German-supplied torpedo plane

[Tiornu]

Hi, guys. I understand that the Germans gave nine Fi-167's to Romania. This was a minor type of which only fourteen were built, but it is of interest as Germany's only design for a carrier-based torpedo plane. Does anyone have any information on them? I'm interested in airmen's impressions of the plane's qualities.

[Dénes]

It's an 'urban legend'.
The Fi 167As actually went to Croatia.

[Tiornu]

No kidding! Wow. Can you direct me to some source material?

[Dénes]

Info from Tino Jelavic on the Fi 167A in the use of Yugoslav Partisan Air Force (!):
> So soon partisan Liaison Squadron of Supreme
> Command got exotic aeroplane Fi 167A-0 (NDH reg. 4807)
> which was built like torpedo-plane for never finished
> German aircraft carrier "Graf Zeppelin" and after that
> given to NDH (Croatian) Air Force for use. That plane was
> overflown on 25th September 1944. from Zagreb to
> Topusko area were in that time was partisan Chief
> Command for Croatia. That was done during material
> delivery task for NDH units (Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska
> = Indenpendent State of Croatia was German satellite
> state) in Bosanska Gradiska by crew of two pilots
> Major Romeo Adum and Major Matija Petrovic. After that
> they delivered that plane to isle Vis where was based
> partisan Supreme Command and his Liaison Squadron.
> The plane was used mainly for training until 17th
> October 1944 when pilot Miljenko Lipovscak was sent on
> post delivery task for partisan 8th Corp Command with
> crew navigator Ivan Konte and radio/gun operator
> Svetislav Najdanovic. After landing near mountain
> Sator in Bosnia and Hercegovina (which during 2WW was
> part of NDH) and post delivery, they had to transport
> 8th Corp commander General (with one star) Vlado
> Cetkovic to Supreme Command at Vis. In flight back
> they passed over village Vrdovo on mountain Dinara and
> drop signal-tube with post for partisan 20th Corp. In
> that moment they were attacked by four allied fighters
> P-51 Mustang from SAAF (?). Pilot Lipovscak manage to
> crash-landed Fiesler in flame on some hill so crew
> passed with minor injuries but General Cetkovic was
> killed because multiple hits from 12.7mm machine-guns.
> Although RAF Command sent official note with
> explanation and regret, there were some rumours that
> General Cetkovic was intentionally shutdowned because
> he was against planed Allied invasion on Croatian
> Adriatic coast. In that time his 8th Corp was having
> around 60 000 fighters and was biggest Corp in NOVJ
> (Narodno Oslaobodilacka Vojska Jugosavije = Peoples
> Liberation Army of Yugoslavia).

[Dénes]

Forgot to mention that there are at least two good (non-Croatian language) books, in which the career of the Fi 167As in the NDH is detailed.
I have both books at home, so if you wish I can give you the authors, titles, etc.
Also, Schiffer Publ. recently issued a book dedicated solely to this particular airplane type. Details must be in it.

[Tiornu]

It's amazing what info is available.
This quote mentions only one plane. Can you confirm that all nine were delivered to Croatia? Yes, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to know the titles of those two books you mentioned. And I'll have to look up that Schiffer book too.
Thanks.

[Dénes]

The first book - originally published in Croatia - is in French: 'La Force Aerienne Croate, 1941-1945', by D. Frka, J. Novak and S. Pogacic. Published by LeLa Presse, in 2000.

The other one is a bilingual, Croat-English edition: 'Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo Drugome svjetskom ratu', by Tihomir Lisko & Danko Canak and Danko Canak, published by Nova Gradiska in 1998.

I have only the first book handy and it mentions 11 (with a question mark) Fi 167s delivered in 1944. Serial numbers: 4801-4811.

2nd Lt. Dénes

[Tiornu]

Much appreciated! Are you certain about Schiffer? I tried to find their book at their web site, but failed.

[Dénes]

I was wrong (working from memory only).
The book Schiffer released recently, which I thought was dealing with the Fi 167 (without actually seeeing the book), is actually dealing with the Fw 187 (http://www.schifferbooks.com/military/luftwaffe/0764318713.html).

But I know a notable German researcher, who collects data on this exotic airplane type for many years, who plans to compile a book sometimes in the future.

[Tiornu]

In all the excitement over this new (to me) information, I forgot my original question. Do your sources have anything to say about the plane's flight characteristics? I have heard very complimentary things.

[FliteMetal]

I first began researching the Fi-167 in late October. Since then I have found more
than I imagined possible for there only being 2 prototypes and twelve production
airframes.

I have a specific request. I have a card stock model computer file with instrument
panel that is less than accurate based on known and accepted instrument layout
for a DB601 powered plane. I am looking for photo or line art documentation of
the Fi-167 panel. Can anyone contribute to my documentation?

Do the above mentioned publications have assembly manual illustrations? I have
not been able to find any books or softbound manuals on the Fi-167. Collected a
fair number of web based images and three views.

For those interested in three view resources... Bob Banka has three 3-views, one
of which is detailed enough to be an actual resource for a construction project. It
does not have an instrument panel illustration capable of providing enough detail
for competitive flying scale modeling purposes.

Thanking you in advance for your assistance....

Ed Clayman
ScaleAero.com
wclayman@houston.rr.com



This post has been edited by FliteMetal on February 22, 2007 12:46 am