fa 330 lookout kite - u boat towed kite with observer in it

[Guest]

I would like to know if anyone has any photos of a FA 330 autogyro type kite that was towed behind type 7 type 9 u boats. Where did they stow them?I assume in some type of container but where? above or below deck

[wlwilson]

I've seen a photo recently

I've seen a photo recently of the autogyro. The book is not in my possesion but I'll look for it and get back to you.

Warren
1436

[u-5075]

Go to Google.com

Enter FA-330

Go to Google.com

Enter FA-330 as a search term.

Then click onto IMAGES,

You can get about 270 images (actually with a lot of them
being duplicates). And the info with them should answer
most of your questions.

[u-5075]

Go to Google.com

Enter FA-330

Go to Google.com

Enter FA-330 as a search term.

Then click onto IMAGES,

You can get about 270 images (actually with a lot of them
being duplicates). And the info with them should answer
most of your questions.

[u-5075]

Sorry about the double reply

Sorry about the double reply above.

This (below) is what the US Naval Intel types knew about the auto-gyro in 1944.

HELICOPTER
Some 1,200 ton U-boats are reportedly now equipped with a one-man helicopter for observation purposes. This device is stowed in two containers on the after part of the platform. In operation it is reeled out on a cable up to an altitude of about 400 feet. The spotter carries out communication with the U-boat with a walkie-talkie or telephone. The launching and maintaining of altitude depends upon the U-boat’s speed relative to the wind velocity, since there is no motor. The operator is provided with a parachute.

[This “helicopter” was actually a motorless autogyro. Three blades, 24 feet in diameter, about 180 pounds in weight. Rotor speed 205 RPM. This was a Focke-Achgelis, Fa-330. It was flown as a kite, trailing behind the U-boat. Reportedly, the normal towing speed relative to the wind was 25 mph (28 knots) and the minimum towing speed was 17 mph (19 knots). (Top speed of a Type IX is about 18 knots.) It could hold an altitude of 400 feet and the operator could see up to 25 miles on a clear day. He used binoculars and made reports by a telephone. This autogyro was initially made in 1942. About 200 were built. The operators first trained in a wind tunnel and then while being towed behind a power boat. After this, they were ready to see duty on a U-boat. The Fa-330’s became operational in mid 1942, but due to the heavy Allied presence in the Atlantic, they were not used much there. However they were employed by Type IX, D-2 U-boats in the less patrolled South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The main problem with them was Allied aircraft in the vicinity causing the need for the U-boat to rapidly submerge. This demanded crash dives that were too rapid for the observer to be recovered. An emergency procedure was used to jettison the blades and parachute the observer down -- from 400 feet, at best! An Fa-330 is on display at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Pavla Models in the Czech Republic has a 1/72 scale autogyro.

[gary]

Contact me off line and

Contact me off line and I can send you some photographs of the kite on deck of a type V11. dengar@xtra.co.nz

[ninjrk]

Hi,

I have a few digital

Hi,

I have a few digital photos of the one at the USAF Museum that I'll post.

Jostle my memory at nitflegal@chartermi.net please.

Matt