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Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200KB-1 Condor in Piesenkofen: 25 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 21, 1945 at 2205 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-ASHH
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berlin – Munich – Barcelona
MSN:
0009
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft named 'Hessen' departed Berlin-Tempelhof Airport at 2025LT bound for Barcelona with an intermediate stop in Munich. At 2150LT, the captain informed Munich he was overflying Straubing and initiated the descent. About ten minutes later, due to poor weather conditions (clouds, thunderstorm activity and turbulences), the captain radioed that he was continuing directly to Barcelona. Five minutes later, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 500 metres north of Piesenkofen. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The engine number one caught fire and exploded in flight, causing the aircraft to be out of control.
Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Steinreich: 18 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 20, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
D-ANAJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin – Prague – Vienna – Munich
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft left Berlin-Tempelhof in the evening on a flight to Munich with intermediate stops in Prague and Vienna. While cruising about 60 km south of Berlin, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet fighter and crashed in flames in a field located in Steinreich. Two passengers were seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed, among them the German filmmaker Hans Steinhoff. This was the last flight for Lufthansa from Berlin before the end of the WWII.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a Soviet fighter.
Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Prnjavor: 7 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 10, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
D-AUSS
Survivors:
No
MSN:
641382
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane named 'Josef Langheld' crashed in unknown circumstances in Prnjavor, some 45 km east of Banja Luka. All seven occupants were killed.
Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor in Malkläppen: 10 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 29, 1944 at 1025 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-ARHW
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berlin – Stockholm
MSN:
2994
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
1665
Circumstances:
While approaching the Swedish coast while on a flight from Berlin to Stockholm, the four engine aircraft christened 'Friesland' was accidentally shot down by a German patrol boat and crashed in Malkläppen. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew:
Paul Gutschmidt, pilot,
Ernst Breitenbach, pilot,
Fritz Brauner, radio,
Wolfgang Lenz, radio.
Crew:
Paul Gutschmidt, pilot,
Ernst Breitenbach, pilot,
Fritz Brauner, radio,
Wolfgang Lenz, radio.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German patrol boat.
