Germany – Third Reich: An interesting Battle of the Atlantic Fw 200 Condor Pilot’s Wehrstammbuch and leather bound photograph album of Gefreiter Karl Becker, who serving with Kampfgeschwader 40 was the second radioman in the crew of Knight’s Cross winner Fritz Fliegel when he would be killed in action on 18th July 1941 during an attack on the freighter Pilar de Larrinaga during which his aircraft’s wing was torn off by a direct hit of anti-aircraft fire from the freighter’s gunners. Fliegel as the commander of 1 Group, Kampfgeschwader 40 at the time had been mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht as well as receiving the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 25th March 1941.
1) Wehrstammbuch named to Karl Becker born in Oberhausen near Wiesbaden
2) Leather bound Photograph Album with Luftwaffe eagle embossed on the front cover comprising a total of 40 images, including numerous images in Luftwaffe uniform, a number of which include other family members and others Becker in everyday settings such as in front of a church. Towards the back of the album are a series of nine photographs of Becker and taken by Becker aboard his FW-200.
Karl Becker initially joined 3rd Kompanie, Infantry Replacment Regiment 36 on 30th August 1939 just two days before the outbreak of war. He would transfer to the Luftwaffe on 28th November 1939, undergoing a period of training before joining 1st Group of Kampfgeschwader 40 – 40th Bomber Wing a unit equipped with the long range Focke-Wolf Fw 200 Condor reconnaissance and anti-shipping patrol and bomber aircraft on 6th October 1940 at a time that the future Knights Cross winner Fritz Fliegel was appointed Squadron Leader of 2 Squadron of Kampfgeschwader 40.
1 Group would be credited with the destruction of 39 enemy merchant ships totalling 206,000 gross tons, further damaging 20 ships of 115,000 gross tons.
On 6th February U-37 under the command of Kapitanleutnant Nicolai Clausen, spotted convoy HG53, 19 merchant ships escorted by H.M.S. Velox and Deptford heading for Liverpool. Clausen reported the sighting, which was relayed to KG40 by Fliegerfuhrer Atlantik. On 9th February 1941, KG40 sent five Focke-Wolf Fw 200 Condor’s to attack the convoy which was spotted at 4pm roughly 640 kilometres (400 miles, 350 nautical miles) southwest of Lisbon. In the attack at the Fw200s managed to sink five ships (Britannic, Dagmar I, Jura, Tejo and Varna) and Deptford damaged the Fw200 piloted by Oberluetnant Erich Adam, who managed to fly his aircraft to Spain. U-37 would then sink a further three ships from HG53. This achievement would result in Fliegel receiving his first mention in the Wehrmachtbericht (Wehrmacht information bulletin), and he would go on to receive the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in 25th March 1941.
In mid-April 1941, Fliegel would be appointed Group Commander of 1 Group, Kampfgeschwader 40, replacing Major Edgar Petersen, and then would be mentioned a second time in the Wehrmachtbericht of 20th June 1941 after the number of enemy ships sunk by his Group increased by a further 24 ships reaching 109 enemy ships sunk. 1 Group of Kampfgeschwader 40 had five holder of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross by early 1941 reflecting its success in operations over the Atlantic Ocean.
On 18th July 1941 Fliegel along with his crew which would include Karl Becker as second radio operator and airman were reported missing in action over the Atlantic in the vicinity northwest of Ireland. Their Fw 200 C-3 ‘F8 + AB’ being shot down in an attack on Convoy OB 346. During the attack on the freighter Pilar de Larrinaga, the gunners on board the freighter scored a hit on the Fw 200’s starboard wing which tore it off.
