Date

Location

Force

Aircraft

From-To

Crew

15-06-1941

Amareleja  (Alentejo)

LUFTWAFFE    3/ KG40

Focke-Wulf FW 200 C3    W.Nr.0061

Bordeaux/ Cognac Merignac  → Bordeaux/ Cognac Merignac

Obrl      Erich Westermann        Germany †

Ofw        Guenther Kunert         Germany †

Ofw         Gerhard Singer            Germany †

Ofw        Walter Reiser               Germany †

Ofw        Erwin Hildebrand         Germany †

Uffz        Fritz Grotstollen         Germany †

The aircraft was involved in a airfighting and was probably hit. There are news cuts of the time referring a combat between a RAF Catalina and four German airplanes. The pilot was probably searching for a place to land and Amareleja had a landingstrip at the time, but the  Condor exploded in the air killing the entire crew. The bodies were collected by the Beja Fire Brigade and transported to Moura where they received proper military honors before being buried in the local cemetery, where they still are.

The fire brigade received latter, from the German Legation, a silver plate to honor their efforts during the rescue of the bodies of the crew members.

Resources:
* “Aviões da Cruz de Cristo” – Mário Canongia Lopes
* Arquivo do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros
*Arquivo Histórico da Câmara Municipal de Moura
* Arquivo Nacional Torre do Tombo
* The port Arthur News – June 16, 1941
* Bombeiros Municipais de Beja
* João Calado
* José Carlos Carias Silva
*Juan Carlos Salgado