Mystery of missing Me 323 Gigant finally solved

[Fritz]

In the Summer of 1943 two Me 323 Giganten Transport Aircraft were shot down whilst returning from North Africa in the direction of Sardinia. One crashed on one of the small islands of the island group of la Maddalena, the other disappeared into the sea. They had been intercepted by a group of allied fighters and had only been escorted by one Italian fighter, which failed to prevent them being shot down, but managed to pursue and shoot down one of the assailants. 70 years (2013) later, the last wreck was discoverd at 25 metres depth by Aldo Ferrucci, a professional diver. A moving memorial ceremony later took place with some of the relatives of those lost. Representatives of the Italian Navy and of the Bundesluftwaffe were present. Eye witnesses also come to word. German and Italian text.

 

[Kenny Andrew]

Is this not the Messerschmitt Me 323 Fritz ? 

[Fritz]

 

Yes, you're right, must be doting. Here is an English text version of the same film. The machine was powered by six French manufactured Le Rhône rotary engines of 1000 hp each. The entire plane was made of canvas on a frame, and very vulnerable to air attack. On board one machine, which crashed into the sea, there were four Italians and 64 German troops, mostly wounded, and crew, one of these was the Zahlmeister Artur Busch, whose daughter lives in America, mentioned in this production. There were no survivors.