Crew of a Dornier Do 24 seaplane of Luftwaffe’s 6. Seenotstaffel at Augusta, Syracuse, Sicily, 1942. According the source on the left of the shot is Oblt. Wölke Staffelkapitän der 6. Seenotstaffel, KIA on 13 November 1942. The 6. Seenotstaffel, a search-and-rescue unit, fuselage code K3+, was established in Augusta on March 1941 under the control of the Taormina’s Rescue Coordination Center and subordinated to Seenotzentrale (L) Sizilien from March 1941 to June 1942 and to Seenotbereichskommando X from June 1942 to 18 August 1944 when was disbanded. On August 1943 moved to Portofino and later, October 1943, to Venice. In this time employed also some Italian floatplanes Cant-Z-506 seized after the Italy’s surrender. Victor Sierra

German seaplane in Sicily

(I voluntary repost this picture posted by me in former times because the quality of the now photo is better of the previous and because some most complete information about the event). The photo show a detail of the same event remembered by the picture “Bisleys in action” (Other Forces): the strafing of a Luftwaffe’s Junkers Ju 52 forced down by three Bristol Bisley of No. 15 Squadron South African Air Force, Western Desert, 12 October 1942. Notice the cannon shells exploding around the tail while the fire erupting by the starboard engine and a member of the crew lying face down on the ground beneath the airplane (indicated by the arrow over the print proof). The event occurred when the SAAF’s Bisleys, escorted by four Bristol Beaufighter of No. 252 Squadron RAF, while returning from a strike on an enemy train, intercepted two Ju 52. The Beaufighters shot down a Ju 52 and damaged one of the escorting Messerschmitt Bf 110s, while the Bisleys forced down a second Ju 52 (the aircraft of the photo) and subsequently destroyed it. One of the Bisleys was shot down by return fire. Victor Sierra

Ju 52 strafed

A Dornier Do 24 seaplane 6. Seenotstaffel in the harbour of Patras, after a collision with a fishing boat; note the heavy damages to the nose and to left wing leading ledge. Photo’s date likely 1942, when a detachment of this Luftwaffe’s rescue unit was re-deployed in Greece. Victor Sierra