What Happened to the Colditz Glider?
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What Happened to the Colditz Glider?
Are there any records of the fate of this iconic piece of history?
We are all familiar with the 1945 photo but presumably it remained in the roof space after that, but until when? And where did it go?
Did the Soviets move it, store it, dispose of it?
Has it been seen since that photo?
We are all familiar with the 1945 photo but presumably it remained in the roof space after that, but until when? And where did it go?
Did the Soviets move it, store it, dispose of it?
Has it been seen since that photo?
In the early 70s, when the series was on TV, I was in Leipzig attending the Trade Fair. One weekend, with nothing better to do, I decided to visit Colditz. Of course, they wouldn't let me in because, as the very helpful lady at the door explained, it was currently a lunatic asylum. I asked about the glider. She knew of it, and when asked if it was still there, answered "Ich glaube so". (I believe so). For some reason she became convinced that my father had been incarcerated there, (he hadn't), and she suggested that I went down to the pub in the nearby village square and talked to the locals. The locals were very friendly, and a couple of them worked in the castle, but they said that a lot of it had been closed off and only the maintenance people were allowed in there, so they weren't sure whether the glider was there or not. None of which answers your question very well, but it might be worth firing off an inquisitive email to these people:
Information - Schloss Colditz
It was a dull day, cloudy and raining when I was there and as I stood on the platform at Colditz station waiting for my train back to Leipzig and looking up at the building, I found it very eerie and forbidding. It was still in the same condition since being captured by Allied Forces. Of course it is now a museum, fully refurbished and open to the public.
Information - Schloss Colditz
It was a dull day, cloudy and raining when I was there and as I stood on the platform at Colditz station waiting for my train back to Leipzig and looking up at the building, I found it very eerie and forbidding. It was still in the same condition since being captured by Allied Forces. Of course it is now a museum, fully refurbished and open to the public.
No real help but the TV replica was at Duxford some years ago. I haven't seen it in a while but might it be worth talking to the IWM in case they have some details on the original?
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I was there recently and was allowed up into the attic and there is a replica in the roof, Regina Thiede is the lady now looking after the museum and is very helpful regarding visits. (will post photos shortly) PH.
Cock Builder
Some years ago I happened to be at Old Sarum collecting an aircraft and got chatting to a very tall guy who was building a seaplane in the hangar.
It turns out that he was in Colditz as a result of his Sunderland crashing during the Crete/Greek campaign.
He was involved with the glider and said its main benefit was to give them something to get stuck in to avoid the boredom of being locked up.
His account of the Sunderland accident (at night) on an evacuation flight was most interesting, acting as he was as co-pilot at the time trying to let down in complete darkness without altimeter reference, and striking the water with some force as they were much lower than they thought.
It turns out that he was in Colditz as a result of his Sunderland crashing during the Crete/Greek campaign.
He was involved with the glider and said its main benefit was to give them something to get stuck in to avoid the boredom of being locked up.
His account of the Sunderland accident (at night) on an evacuation flight was most interesting, acting as he was as co-pilot at the time trying to let down in complete darkness without altimeter reference, and striking the water with some force as they were much lower than they thought.
got chatting to a very tall guy who was building a seaplane in the hangar
Bill Goldfinch
That's the chap; by the time I had tea and the lunch with him he had enquired whether I would like to taxy the seaplane when it was finished. I am not entirely sure it was built to a PFA/LAA approved design but as far as I was concerned whilst on the water it was a boat !!!
They knew that a return (night) trip for a pick up was probably doomed to failure as it was completely dark and his main concern was not having an accurate altimeter setting .As it turned out the change in local pressure at the landing site put them 'well out' and as he put it they hit the sea a mighty wallop and turned over.
He was a real character at Old Sarum; which back then was a delightful place to visit and of course blessed with its original Belfast shed hangars. The problem with aviation is its a 'downhill run' now with fewer classic fields to visit and the 'characters' replaced with 'developers', yellow jackets, crats, and zero vision for the future. People like Bill gave some substance to the location and that's what gave the places a reason to go there (plus a good café) As it is Compton down the road is still well ok.
They knew that a return (night) trip for a pick up was probably doomed to failure as it was completely dark and his main concern was not having an accurate altimeter setting .As it turned out the change in local pressure at the landing site put them 'well out' and as he put it they hit the sea a mighty wallop and turned over.
He was a real character at Old Sarum; which back then was a delightful place to visit and of course blessed with its original Belfast shed hangars. The problem with aviation is its a 'downhill run' now with fewer classic fields to visit and the 'characters' replaced with 'developers', yellow jackets, crats, and zero vision for the future. People like Bill gave some substance to the location and that's what gave the places a reason to go there (plus a good café) As it is Compton down the road is still well ok.
