Messerschmitt Me 323

Messerschmitt Me 323

Photo 1 is a view of the front of the six engined transport aircraft.
Photo 2 is a port side ground view.
Photo 3 is a starboard side ground view.

Three b/w photographs on an album page

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PThomasAF20080016

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Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant.
Designed specifically for Unternehmen Seelowe which called for nothing more than one short one-way trip across the English Channel, the Me 321 Grossraumlastensegler was of strictly limited usefulness in the logistic support role. Its immense [sic] size dictated the hazardous Troika-Schlepp arrangement which restricted its operations to daylight & good weather conditions, necessitated batteries of temperamental take-off assistance rockets which demanded the provision of specially trained personnel & special equipment at every base into which it operated, & rendered it virtually immobile when on the ground. Because of these disadvantages two Me 321 gliders were converted to powered status using six French Gnome-Rhone engines. Production of the Me 323 was finally halted in April 1944, a total of 198 had been delivered to the Luftwaffe. Max speed 144 mph at sea level. Max loaded weight 99210lbs. Span 180 feet 5 1/2 inches. They saw considerable service on the Eastern Front with a crew of seventeen men, pilot, co-pilot, radio-operator gunner, two flight engineers/ gunners and twelve additional gunners.