I have some questions regarding this topic. The context here is important. This would apply to areas that were occupied by Allied armies before the (local) German authorities could deal with the wreckage. I'm hoping somebody has travelled down this road before: Was it mandatory for downed Allied aircraft required to be documented (reports, photos etc.) by the occupying units? If so, to what extent? Would these records be part of the occupying unit's document archive only or was there also special administrative unit(s) and/or department(s) set up by the Allies to deal with this aspect of the campaign? What was the procedure as far as the eventual clean-up part of the scenario? Was this handled by the occupiers, using either Allied troops or local German labour, or was the responsibility handed wholesale to the (post-war) German authorities to deal with? This is in direct reference to my research into the final hours of Lancaster DX-Q (LM653) -ref: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/user-introductions/42663-gday-west-oz.html The Lanc crashed 21-3-45, just outside the small village of Friedrichsthal (near Usingen) and remained there for at least the duration of 1945, according to my local contact. US troops of the 3rd Army/VIII Corps/76th Div. occupied the area about 9 or 10 days later, although I am still trying to ascertain exactly which battalion/company etc. Ultimately I am trying to obtain a report or, better still, a photo of LM653 where she came to rest. Regards, Scott.
