KM Officer with Silver 'C' Glider Badge AND U-Boat Badge

[norwest]

Seems like a really odd combination, and I'm not sure what his role was. Did they launch aircraft from submarines?

I'm wondering if it's possible to identify him, since there is (somewhere) a list of Silver C recipients, and I doubt there are many submariners on it.

--Kevin

[Aiur]

I know the Japanese used submarine based aircraft a lot, but never heard anything on the Germans using any. A quick Wikipedia search produced this:

"The Kriegsmarine (German navy) also started development of submarines capable of launching aircraft and ordered four very large "cruiser" U-boats in early 1939. These boats were to be twice as large as any existing U-boat and were to have had a crew of 110 while carrying a single Arado Ar 231 floatplane, but were cancelled at the outbreak of war later that year.

Although not strictly an aircraft, some U-boats carried the Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 (English: Wagtail). It was a type of rotary-wing kite, known as a gyroglider or rotor kite. They were towed behind German U-boats during World War II and allowed a lookout in the kite to see further.

Type IX D 2-"Monsun"
Another German long range U-boat was the Type IX D2 "Monsun", used in the Indian Ocean and Far East Area based in Penang (Occupied Malaya). To aid such submarines the observation "Autogyro-Kite" Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 "Bachstelze" (Wagtail) was developed. This was used in the Indian Ocean and sporadically in the Southern Atlantic but its use hindered the submarine's ability to submerge quickly. "

Maybe this guy was a lookout in one of these "Wagtails."

[norwest]

Aiur, you are right on with your conclusion. Early this morning somebody gave me his name -- Jobst Schaefer. He was a medical officer aboard U-862 and piloted the Fa 330 on their secret mission to Australia.

--Kevin

[Aiur]

That's awesome you found the story and pictures to go with it. When I get home from work, I'm going to see if I can find any pictures of this glider actually deployed behind a U-boat.

[Aiur]

There is a YouTube video showing the launch and return of one. I don't know if YouTube links are okay to post, so "Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 Bachstelze deployed from an U-boat (c1942)" is the title if anyone is interested.