German Air Force - Deutsche Luftwaffe

Transall C-160

The crew was performing a training flight in the region of Hanover. While flying at low altitude in the area of Frielendorf, passing from IFR to VFR mode, the aircraft collided with trees. The crew diverted to Wunstorf AFB where he landed safely. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to serious damages to tail and stabilizers.

Tupolev TU-154

Some 65 nautical miles west off the Namibian coast, a US Air Force Lockheed C-141B Starlifter collided with a German Air Force Tupolev 154M in mid-air. Both aircraft crashed, killing all 33 occupants. The Tupolev 154M (11+02), call sign GAF074, operated on a flight from Cologne/Bonn Airport in Germany to Kaapstad, South Africa. En route refueling stops were planned at Niamey, Niger and Windhoek, Namibia. On board were ten crew members and 14 passengers. The C-141B, (65-9405), call sign REACH 4201, had delivered UN humanitarian supplies to Windhoek and was returning to the U.S. via Georgetown on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. On board were nine crew members. GAF074 departed Niamey, Niger at 10:35 UTC. REACH 4201 took off from Windhoek at 14:11 UTC and climbed to its filed for and assigned cruise level of 35,000 feet (FL350). At the same time, GAF074 was not at its filed for cruise level of FL390 but was still at its initially assigned cruise level FL350. Windhoek ATC was in sole and continuous radio contact with REACH 4201, with no knowledge of GAF 074's movement. Luanda ATC was in radio contact with GAF074, but they were not in radio contact with REACH 4201. Luanda ATC did receive flight plans for both aircraft but a departure message for only REACH 4201. At 15:10 UTC both aircraft collided at FL350 and crashed into the sea.

Transall C-160

After takeoff from Ponta Delgada-Nordela Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It collided with power lines, stalled and crashed in the sea few dozen metres offshore. All seven crew members were killed.

Dornier DO.28D Skyservant

The crew was completing a local training flight at Büchel AFB. During a single engine approach, the crew initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft stalled and crashed one km short of runway 03/21 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. Crew: OLt Johannes Asanger, Maj Eckhard Südmeyer.

Antonov AN-26

Damaged beyond repair following a very hard landing at Friedrichshafen-Bodensee Airport. There were no injuries.

Transall C-160

The aircraft was completing a flight from Wunstorf AFB to Kaufbeuren AFB, carrying five technicians and five crew members. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located in the Spessart Mountain Range near Lohr am Main. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

Transall C-160

On approach to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport following an uneventful flight from Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport, one of the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, struck power cables and crashed in a wooded area located in Eysines, few km short of runway 23 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Dornier DO.28D Skyservant

Crashed at Fürstenfeldbruck AFB while completing a local training flight. Both crew members were killed.

Dornier DO.28D Skyservant

At least was crew was injured when the airplane crashed under unknown circumstances at Kaufbeuren AFB.

MBB HFB-320 Hansa Jet

While cruising at an altitude of 9,500 feet on a training mission, the Hansa Jet was hit behind by a German Luftwaffe Fiat G.91T-3 fighter registered 34+49 and carrying a crew of two. The Fiat struck the Hansa Jet in a slight left turn at a speed of 145 knots. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Schwabmünchen. All five occupants on board the Hansa Jet were killed while both pilots on board the Fiat ejected safely. At the time of the collision, it was determined that the crew of the Fiat was just leaving a Temporary Reserved Airspace and was descending to FL100 to a VFR airspace. At this time, the Fiat's transponder was on a 'stand by' mode.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew departed Landsberg AFB on a training flight to the Lechfeld Airbase located 12 km to the north. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane went out of control and crashed in Kaufering, three km northwest of the airfield. All three crew members were killed.

Transall C-160

The airplane departed Hohn Air Base in Schleswig-Holstein on a flight to Chania-Souda Airport, Greece, carrying 37 German soldiers and a crew of five who were to join a NATO contingency in Crete. The approach to Chania Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with fog and snow falls. While descending to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kukules located about 24 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 42 occupants were killed.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The crew departed Neubiberg AFB on a short flight to Kaufbeuren AFB located about 80 km southwest. While flying at low height, the airplane struck the top of a hill and crashed near Königsdorf, about 60 km east of Kaufbeuren Airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Shortly after takeoff from Erding AFB, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls and the captain decided to return. On final, the airplane stalled and crashed onto a house located one km short of runway. Ten crew members as well as a young girl aged 2 1/2 were killed. The captain and the navigator were the sole survivors. The pilot was reportedly later killed in the fatal crash of the Noratlas 52+79 near Königsdorf, November 19, 1970.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

On final approach to Husum Airport, while completing a calibration flight from Westerland, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located few hundred meters short of runway. All four crew members were killed.

Lockheed L-1329 JetStar

The JetStar was executing a visual approach to Bremen following an IFR ferry flight from Cologne Airport (CGN). At the same time a Piaggio P.149D trainer aircraft of the Lufthansa Flying School took off from Bremen. The student pilot was flying under the 'hood' in order to simulate an IFR training mission. The JetStar collided head on with a Piaggio P.149D. The Piaggio crashed but the JetStar managed to carry out an emergency landing at Bremen. The JetStar had suffered substantial damage to the underside of the flight deck. The undercarriage could not be deployed and one of the engines had lost power. A belly landing was carried out on the grass next to the runway.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Just after liftoff, the right engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The crew was returning to Ahlhorn AFB after the airplane had undergone a maintenance check at Bourges. On final approach by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (rain and gusty winds) when the airplane crashed in flames few km from the airfield. The passenger was injured while all four crew members were killed.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from Cologne-Bonn Airport after one of the engine has been changed the day prior to the accident. On approach by night, the aircraft was too low and struck power cable and electric pole before crashing in a snow covered field located in Vilkerath, 15 km east of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. There were icing conditions at the time of the accident. Crew: Cpt Helmut Wolf, pilot, Wolfram Miss, pilot, Erich Lauf, radio operator, Rudi Wilker, mechanic.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck Mt Argentera (3,297 meters high) located in the Italian Alps. The wreckage was found a week later, on March 22 on the west slope of the mountain. The airplane was destroyed and all six crew members have been killed. It is believed the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident, maybe following a navigation error.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The crew left Hamburg-Finkenwerder for a test flight. En route, in unclear circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in an open field located in Oederquart, Lower Saxony. The airplane was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. Crew: Johannes Nagel, pilot, Horst Weihrauch, copilot, Ulrich Doletzki, mechanic, Werner Stegen, radio operator.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Few minutes after takeoff from Bandirma AFB, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kapidag Yarimadasi located 18 km northwest of the airfield, in the Kapidag Peninsula. All five crew members were killed.

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The crew was performing a test flight when control was lost. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Böcklweiher near Berchtesgaden. All six crew members were killed.

Junkers JU.52

Crashed in Malá Úpa, killing all eight crew members.

Junkers JU.52

On approach to Pápa Airfield, the three engine aircraft was shot down by Flak and crashed in a field. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was seriously wounded. Crew: ObLt Johann Czirz, † Fw Schramm, † Uffz Johann Rieser.

Junkers JU.52

En route, the crew encountered foggy conditions and did not realize he was flying off the prescribed flight path. In poor visibility, the three engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Rondane National Park, Oppland. All 14 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found by German on June 16, 1945.

Junkers JU.52

The three engine aircraft left Nautsi Airport, Murmansk Oblast, at 0805LT on a flight to Kaamanen. En route, it was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet Air Force fighter and crashed in a wooded area located in Luppovaara, near Väylä. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed. Crew (2./TGr.20): Ofw Franz Blume, Fw Georg Zeissler, Fw Helmut Born. Source & photo: http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/toulbujarvi.html

Junkers JU.52

The three engine aircraft left Nautsi Airport, Murmansk Oblast, at 0805LT on a flight to Kaamanen. En route, it was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet Air Force fighter and crashed in a wooded area located in Tuolpujärvi, southeast of Utsjoki. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed. Crew (2./TGr.20): Ofw Willi Enderle, Uffz Werner Jagode, Ogfr Wilhelm Tönnes. PassengerS: Uffz Hermann Keller, Uffz Helmut Dietrich. Source & photo: http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/toulbujarvi.html

Junkers JU.52

The three engine aircraft left Nautsi Airport, Murmansk Oblast, at 0805LT on a flight to Kaamanen. En route, it was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet Air Force fighter and crashed in a wooded area located in Luppovaara, near Väylä. Eight occupants were rescued while a passenger was killed. Crew (2./TGr.20): Fw Gustav Kunzmann, Uffz Ludwig Rohnacker. Passengers: Ofw Fritz Hartwig, Ofw Paul Kaufmann, Ogfr Rudolf Gilga, Ogfr Ludwig Stuhldrein, Uffz Hans Bernd, Stgfr Hermann Königs, Stgfr Wladis Marmella. Source & photo: http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/toulbujarvi.html

Junkers JU.52

En route over Lapland, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet Air Force fighter and crashed in a lake located in Muddusjärvi, some 15 km north of Inari. All three crew members were killed. Crew: Gef Erich Adams, Ofw Alfed Böhm, Ogfr Alf Schuhmacher.

Junkers JU.52

En route, the three engine aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a Soviet Air Force Petlyakov Pe-3. The crew reduced his altitude and was able to attempt an emergency landing in a pasture. While all three occupants were slightly injured and rescued, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site.

Junkers JU.52

While flying some 20 km south of Banak Airport, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the crew of a Soviet Air Force Douglas Boston and crashed. All three crew members were killed. Crew: Ofw Hermann Schminke, Fw Alfred Nährig, Ofw Eduard Huhnholdt. Source & photos: https://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/uccagagga.html

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

En route from Banak to Trondheim, while cruising north of Narvik, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Lavangen fjord, east of Harstad. All 51 occupants were killed, among them 41 Luftwaffe Helferinen (female military assistants). Crew (III./7./KG 40): Lt Hans Gilbert, pilot, Oberfw Gert Jochums, copilot, Oberfw Martin Hochmuth, radio operator, Fw Hubert Langguth, flight engineer, Fw Hans Prahl. Passengers: Hauptmann Major Franz Krenn, Obering D. L. Bömike, Hauptmann Eduard Clement, SS-Rottenführer Emil Widmer, Kriegsmarine Obermaat Eugen Däumichen. Stabshilferin Passengers: Edith Allihn, Erika Busack, Anny Chalupnik, Irmgard Dorth, Gerda Fiebke, Irmgard Friedrich, Anna Glaser, Ruth Griebsch, Elsbeth Grommisch, Anna Göring, Barbara Hill, Elisabeth Hoffmann, Emma Hoffmann, Theresia Hoffmann, Irmgard Karp, Hildegard Krause, Edith Krüger, Ingeborg Kruschewitz, Margrete Leuschner, Charlotte Nickel, Lieselotte Oeffner, Eveline Peters, Franziska Ruhl, Anni Schima, Charlotte Schmidt, Erika Schöne, Hildegard Siegler, Irma Sorgatz, Angela Trenz, Emma Wagner, Gunda Weber, Elisabeth Wiesenhütter, Marianne Seidel, Christel Stappen, Elsbeth Streletzki, Margarete Seibert, Brunhilde Otto, Ilse Otto, Anneliese Ebert, Hilda Röstel, Gertrud Staeglich. Source & photos: http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/salangen.html

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

En route from Stuttgart to Barcelona, while cruising over Dijon, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a RAF Bristol Beaufighter and crashed in a pasture. All nine occupants were killed.

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

Few minutes after take off from Trondheim-Vaernes Airport, while climbing, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit with one of its wing a mountain located near Malvik, east of Trondheim, and crashed. Seven crew members were killed while two others were able to walk away. Crew (8./III./KG 40): Lt Karl Markert, † Obltn Rudolf Biberger, † Uffz Helmut Meyer, † Uffz Erich Pfeifer, † Uffz Frido-Max Sander, † Uffz Heinz Neubauer, † Prüfm Gustav Walther, † Obrgfr Horst Thelemann, Obrgfr Walter Küster.

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

The four engine airplane departed La Rochelle Airport on a night flight to Germany, carrying military personnel. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft entered an area of mist when it struck a wooded hill located in Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs. All 12 occupants were killed. Crew: Lt Helmut Kutterer, pilot, Sgt Karl Novotny, pilot, Sgt Horst Flechsig, radio operator, Sgt Karl Greeb. Passengers: Kurt Schramm, Ernst Kreigenfeld, Cpl Erhard Sumpf, Sgt Siegfried Kalinowski, Bruno Greil, Georg Kunis, Sgt Walter Kobrich, Ernst Lupp.

Junkers JU.52

In unknown circumstances, the three engine aircraft crashed in the Tatra mountains, some 30 km northwest of Poprad. All four crew members were injured.

Junkers JU.290

While approaching León from the north, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located about 65 km north of León. All four crew members were killed.

Junkers JU.290

While returning to its base following a convoy mission, the four engine aircraft was shot down by the pilots of four RAF Mosquito's and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the Spanish coast. All four crew members were killed, among them Oblt Karl-Heinz Schmidt.

Junkers JU.52

The crew was completing a military cargo flight from the East front to the West, carrying various equipment and materials on behalf the Transport Group n° 4. Apparently following an engine failure, the airplane lost height and crashed in an open field. All three crew members were killed. Crew: Fw Ibs, Fw Pittrof, Fw Leisz.

Caudron C.440 Goéland

The twin engine aircraft was completing a liaison flight when approaching the Lyon-Bron Airport, it was shot down by the pilot of a fighter from the allied force. The aircraft crashed in a huge explosion near the airport and was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. All five occupants were killed, among them the pilot Herbert Rose, one radio navigator and three radio pupils.

Junkers JU.86

The twin engine aircraft was completing a liaison flight when approaching the Lyon-Bron Airport, it was shot down by the pilot of a fighter from the allied force. The aircraft crashed in a huge explosion near the airport and was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. All seven occupants were killed, among them the pilot Franz Wolf, one radio navigator, one engineer and four radio pupils.

Junkers JU.52

En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the three engine aircraft hit a hilly terrain located near the village of Aekenustunturi, some 20 km west of Kittilä. All three crew were killed.

Messerschmitt M.20

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Germany in year 1943. The exact date remains unknown as well as the crew fate.

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

While on a survey flight off the north coast of Iceland, the four-engine aircraft was shot down by two USAAF P.38 Lightning and crashed into the Greenland Sea off the Grimsey Island. All seven crew members took refuge in a dinghy and were later rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost. Crew (I/KG40): Karl Holtrup, Günter Karte, Josef Teufel, Herbert Richter, Emil Brandt, Wilhelm Lehn, Siegfried Klinkmann. Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=78787

Junkers JU.52

En route to Lakselv-Banak Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls. The aircraft hit the summit of Geaidnogáisá, lost its engine and crashed. All nine occupants were seriously injured. Crew (4./KGr.z.b.V 108): Uffz Hans F. Strasser, Fw Alfred Brüning, Fw Ernst Bayer, Uffz Ernst Mohr. Passengers: Hptm Rüstemeyer, F/O Steinle, Uffz Drössler, Ogfr Haase, Mech Kunze. Source & photos: http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/geaidnogaisa.html

Junkers JU.290

The four-engine aircraft was on its way back to Germany to evacuate German soldiers wounded in the Stalingrad Battle. It crashed on take off for unknown reason. Five crew members and 40 soldiers were killed in the accident.

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

En route, the four-engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Kvitanosi located northwest of Vossevangen. Four crew members were killed on impact while two others, injured, walked away to find help. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces. Crew (2./I./KG 40): Oblt Waldemar Hackel, pilot, † Uffz Adolf Liebscher, pilot, † Fldw Erwin Kopp, radio operator, † Uffz Walter Schwartz, radio operator, Gefr Karl Pech, † Gefr Fritz Albrechts, flight engineer.

Junkers JU.52

En route, the three-engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located some 15 km east of Solheim. The wreckage was found on December 18, 1942. No one survived the crash. Crew (1./KGr.zbV108): ObLt Werner Hoffman, pilot, Fwb Wilhelm Steinhauer, radio operator, Uffw Günther Uhlig Fwb Adam Eschborn, flight engineer. Passengers: FwTreuwart Teichgräber, Fw Ewald Brackmann. Source & photos: http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/tangedalskaret.html

Junkers JU.52

En route, the three-engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain (1,450 meters high) in the region of Unset. All five crew members were killed. Crew (KGr zbV 108): Uffz Nikolaus von Scheibenhof, pilot, Ofw Kurt Evers, copilot, Fw Fred Sensfuss, Obgfr Joachim Jensen, Ofw Alfred Mache.