II. Gruppe Kampfgeschwader 40 - II./KG40

Photo's 01-02: KG40 carried out maritime patrols over the Atlantic in the period June-August 1940

Profile Source: Flugzeug Classic 2011-09

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw-200 Condors and flight crews of I./KG40 line up in front of their aircraft at Bordeaux-Merignac for an inspection in September 1941. Note the positioned propellers and absence of the 'world in a ring' emblem. You can see also the code F8+BH on the second aircraft.

Profile 0A: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-2, F8+CH, 'White C' of the 1./KG 40 and based out of Bordeaux-Merignac during the late summer of 1942. Finished in a camouflage scheme of 72/73/65, it carries the well-known 'World in a Ring' emblem that reflected the nature of the units' long-range operations.

Profile 0A: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-2, F8+CH, 'Yellow C' and yellow spinner tips of the I./KG 40 and based out of Bordeaux-Merignac during the late summer of 1942. Finished in a camouflage scheme of 72/73/65, it carries the well-known 'World in a Ring' emblem that reflected the nature of the units' long-range operations. It also has two ship symbols on the rudder along with 18-20 missions on the fin.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-2, F8+CH, 'White C' of the 1./KG 40 is seen here parked between wood encased blast walls at its home base of Bordeaux-Merignac during the late summer of 1942. Finished in a camouflage scheme of 72/73/65, it carries the well-known 'World in a Ring' emblem that reflected the nature of the units' long-range operations.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw-200 Condor C-3/U4, W.Nr. 0026, coded KF+QL and subsequently coded F8+CH of 1./KG 40 over-flies the camera. Built in 1940, it was lost on operations with all crew near Ireland on 24 July 1941.

Profile 0A-0B: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-1 Condor of 1./KG40, (F8+DH) based at Bordeaux-Merignac, West France, KG40 carried out maritime patrols over the Atlantic in the period June-August 1940.

Profile 0A-0B: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-2 Condor WNr.0023, F8+EH, is believed to have been flown at one time by the Staffelkapitan of 1./KG40. However it received 30 per cent damage at Brest on 21 September 1940 and it was destroyed in Germany just over a year later on 21 October 1941.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-2 Condor WNr.0023, F8+EH, is believed to have been flown at one time by the Staffelkapitan of 1./KG40. However it received 30 per cent damage at Brest on 21 September 1940 and it was destroyed in Germany just over a year later on 21 October 1941.

Profile 0A: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-3 Condor of 1./KG 40 carries the standard camouflage scheme of the 1941 period with its unit marking, F8+GH, painted on both sides of the fuselage and repeated beneath the wings. The Geschwader code 'F8' appeared below the port wing in black while the individual aircraft letter 'G' and Staffelletter 'H' were applied beneath the starboard wing in white and black respectively. The individual letter painted on the sides of the fuselage was outlined in white.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-3 Condor of 1./KG40 carries the standard camouflage scheme of the 1941 period with its unit marking, F8+GH, painted on both sides of the fuselage and repeated beneath the wings. The Geschwader code 'F8' appeared below the port wing in black while the individual aircraft letter 'G' and Staffelletter 'H' were applied beneath the starboard wing in white and black respectively. The individual letter painted on the sides of the fuselage was outlined in white.

Photo's 01-03: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-3 Condor of 1./KG40 carries the camouflage scheme of the 1941/42 period with its unit marking, F8+GH painted on both sides of the fuselage and repeated beneath the wings. The Geschwader code 'F8' appeared below the port wing in black while the individual aircraft letter 'G' and Staffel1etter 'H' were applied beneath the starboard wing in white and black respectively. The individual letter painted on the sides of the fuselage was outlined in white.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-3 Condor of 1./KG 40 WNr. 0074, coded F8+GH of l./KG 40 seen at Aalborg, March 1941. The spinnerless port outer BMW-Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir nine-cylinder radial engine seems of interest to the two flight crew, one of whom is holding a hammer-like tool.

Photo 02: The spinnerless port outer BMW-Bramo 323R-2 Fafnir nine-cylinder radial engine seems of interest to the two flight crew, one of whom is holding a hammer-like tool.

Profile 0A: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-3 Condor of 1./KG 40 carries the standard camouflage scheme of the 1941 period with its unit marking, F8+HH, painted on both sides of the fuselage and repeated beneath the wings. The Geschwader code 'F8' appeared below the port wing in black while the individual aircraft letter 'H' and Staffelletter 'H' were applied beneath the starboard wing in white and black respectively. The individual letter painted on the sides of the fuselage was outlined in white.

Profile 0A: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-3 Condor of 1./KG 40 Powered by four BMW 132H engines this Fw 200C-2 coded F8+KH was originally painted in the standard splinter pattern of RLM 72/73 with RLM 65 underneath. The aircraft was used for night operations and the undersides have been repainted in temporary black paint. It appears that on some parts of the aircraft, paint has been eroded due to operational conditions and the original 65 color has begun to bleed through once more, especially under the nose. It would also appear that the front areas of the engine cowlings were not painted out although the Balkenkreuz and the letter 'K', originally painted white, have been painted out making them less obtrusive. The Hakenkreuz and KG 40 emblem remained untouched.

Photo's 01-02: Two rare views of an unusually painted Fw 200 Condor believed to be a C-2 of I./KG 40 in-flight over France probably in 1941. The aircraft carries the 'World in a Ring' emblem of I./KG 40 and is finished in standard RLM 70171 splinter pattern on its upper surfaces with a matt black water-based paint applied to the under surfaces. Furthermore the aircraft code, F8+KH, and the fuselage Balkenkreuz have been blacked down leaving only a portion of the white cross visible. This aircraft subsequently crashed at Oberkohlhofen, with Oberleutnant Heinz Helleberg and crew all killed.

Photo's 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-4, WNr. 0111, coded F8+BK of 2./KG 40 after a severe ground loop at Vaernes, Norway, 23 August 1942.

Photo's 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C-4 Condor, WNr. 0132, of 2./KG 40 coded F8+CK factory code (VY+OF) was shot down on 29 July 1943 by a No 248 Squadron Beaufighter, at position 45.30N by 06.06W. Of the crew, two were killed, one being Ofw Alfred Bolfrass. The remaining five crew members were rescued and became prisoners of war. This Condor was also 10 per cent damaged on the ground, when it was attacked by Allied aircraft on 8 September 1942 at Vaernes.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C3 Condor of 3./KG40, WNr.0063, F8+CL, seen following a heavy landing at Bordeaux on 20 October 1941. Note the score in the tarmac showing a ground loop. An inflatable lifting bag has been positioned under the rear fuselage prior to raising the aircraft. From the markings on the tail fin the Condor had conducted sixteen missions over England and had been credited with the sinking of one vessel. After repair she became F8+BR and was ditched in Storsdahlfjord on 22 February 1942 due to engine failure. Oberleutnant Karl Thiede and the crew were rescued.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C Condors of 3./KG40 are seen being serviced prior to operations on a rather damp and grey day at Bordeaux-Merignac. The aircraft in the foreground coded F8+DL, shows a kill marking on the fin in the shape of a silhouette of a vessel and below that numbers of missions flown, represented by vertical white bars.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C3 Condors of 3./KG40 are seen being serviced prior to operations on a rather damp and grey day at Bordeaux-Merignac. The aircraft in the foreground coded F8+DL, shows a kill marking on the fin in the shape of a silhouette of a vessel and below that numbers of missions flown, represented by vertical white bars. F8+FL is in the background.

Photo 01: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C3 Condor coded F8+FL, WNr. 0102 of 3./KG40 cruises over the Irish Sea in November I941. Built in early 1941, it suffered engine failure west of Ireland on 13 February 1942. Feldwebel Kurt Hinze was killed; Feldwebel Dem plus four crew were rescued by V-Boat.

Profile 0A: Focke-Wulf Fw 200C Condor of 3./KG40 based Bordeaux-Merignac. The letter G was outlined in white.

Photo's 01-02: These two pictures show various Merchant shipping being attacked by unknown Fw 200C Condor's.

 Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, Mérignac, France Map

 Trondheim International Airport, Trondheim Airport, Værnes, Stjørdal, Norway Map