ADI(K) reports - 3

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve W.
Re: oberursel
Sun Oct 10, 2024 18:52
205.188.116.7

There is a Record Group 242 at NARA WashDC that used to have a sub-entry numbered T-1033 that contains hundreds and hundreds of folders that were, in effect, case files on crashed Allied aircraft compiled by the Luftgau in whose territory the aircraft and crew came down. In addition to 6 to 20 pages of crash site reports, salvage reports, fighter and Flak Abschuß reports, etc., that pertained to the downing, the folder also contained papers listing the fate of the air crew and an inventory of their personal possessions. More often than not, there were dogtags, personal diaries, notebooks, personal photos, etc., to be found in the folders, and I even recall one that contained a guy's wallet with money still in it.

The above comments all date from the early 'eighties. Since then, T-1033 has been reorganized, renumbered and it is possible that the many personal effects were cleaned out by the NARA archivists.

As for hardware like bombsights, etc., I would imagine that stuff was all salvaged by the Germans and is now long gone. The Luftwaffe had special salvage units (Flugzeugbergungstruppe) that cleaned up crash sites and recovered anything they could. Much of the metal was re-smelted and turned into ingots for re-use.

Steve W.