 2013, 12:05

Luftwaffen-Oberleutnant Otto Vandieken (born 28.10.1908) who belonged to the 12. Staffel/Transportgeschwader 3 as a squadron leader and was stationed near Zaporozhye (Ukraine) on 7.24.1943 supplying the "boiler" in Stalingrad. Was killed in action in Crimea on 29.02.1944 and was buried in Tiraspol Crimea


Loubert150
Member
Posts: 38
Joined: 26 Feb 2013, 03:11

Re: Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#3

Post by Loubert150 » 15 Mar 2013, 13:21

Yes, I'm looking for Luftwaffe Loss Reports from this time confirming death and how he died.

Larry D.
Member
Posts: 4103
Joined: 05 Aug 2004, 00:03
Location: Winter Springs, FL (USA)

Re: Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#4

Post by Larry D. » 15 Mar 2013, 14:09

III./TG 3
..............
7 Jan 44: back at Proskurov.
1-20 Feb 44: moved to Uman and took part in the air supply of 56,000 German troops cut off in the so-called Cherkassy Pocket between Korsun and Cherkassy on the Dnieper.
Mar 44: transferred to Odessa after the conclusion of the Cherkassy operation to transport personnel and supplies to Crimea.
etc.

There are no Gen.Qu.(6.Abt.) Verlustmeldungen for the year 1944. They have never been found. What you will need is the Namentliche Verlustmeldung (NVM) reporting the loss of his aircraft and crew. These come from WASt in Berlin, but they have been unavailable since 1988, except to direct family members, due to the passing of the German Privacy Law. However, prior to 1988 most of the NVMs were photocopied by researchers and are now in private hands. You will not find anyone here with them, but there are researchers over on another web site who have them:

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/

Caution: you may have to wait for up to 6 weeks before your membership on that site is accepted by the owner and you can post enquiries.

L.

User avatar
Snautzer05
Member
Posts: 312
Joined: 25 May 2011, 22:15

Re: Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#5

Post by Snautzer05 » 15 Mar 2013, 23:24

Loubert150 already tried there i think

Larry D.
Member
Posts: 4103
Joined: 05 Aug 2004, 00:03
Location: Winter Springs, FL (USA)

Re: Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#6

Post by Larry D. » 16 Mar 2013, 01:36

Snautzer05 wrote:Loubert150 already tried there i think
Sad. I know two members there who definitely have the NVMs for the Ju 52 units for 1944. Unfortunately, neither is a provider of information to others. They only go there to take infromation from others. Many people in the world are like that and it is very difficult to make excuses for them.

L.

Loubert150
Member
Posts: 38
Joined: 26 Feb 2013, 03:11

Re: Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#7

Post by Loubert150 » 16 Mar 2013, 02:27

Yes I also tried there but no one seems to want to help. This forum is by far more helpful. I've applied to the German archives to see if i can obtain this pilots career records. Ive put together a great history on this pilot but I seem not to be able to find how he exactly was killed. Well I will continue the hunt and post my final conclusion when i complete my research. Thank you again to all of you who have assisted. The information gathered thus far is a great addition to the pilots tunic in which i own.



Loubert150
Member
Posts: 38
Joined: 26 Feb 2013, 03:11

Re: Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#10

Post by Loubert150 » 17 Mar 2013, 00:14

Gents, I have an update. A gentleman from the 12 o'clock high forum has gotten back to me with the info I have been searching for, it is as follows:

1944-02-29, 12./TG 3, Ju 52/3m, Tiraspol - Krim, Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.
Gefr Hohe, Arthur, +
Uffz Köhn, Werner, +
Fw Otto, Gustav, +
Olt Vandieken, Otto, +

Does anyone know if this translate into the Aircraft broke all apart in flight? Killing the crew?

Larry D.
Member
Posts: 4103
Joined: 05 Aug 2004, 00:03
Location: Winter Springs, FL (USA)

Re: Seeking info on Luftwaffe Ju 52 losses

#11

Post by Larry D. » 17 Mar 2013, 01:58

Unfortunately, the entry just says that it crashed while en-route from Tiraspol to Crimea, cause unknown. The entire crew died. It happened over land on the German side of the lines and the wreckage and bodies were recovered. Otherwise, it would have been listed as missing had it gone down over water. Also, you can safely infer with about 90% assurance that it was not shot down. It may have been a mechanical failure, or the pilot flew it into the ground in poor visibility or the plane iced up and the pilot lost control, etc. I doubt if it would have just broken up in flight for no reason, although that cannot be excluded. Heavy cargo that breaks loose during flight might cause something like that, but the odds against it would be quite high.

L.

Post Reply

Return to “Luftwaffe air units and Luftwaffe in general”