War Journal

Continued

The airport was surrounded by mountains of 600m high. Ice was setting on wings and flaps. I decided to receive the direction to fly to the airport, but the dates fluctuated very much so I could not depend on these values. But lucky the operator told me we hear you south of the field and shortly after this message I heard: you re over the field. Meanwhile I was 1600h and it began to darken. Just in this moment I saw a hole in the clouds. And could see the ground 1200m below me. I started directly a steep turn to spiral down. The general shouted: what is the matter? But I had no time to answer. At 150m we left the hole in the clouds and I could see the landing strip in the snow. I had landed in a similar way as my comrades often did, looking for hole and getting down under the clouds.

Some days later, June 11, I had another time to bring him to Berlin. For this time we had no Ju 52 available, so Jonas gave me our FW 58. I knew that General Spang would surely not be delighted to fly a Weihe, because he was not used to fly it. And so it was, although that plane could make the same speed. I do not know what I told him that I could not come with his Junkers. Then, 19-21 July were my flights to Lyon which I have described in a former letter

August 20

The weather had changed. It was very stormy and it was raining. I had to test a DO 17 Z in height above 3500 meters, as it was forbidden to fly higher than 500 meters above our airfield, I had to do it over the North Sea. Same time I had as newcomer a meteorologist who made his first flight in a war-bird. We flew passing Norderney in a real mess and ascended then. 1000 meters, where the clouds ended. It was clear above the clouds and the sun was shining bright. When I reached 3500 meters I dived until I reached the clouds and dipped in the mess again to land after 20 minutes in Oldenburgl.

For along time we had the idea to take-off in the darkness to avoid fighters when approaching the Orkneys or Shetlands Therefore we would need an altimeter not based on barometric systems. For this purpose I had orders to fly to Rechlin which was a test station near Müritz. I took our Weihe and went off. After my arrival they asked me where came from and phoned in Oldenburg. whether it was correct. They wanted obviously to make sure that I was no spy. I had no success because there were some examples in development. But I saw very interesting planes to be tested there.

Drontheim

It was a long night in Drontheim.

Next day the weather was clear and we had a wonderful flight along the coast to Stavanger where the general visited the weather station "Rhainbow". After this we flew back via Oslo to Berlin the general being glad to be at the controls of his beloved Ju 52 .

So far my Norway-flight with General Spang