|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
Lutheran Mission Pacific Islands Monthly March 9, 1936  Prewar circa 1937-1939  Prewar circa 1937-1939 |
Aircraft History Built by Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG (Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works) in Dessau, Germany as Junkers F 13ke serial number J2074. Sold to Personal Flying Services and in July 1930 registered in the United Kingdom as G-ABDC. In April 1933 sold to Brooklands Airways. In December 1934 sold to Neuendettelsauer Missions Gesellschaft and registered in Sweden as SE-AEC. The tail had the mission motif a red circle with a cross inside. Next, sold to the Lutheran Mission and disassembled for shipment to the Territory of New Guinea. On March 7, 1935 registered in Australia as VH-UTS. Nicknamed "Papua". This aircraft had a natural metal finish with VH-UTS painted in large black block letters on both sides of the fuselage. The nose was painted black with "Papua" in white lettering. The tail had the missin motif, but was later removed. This plane began operating in Territory of New Guinea flying cargo and passengers to Lutheran mission station airfields. Sometime between March 1935 September 1939, this aircraft suffered a landing accident at a New Guinea airfield that damaged the left landing gear. Afterwards, repaired and returned to flying status. On March 9, 1936 took off from Finschafen Airfield and was the first plane to land at the newly built Madang Airfield. A photograph of the parked plane was taken with locals standing nearby. Wartime History During August 1939 took off from Malahang Airfield near Lae piloted by Werner Garms and Paul Raabe on a flight bound for Mount Hagen Airfield for a delivery to the Lutheran mission station at Ogelgeng. While on the ground, they accepted mail from Patrol Officer (kiap) Leigh Vial based at Mount Hagen and possibly letters from others. On September 1, 1939 the pilots who were German nationals learned of the start of World War II in Europe and decided to steal the plane and return to Germany to join the war effort. Departing Mount Hagen Airfield they flew southeast landing at Kiapit Airfield and refueled using fuel stocks owned by the Lutheran mission. On September 5, 1939 this plane was observed near Lae before landing at Edie Creek Airfield near the Wau-Bulolo gold fields where they delivered the mail from Leigh Vial and refueled to top off their tanks. The plane took off from Edie Creek Airfield and flew to the southwest over the Territory of Papua before landing at Merauke Airfield in Dutch New Guinea (Papua Province). After landing, they abandoned the plane near the runway. The ultimate fate of this F.13 is unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Fates of the Crew After landing at Merauke, Garms and Raabe made their across Dutch New Guinea then traveled aboard a steamer to Japan then traveled to the Far East of the Soviet Union and boarded the Trans Siberian Railway from the Far East westward back to Germany where both enlisted in the Luftwaffe (German Air Force). Werner Garms became an officer with the rank of Oberleutnant. On March 1, 1942 Garms was a crew member aboard Ju 88 A-4 (9K+DS) assigned to 10./KG 51 went Missing In Action (MIA) on a mission over the Crimea area. Paul Raabe has an unknown military history. Possibly he was an enlisted man in the Luftwaffe or another branch of the military. He is not listed in Luftwaffe Officer’s Career Summary. References Junkers F13 Serial Numbers Wings of Gold - How the Aeroplane Developed New Guinea (1978) page 222 Working in Papua New Guinea 1931-1946 (1983) page 268 "Prior to the outbreak of war with Germany [sic September 5, 1939], Werner Garms and engineer Paul Raabe had escaped in the mission plane. At Malahang they boarded the plane and with extra fuel in drums flew to Mt. Hagen's airstrip. They pumped petrol from the drums into the tanks and flew to Merauke on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea where they abandoned the plane and went on their way." Luftwaffe Officer’s Career Summary / Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries Section G-K [PDF page 21] GARMS, Werner. (n.d.) had flown commercially in Papua New Guinea. 01.03.42 Oblt., 10./KG 51 KIA - Ju 88 A-4 (9K+DS) lost under unknown circumstances in Russia - had taken off from Nikolayev." Papua New Guinea Postal Stamp 30 toea "Mission Aviation, Lutheran 1935 depicts F 13 SE-AEC in flight Thanks to John Douglas, International Historical Research Associates and Robert Piper for additional information Contribute
Information |
 F.13  Photo Archive  Map 1939 |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
