Being shot down in the desert question
- Thread starter rob23
- Start date
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ARTESH
Chief Master Sergeant
Well, According to what was told to us, As an ex -Military Police, In this case, It is our job to secure the debris and any possible survivor or bodies. But I have no idea how was it in a real situation during WW2.
Andrew Arthy
Airman 1st Class
In the case of the Germans, they notified the 1. Wüstennotstaffel (1st Desert Rescue Squadron), who flew out in a Storch to capture the enemy pilot, because a captured pilot provided valuable intelligence material. They would also examine the downed aircraft for any new equipment being used. We wrote an article about the unit, which can be found here. The unit rescued at least 25 Allied airmen between June 1941 and October 1942. Here's an extract from that article:
"Wüstennotstaffel crews were instructed to land and inspect the wreckage of any downed Allied aircraft they located. Such work was important to the intelligence war, as any information on damage, markings, and location would help build German knowledge of their opposing air force, and inspection of wrecks could also substantiate any victory claims made for the destruction of enemy aircraft. Of more importance was inspection of the armament and wireless communication devices carried aboard the machine. Wherever possible, it was standard procedure to retrieve such pieces of equipment, not just to deprive the enemy of any salvageable equipment, but for further analysis by German intelligence. The retrieval of documents was also important. No doubt humanitarian considerations were a motivation for rescuing Allied personnel, but the intelligence aspect was certainly also a factor because Allied prisoners were valuable potential sources of information."
Cheers,
Andrew A.
"Wüstennotstaffel crews were instructed to land and inspect the wreckage of any downed Allied aircraft they located. Such work was important to the intelligence war, as any information on damage, markings, and location would help build German knowledge of their opposing air force, and inspection of wrecks could also substantiate any victory claims made for the destruction of enemy aircraft. Of more importance was inspection of the armament and wireless communication devices carried aboard the machine. Wherever possible, it was standard procedure to retrieve such pieces of equipment, not just to deprive the enemy of any salvageable equipment, but for further analysis by German intelligence. The retrieval of documents was also important. No doubt humanitarian considerations were a motivation for rescuing Allied personnel, but the intelligence aspect was certainly also a factor because Allied prisoners were valuable potential sources of information."
Cheers,
Andrew A.
- Thread starter
- #4
On a different but similar topic, communication between ground attack aircraft and ground forces was pioneered in N Africa.
Like that poor pilot of that P-40 they found a few years back. I think about that sometimes.... Could the result have been different?
pinehilljoe
Senior Airman
- 741
- May 1, 2016
On the light side does anyone remember this made for TV movie from '73?
don4331
Senior Airman
Recognize that the forces, both allied and axis, for the most part, weren't fighting for the middle of the dessert, but close to the coast and along the roads. So, 90% of the time, if shot down, you would be relatively close to where your ground forces were.
Also, both sides paid the locals to return downed pilots, so locals had incentive to locate planes that came down a little further afield and return the aircrew. While it might seem like middle of nowhere to someone born in Berlin or London, it was home to a surprising number of people.
Add in that the country is "relatively" flat so Storches and Lystanders could search over significant areas relatively effectively.
Neighbour from when I was a kid recovered a significant number of Hurricanes.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
The rigid German officer slapping the Sherman tank festooned with Balkenkreuz and calling it a panzer. The cowardly Troy McLure (you may remember him from such films as....).
Hopping around the dessert in a wounded P-40. Delightfully awful.
Hopping around the dessert in a wounded P-40. Delightfully awful.
Is that the movie with the p-40 has a hole in the wing and is running from the tank? I thought I dreamed this!
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
That's the one!
Greg Boeser
2nd Lieutenant
I remember that show!
Holy cow! Loved it as a kid!
- Thread starter
- #15
I keep thinking about that Kittyhawk flown by Flt Sgt Dennis Copping and his fate. Also the Lady Be Good crew. I realize they did not go down as a direct result of combat but thinking about them got me to thinking about the guys Marseille shot down who were able to make it down alive.
Also, a TV movie called 'Sole Survivor' that I saw as a kid in 1970 had an impact on me as I realized it was based on the Lady Be Good. Weird how this stuff bounces around for decades in thought.
Thanks for the information!
- Thread starter
- #16
That Kittyhawk was on my mind too. He went down due to mechanical issues, not combat, so who would be around to see it? Maybe natives, but would they be friendly? Scarce resources sometimes lead to bad neighbors.
I thought it had flak damage (the P-40) somewhere back by the tail, no? Would it have helped if he set it on fire? Maybe the tires on a calm day, and someone, anyone would see? I wonder...
I like the way you are thinking, never give up! Im not sure we're he actually went down but would think it was remote just due to the time between his forced landing and discovery. I can't but wonder how many times that happened in the Pacific, either a water landing or putting down on a remote island.
Cheers,
Biff
pinehilljoe
Senior Airman
- 741
- May 1, 2016
The Desert War must have been a popular TV theme. There was also an episode of the Twilight Zone about a B-25 that went down in North Africa. The original air date was 1960, only 15 years after the end of the War.
"King Nine will Not Return"
Greg Boeser
2nd Lieutenant
Or maybe there were plenty of wrecked aircraft in the California desert to use as props
