Info On Luftwaffe Units 10/10/43 Tatoi Aerodrome, Athens Greece

[Gary T. Staffo]

On October 10, 1943 the 99th BG 348th BS flew a mission from Oudna Air Field, Tunisia to bomb the Tatoi Aerodrome near Athens Greece. At about noon shortly after dropping their bombs B17F 4230446 was hit by flack, lost the two inboard engines and fell behind the formation where it was attacked by 6-10 FW190's or Me109's, or both and lost a third engine. After running out of ammunition the surviving crew (5-6?) bailed out over the Gulf of Corinth as the plane continued in straight flight path descending until it crashed in an olive grove near Panaretti, Greece. (For more details see MACR's 924 and 6615, also my postings on www.heavybombers.com) (http://www.heavybombers.com)) Can anyone tell me how to go about determining the following: 1. What Luftwaffe units shot down this aircraft? 2. Did these units use gun cameras? 3. If so, how would I go about finding out if any films were taken of this B17F being shot down? 4. How would I go about finding records concerning what the German troops who reached the crash site at Panaretti, Greece found? 5. Is there a central source for Luftwaffe records concerning aircraft shot down during the period of July 1943 through October 1943 in the Mediterranean North Africa? 6. Did the Lufwaffe have a system similar to our US Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR)? Thank you! Gary T. Staffo E-mail GStaffo@gis.net
6226 Garden Road, Springfield, VA 22152

[This message has been edited by Gary T. Staffo (edited 02 December 2001).]

[Richard T Eger]

Dear Gary,

You certainly sound like you've been heavily researching your subject. In regard to question number 4, have you investigated the Luftgaukommandos reports at the NARA II at College Park, MD? These reports are as you asked, the German investigation of downed aircraft and their crew. Many have been translated into English and attached to the corresponding MACR.

Regards,
Richard