Soldbuch of Luftwaffe maritime patrol / reconnaissance Beobachter (observer) MIA

[Watchdog]

Good afternoon gents,

I found this Soldbuch with the same officers' Leistungsbuch (literally "Performance Book" but in English it is a "Flying Log Book) and I found them interesting and unusual enough to want to know more.

The holder was Leutnant Joseph OSWALD born 03 Nov 1923 in Haidhausen, Munich.

Enlisted by Army Inspectorate IV Muenchen in 1942 his Soldbuch was issued in Aug 42 by Flieger Regiment 53 in Brussels.

He progressed through what seems to be quite comprehensive training and having enlisted as a private soldier he ended up as a Leutnant Beobachter (Observer) with a maritime patrol / reconnaissance unit in Tromso, Norway flying the Blohm & Voss BV 138 Seedrache (Sea Dragon) flying boat nicknamed the "Fliegende Holzschuh" or "Flying Clog" because of the odd shape in profile.

Actually a competent aircraft well suited to the role it had a forward firing 20mm MG151 cannon in a nose turret, a 13mm MG131 in a rear facing open position behind the centre engine nacelle and up to 3 x 7.92mm MG15. it could also carry 6 x 50kg bombs or 4 x 150 kg depth charges. It had an operational range (it could fly much further) of over 700 miles so not just a "spotter plane".

The Soldbuch and Leistungsbuch together give an idea of the path this young man followed like so many others until he was lost at the age of 21 somewhere over the icy waters of the Norwegian Sea on 12 Dec 1944 serving with Seeaufklarungsstaffel 3 (F) 130.

The Leistungsbuch gives an insight into the experiences he endured up to a point before he was lost and poignantly the log entries are not up to date.

I have been able to confirm that the only reported missing BV 138 on that day was ; number 0310 135 piloted by Feldwebel Wilhelm KRUCK

I read from the Soldbuch that he was a physically small man but I can't decipher the entry re his build so I would appreciate any suggestions here.

His home address in Schlierseestrasse was in Munich and whilst the street is still very much there it seems that No 321 is long gone probably due to one of the post war Aufbau programmes.

If anyone knows a source of further info re the missing report or for RAF (it was very much in the RAF area of responsibility) action / contact reports that might correlate I would be very grateful.

I feel this man likely suffered what we used to call in the mob a "shitty death" as did so many on all sides but notwithstanding the war et al I would hope it was immediate to the loss of the aircraft and not due to immersion in the freezing North Sea.

Two small documents that give a snapshot of one mans experience more accurately than any book I have read!

The last couple of images in the Soldbuck are stuck in and are from a "Merkblatt" about combat injuries. The cover of the book is protected by a kind of adhesive fabric similar to Fablon which I have never seen before.

All comment and opinion is welcome

Regards

Mark

PS the pages of the Soldbuch seem to have become jumbled whislt I was posting so I hope readers can stuill follow it!!

[hucks216]

That is a great set and one that would fit well in to any paperwork collection. I have found mention of two Royal Navy escort carriers (HMS Campania & HMS Nairana) covering two arctic convoys in December 1944 (JW & RA 62). The carriers each had a squadron onboard (Campania - 813 Squadron & Nairana - 835 Squadron) which were made up of approx 12 Swordfish aircraft and a small detachment of Martlet/Wildcat fighters, and while it doesn't give the dates they did make a claim for 2 x Ju-88's and a single BV-138C so that might be worth looking in to as it could mean the kill was Fleet Air Arm and not RAF with 813 & 835 Squadrons being involved.
The day after 'your' BV-138 was lost, two Swordfish of HMS Campania's 813 Squadron sunk U-365 so it might be the case that the BV-138 was sent out to try and locate the convoy for any U-Boats in the area and for any airstrikes to be planned.

The signature of the Staffelkapitän is that of Johannes Greve and your man's build is given as athletic (atletisch).

[BlackCat1982]

A bit on Lt Oswalds Aircraft, the loss wasn't confirmed until February 1945.

[hucks216]

Looking in the DRK MIA volumes there are 6 men listed as MIA for December 1944 for 2. & 3./Seeaufklärungsgruppe 130. Of those 6 one is reported as MIA in Slovakia so he isn't included below but those listed here are all listed as missing in the Tromso/Narvik/Kirkenes/Norwegen region. Those with a star have a photo with their listing.
Theodor Hitzler - born 01-07-1920 Stuttgart*
Willi Kruck - born 25/02/1918 Stuttgart*
Werner Lange - born 02/09/1922 Faßberg*
August Meitz - born 16/01/1921 Wismar
Josef Oswald - born 03/11/1923 Hausham

[Watchdog]

That is a great set and one that would fit well in to any paperwork collection. I have found mention of two Royal Navy escort carriers (HMS Campania & HMS Nairana) covering two arctic convoys in December 1944 (JW & RA 62). The carriers each had a squadron onboard (Campania - 813 Squadron & Nairana - 835 Squadron) which were made up of approx 12 Swordfish aircraft and a small detachment of Martlet/Wildcat fighters, and while it doesn't give the dates they did make a claim for 2 x Ju-88's and a single BV-138C so that might be worth looking in to as it could mean the kill was Fleet Air Arm and not RAF with 813 & 835 Squadrons being involved.
The day after 'your' BV-138 was lost, two Swordfish of HMS Campania's 813 Squadron sunk U-365 so it might be the case that the BV-138 was sent out to try and locate the convoy for any U-Boats in the area and for any airstrikes to be planned.

The signature of the Staffelkapitän is that of Johannes Greve and your man's build is given as athletic (atletisch).

Brilliant, thank you. Yes it is very easy to assume that the RAF would have been involved and to overlook the Fleet Air Arm which is real oversight on my part (my son is in HMS Defender so he would not be impressed although he also served in the RAF)

I think I got Oswalds place of birth mixed up with his mothers home address but they are both in Bavaria, one in Munich and one close to Munich so they are likely both relevant to him anyway.

It is wonderful to know what seem to be the rest of his crew are known even though the BV138 had a crew of six (only five listed) anyone who has served in the military will easily appreciate that whilst the aircraft would not have flown without pilot, navigator or engineer it is quite feasible that one of the gunners positions was not filled espcially so late in the war.

From the research I did I was able to learn that Oswalds aircraft was in fact a 'C' variant so that ties in very nicely.

Any tips on the sources used to glean the additional info so far would be much appreciated as would any hints on the Fleet Air Arm / Naval records that might help.

I already feel that I know much more than a simple badge would tell but equally there is a lot more to know and this looks like an intriguing project!

Thanks for the help so far lads

Regards

Mark

[hucks216]

From my files I have confirmed that the crew names listed above were all the crew for the aircraft. The name Hitzler might be Kitzler and Meitz might be Mietz but it all depends on where you look.

Here are the 3 crewmen who have photos in the DRK volumes.

[BlackCat1982]

The DRK details for Meitz & Oswald.

[hucks216]

With the photo in the Soldbuch it is only Mietz who remains without an image.