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Wolfgarten, Walter (Wettererkundungsstaffel 26)

Date of birth:
April 13th, 1911 (Köln, Germany)
Date of death:
April 4th, 1943 (Marittimo Island - at sea near Trapani, Sicilia - Italy)
Buried on:
German War Cemetery Motta San Anastasia
Plot: 1. Row: 2-B. Grave: 47.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

27.10.1942: Ju 88D-1 Werknummer 430202 "5M + J" flown by Oberfeldwebel Hugo Blum from Wekusta 26 made a crash landing at Son San Juan (Baleares Island). Remaining crew: Reg Rat Walter Wolfgarten, Meteorologist, Uffz Hans Debrodt, R/O and Ofw Ewald Jander, Mech.

Oberinspektor Walter Wolfgarten served in the Wekusta 26 deployed in Russia, Poland, Sicily and Italy, among others. Wekusta, sometimes also Westa were flying units of the Air Force of the Wehrmacht in squadron strength. Their primary job was to collect weather data in areas that only planes could penetrate. This data flowed into a wide variety of weather reports from the Wehrmacht. The weather forecast is one of the decisive factors for the planning and execution of military operations. However, a large number of international weather data is required for an accurate weather report, which was not available in times of war. The Wehrmacht therefore created a worldwide network of weather stations, weather ships and weather planes. The Air Force summarized the weather aircraft in special squadrons. Most of them were directly subordinate to the commander-in-chief of the Air Force or the Air Force Command. There were a total of eleven Wekustas, which had between three and twelve twin-engine aircraft in their ranks. Many meteorologists who were obliged to perform military service flew in them and collected weather data. More than 200 of them fell during the war.
One of them was Wolfgarten, who drowned when falling into the sea near Sicilia. In the letter of condolence to his wife, the whole dramatic process, including the agony, is described.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
June 14th, 1940
signed by Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 27th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Bronze
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
April 5th, 1941
signed by Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 25th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Silber
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 4th, 1941
Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Wetterdienstinspektor
Unit:
Wettererkundungsstaffel 26
Awarded on:
January 22nd, 1943

Published in the Ehrenliste der Deutschen Luftwaffe on 1-2-1943.
Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 25th, 1943
Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Gold mit Anhänger
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Beamter a.K. - WD-Inspekteur
Unit:
Wettererkundungsstaffel 26, Luftwaffe
Awarded on:
October 23rd, 1943
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Sources

Photo