Re: He 219 V23 DV+DI found at Hörsching?
 

Thanks for clearing this up, Marcel (especially regarding the fate and final location of Werkenr. 310188).

Regarding the V-19: the reason to believe this was the 190113 is mostly based on the telex message of 24 Feb. ´44 from Heinkel Vienna to the RLM that advises the He 219 A-042 (Werkenr. 190113) to be earmarked for a Versuchs-role, although with no particular V-number assigned. (source: "He 219 Research Paper, 3rd Ed. " by Francis Ferguson).

The only He 219 I can find a reference to with a pressurized cabin is Werkenr. 190073 (RL+AM). Could this perhaps be the other candidate for the designation V-19, if 190113 is ruled out?

Re: He 219 V23 DV+DI found at Hörsching?
 

Hello,

190113 was indeed used as a Versuchsmuster (V-number not known yet) for ejection seat trials soon after February 1944 and when these tests were completed, 190113 was used again for another project.

I faintly remember to have read about a plan to use 190073 for a pressurized cockpit, but it was never effected. All 6 documents I have with 190073 refer to a normal use as a nightfighter with the I./NJG 1 in Venlo, my hometown. It went down in April 1944, the first successful ejection of a crew under combat conditions.

Best regards, Marcel

Re: He 219 V23 DV+DI found at Hörsching?
 

Since the publication of Schwechat a photograph in Klassiker.d.Lf.7/17 there is a new mystery about V23.

While there are evidence pictures that the plane was in Cheb/Eger at the end of hostilities in Europe 1945, its tail was found in Vienna by British visitors to the Schwechat airbase.

I assume that its tail unit has been exchanged, a common procedere also with He162 which makes WNr research much more difficult.

Re: He 219 V23 DV+DI found at Hörsching?
 

Hello Martin,

I have a source containing a comment for V-23 which reads 'Flugzeug wird aufgeteilt' which could explain why parts have been found at Schwechat and Cheb/Eger.

Best regards, Marcel

Re: He 219 V23 DV+DI found at Hörsching?
 

Hello Marcel,

We share the source you mention and it is dated end of 1944/beginning 1945.
So it was planned by the Luftwaffe to dissassemle the plane at that time.

However the fact that this plane (at least its fuselage with 'V23' (only) on the front end) was found at Cheb/Eger at the end of the war (April/May 1945) shows that the plan has not been followed or the fuselage was reassembled with other parts. And the plane was (later) transfered to Cheb/Eger - for what reason?

BTW, Cheb/Eger (FWE) was used for repair/rebuilding He219/177 by Heinkel and or finally to convert Messerschmitt 262A-1/U3/A-4 recce planes, as is a well researched fact by JaPo Publications.

This mentioned dissassembly migth be true (only) for the tail unit, as the tail was found at Schwechat after war's end by evidence (without any doubt) of a British post war photo from Schwechat.

The British visited Schechat mid 1945 in search of a airport close to Vienna for their use civil/Administration and Military Transport use. They choose Schwechat albait its largely devasted condition and shared it with the French Forces, whereas the US took over Tulln/Langenlebarn, an the Soviet Forces used Bad Vöslau.

So the question remains, for what reason was V23 transfered to Cheb/Eger in spring 1945?

Best regards, Martin

Re: He 219 V23 DV+DI found at Hörsching?
 

Hello Martin,

The source is dated 24-1-1945 and shows what was planned at that time. The photo's made at Eger/Cheb were most likely made after the liberation of that area.
Multiple sources (ranging from Febr.1944 to half June 1944) reveal however that He219 DV+DQ was used for the V-32 test program (2e Mustermaschine, GM-1). Therefore my first thought (just hypothetical) is that when the V-32 program finished, DV+DQ was appointed to become V-23.

If I am correct, then DV+DQ replaced the original V-23 (Wnr.190113) which was flown to Schwechat early May 1944 to get the second 3-men cockpit (190112 was the first He219 with a 3-men cockpit).

As we all can see, the V-23 in Cheb/Eger shows that DV+DQ had a two seats cockpit. Some scenario's: 1) the 3-men configuration for the V-23 program had been dropped (photo's in Cheb show a twoseats cockpit) 2) the plan to adapt this He219 for the Jumo222 was never put in action too 3) the Original requirements for the V-23 program had been dropped.

Best regards, Marcel

Re: He 219 V23 DV+DI found at Hörsching?
 

Hello Martin,

Would love to hear your comment(s) about my thoughts in my previous reply.

Best regards, Marcel