Heinz J. Nowarra, stated that during the April-May 1945, battle for Berlin that Russian fighters planes shot down several German Flettner Fl-282 Kolibris helicopters, which the Germans were using as artillery spotters. (Heinz J. Nowarra, German Helicopters 1928 — 1945, Schiffer Military History, West Chester, PA, 1990, p. 28).
In your aviation or WWII readings has anyone seen or read of additional information on these air combat events?
By: Buddha - 24th December 2004 at 18:16
Do we know if the Russians reported an kill-claims of helicopters in the Battle for Berlin?
By: Arabella-Cox - 24th December 2004 at 02:32
it is doubtful that “several” (as quoted by you) have been shot down.
Why is it doubtful? A helicopter is a relatively slow target… a bit like a balloon only much more fragile. As 25 were built by wars end… I doubt any were sent to North Africa or anywhere outside Germany, so 25 helicopters in an airspace filled with Russian fighters doesn’t sound that safe for the helos. It wouldn’t surprise me to find more than 3-4 were shot down.
Only a total of 25 Kolibris had been manufactured by Flettner at war’s end.
By: Buddha - 22nd December 2004 at 17:48
Yes!
By: Swiss Mustangs - 22nd December 2004 at 16:09
That was Heinz J. Nowarra’s quote
no comment on that without a lawyer !
Martin
By: Buddha - 22nd December 2004 at 15:48
That was Heinz J. Nowarra’s quote. He died shortly after his book was published and his widow did not know where he had stored his references for the book. So unless some one else has the actual and true knowledge, it will remain conjucture as to the real number shot down. I am hoping the Russians have published some information on this, as they recorded air combat kills.
By: Swiss Mustangs - 22nd December 2004 at 15:17
I also quote from the site:
A combined Army-Navy order for 1,000 Fl-282s was given to Flettner and BMW in 1944. Tooling up was begun, but heavy aerial bombardment of the Flettner and BMW factories resulted in none of these machines being built. Only a total of 25 Kolibris had been manufactured by Flettner at war’s end. Luft-Transportstaffel 40 based at Ainring in April 1945, had at least three Fl-282s (and also three Focke Achgelis Fa-223s) at its disposal. during the last few months of the war and this unit made many flights into and out of besieged and encircled towns transporting dispatches, mail, and key personnel. It was possibly one of this unit’s Fl-282s that flew Gauleiter Hanke out of besieged Breslau just before the capture of that city.
My point was that when the unit (LTS 40) had at least three Fl-282’s – it is doubtful that “several” (as quoted by you) have been shot down.
Martin
By: Buddha - 22nd December 2004 at 15:06
Thanks, good info:
“The Fl-282B-2 was used for such military tasks as directing artillery fire and guiding tanks over rough terrain. Beginning in 1944, the army began to implement a program to provide a helicopter to each independent artillery brigade”.
But not info on aerial engagements.
By: Swiss Mustangs - 22nd December 2004 at 14:08
Hmm “several” is doubtful – read here:
http://www.germanvtol.com/flettnerfolder/fl282.html
Martin
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December 22, 2004 at 2:00 pm