German Air Force

Castel Benito: Condor’s wreck

Imperial War Museum

Tripoli, Castel Benito airfield, early 1943: the wreckage of a burnt-out Luftwaffe’s Focke Wulf FW 200 Condor, one of aircraft of this type employed on Mediterranean Theatre Operational as transport planes rather than the Condor’s typical role of maritime patrol aircraft (the Condor was originally a long range civil passenger aircraft designed for the Luft Hansa). This photo was taken just after the capture of Castel Benito by the Allied armed forces. Note, in fact, the presence in background of a British fighter: the Hawker Hurricane Mark IIB, HL681 “A” of No. 274 Squadron RAF. This latter were temporarily installed on Castel Benito there until the airfield at Mellaha could be made serviceable for use. Victor Sierra