Defecting on August 17, 1944, from A2 Pilots School, Strasbourg-Polygon, was Bu 181 Bestmann SJ+SS, Werknr 110273. It landed in a meadow at Benken, near Basle, and the pilot asked to be interned. It was flown to Berne-Belp airfield the next day wearing Swiss marks beneath the wings.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bucker Bu.181 Bestmann - ГерманияGermany - 1939

Another defector in a Bucker Bu 181 Bestmann arrived from Stuttgart on October 26, 1944. He stalled into a meadow in Ronwil, St Gallen, while avoiding a herd of cattle. The code PE+UW and Werknummer 0210324 were in tiny letters at the top of the fin.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bucker Bu.181 Bestmann - ГерманияGermany - 1939

On March 19, 1943, three Fieseler Fi 156C-3s were being ferried from Munich to Bari, crossing the Alps. Two lost their bearings and landed at Samedan, near St Moritz, where the crews were interned and the aircraft confiscated. This one, Werknummer 1144, was built by Morane-Saulnier and had a black triangle on the fuselage denoting its ownership by an assault unit. It was impressed into Swiss service as A-98.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fieseler Fi.156 Storch - ГерманияGermany - 1936

This Gotha Go 145A was the fourth of its type to land in Switzerland when it arrived at Basle-Birsfelden on November 30, 1941. Coded H4+VA, Werknummer 1455, it was from Staff Airborne Wing 1 and left Hildesheim for Freiburg, but bad visibility and a misfiring engine forced it down at Basle; it flew to Freiburg on December 3. The colour scheme was metallic blue, with yellow beneath the lower wings and a yellow band round the fuselage.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Gotha Go.145 - ГерманияGermany - 1934

Focke-Wulf Fw 58B Weihe TA+BA, owned by the Parachute School, Wittstock, was operating with a crew of two from Freiburg on August 10, 1941. By mistake, owing to weather conditions, it landed at Biel-Bozingen, returning to Germany the next day.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Focke-Wulf FW.58 Weihe - ГерманияGermany - 1935

Junkers W 34 DK+VQ, Werknr 2191, was flying crosscountry to Strasbourg from AJB Pilots School, Luxeuil, on March 24, 1942, when its crew mistakenly landed at Basle-Birsfelden. Surprisingly, it carried cases of cognac and wine - but it returned to Strasbourg 4 1/2 hr later, after the Swiss had taken this picture.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Junkers W 33 / W 34 / Ju.46 - ГерманияGermany - 1926

Siebel Si 204D DL+NT arrived with five crew at Berne-Belp on May 7, 1945 with wet paint over its national markings and yellow fuselage bands. It flew to Dubendorf two days later and after overhaul entered Swiss service as B-3.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Siebel Si.204 - ГерманияGermany - 1941

A visitor to Basle-Birsfelden, on March 5, 1943, was Bu 131A Jungmann CX+HI, Werknummer 314, from A/B Pilots School 23, Kaufbeuren. With a lost cross-country student, it crossed the Swiss border near Rheinfelden and landed with almost empty tanks. Wearing its school emblem on the nose, it had a yellow rudder. Refuelled, it returned to Germany the next day.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bucker Bu.131 Jungmann - ГерманияGermany - 1934

Smart Bu 131 Jungmann CW+BG, Werknummer 483, landed at Basle-Birsfelden on June 14, 1944, from Twin School A43, Crailsheim. The pilot elected to be interned and his aircraft was flown to Freiburg by a Swiss pilot. The unit crest was a yellow shield with black outline and keys, topped by a silver castle.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bucker Bu.131 Jungmann - ГерманияGermany - 1934

Deliberately fleeing to Switzerland, Focke-Wulf Fw 44F Stieglitz NV+KF, Werknummer 462, was the only example to land there, arriving at Dubendorf from Constance on April 26,1945. That summer it was bought from the Allied Control Commission, becoming A-95 in Swiss military service. Civilionised as HB-EBN in June 1953, it was broken up in December 1965.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Focke-Wulf FW.44 Steiglitz - ГерманияGermany - 1932

On May 15, 1943, Klemm Kl 35B SD+IU, Werknummer 4099, left A/B Pilots School 116 at Goppingen on a two-hour cross country flight. Its student pilot lost his way on the first leg, mistook Basle for Strasbourg, and after much circling landed at Basle-Birsfelden airfield. He was allowed to return to Germany with the aircraft four days later.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Klemm Kl.35 / Kl.106 - ГерманияGermany - 1935

Little is known about this Italian Air Force Saiman 202M, MM51136, which landed at Bellinzona in good condition on September 10, 1943. The circular crest contained a lion with one eye closed and the words “Nee in somno quies” (Not even in sleep do we rest). A wooden two-seater, it was used as a liaison aircraft during the war.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Saiman Saiman 202 - ИталияItaly - 1938

Arriving at Beudenfeld, near Berne, on July 16, 1944, was this Italian-built Avia FL.3 MM56597, coded DQ+MF, from A2 Pilots School, Strasbourg-Polygon - all of which, including the telephone number, was inscribed on the fin; note also crest on the nose. Just what the Germans were doing with such a strange aircraft is not known, nor is the reason for painting out the background, since it included only iron railings and a shelter! The FL.3 flew to Strasbourg the next day, escorted as far as Basle by a Swiss aircraft.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Azionaria Vercelles (AVIA) F.L.3 - ИталияItaly - 1939

The rarest escapee to Switzerland was this Levente II communications monoplane, which left Linz on April 12, 1945, crewed by two Hungarian flying instructors. Dark green paint had been applied over the Hungarian markings and the aircraft landed at Dubendorf two hours later. Several instruments were missing and maintenance was said to be poor, but the aircraft survived and with its Hirth HM504 engine replaced by a Siemens radial entered the Swiss civil register as HB-TAC in May 1948; it crashed in August 1952. Some 70-80 Levente IIs were built in Hungary.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fabian Levente - ВенгрияHungary - 1940