The Blohm und Voss V-138 Flying Boat, out of Norway, were ocean going reconnaissance planes for spotting enemy supply convoys that were shipping supplies, troops and equipment.
It was known by their crews as “Der Fliegende Holzschuh” “The Flying Clog.” They would call into bases on the coast for JU-88’s to bomb and strafe the supply ships. All three engines on the B&V 138 were diesel and they would land in the North Atlantic and German U-Boats would surface and refuel them.
The Blohm und Voss crew could eat and sleep while the plane was being refueled giving them a break because they could be away for weeks. The gun turret in front was fired by pilot by remote. In the rear there was a gunner. In the dramatic painting by Roy Grinnell, it depicts BV138C-1 of 2/KU. FL. Gr (Kusten-Fliegeruppe) 406 in North Norway, 1942.
Diesel?
Just doesn’t seem right.
You know — it does look a bit like a flying clog. Very cool painting.
Ed- The Germans had diesels WAY before we did, and in many different applications!
LL- It does, and I can’t imagine spending a week cooped up in one of those. That had to be worse than being in a sub!
It is a cool looking plane. Refueling at sea… in the North Atlantic? I don’t imagine that was a smooth operation. That is some rough riding up there.
+1
In an ironic twist, the Thielert diesel engine from Germany used for modern light aircraft had been plagued with problems of such extent that the, design team was viewed as suspect, engineers fired, aircraft manufactures expressed no confidence in the engine, and the company went bankrupt. Even when the company was resurrected there still remained the sullied image of the concept.
I surely appreciate this fine aviation art which depicts the actual events. I look forward to seeing the OV-1 Mohawk in action.
I do not think I would want to be on The Flying Clog.
Nice pic. I didn’t know about the diesel engines, which is kind of interesting. If they refueled via U-Boat, I’d wonder about how many U-Boats were involved in the refueling. U-Boats weren’t all that big, and the range on a U-Boat was kind of short. I’d also wonder about landing and take-off. The water could be a little rough, and it seems to me that landing would beat the crap out of the plane, and take off would need some very serious muscle, engine-wise.
I suppose they took on ammo and basic supplies while refueling.
“Holzschuh” is literally “Wooden Shoe” as German is a very literal language, but Clog is more colloquial but…Nazi Cultural Appropriation!