Re: Me262s on 31st March 1945
 

any information on a german pilot, of me 262's, name was/is otto kalmbach? he was a glider pilot in the mid 30's, then stuka pilot, then heikel 110's and 111's, then was a flight instructor, then became a me-262 pilot. he was in geschwader hindenburg in the early part of the war. he probably flew on many of these missions as well.
thanks!!

Re: Me262s on 31st March 1945
 

Is the werkenr. of Schall's machine red 4 known? Are there any excisting pictures of this machine in print or on the net?

Best regards,

Arild Tiller

Re: Me262s on 31st March 1945
 

It might be worthy of note the the following entry also appears in Dan O'Connell's excellent book:

500045 Call sign PS+IN. Me 262 A-1a. This A-1a is known to have served with 9./JG 7 at least during February and March of 1945, and flown by Ofw. Helmut Lennartz and Ofw. Hermann Buchner. 'Yellow 8'.

Walt

Re: Me262s on 31st March 1945
 

This is my first posting. I have found listings on the web of the RCAF and RAF planes shot down March 31, 1945 but they only contain the type of plane - Lancaster, Halifax, etc.

Are there any published records of the operational reports or war diaries of the JG-7 Me262 pilots engaged in that air battle?

Do the pilots' records identify the Lancasters or Halifaxes they shot down that day and where those planes crashed or do they simply record the type of plane?

Are there records of the investigations of the crash sites of the bombers shot down?

In particular, I am trying to find out the name of the pilot who shot down my father's Lancaster "X" KB-859, coded SE-U that crashed near Hittfield, south-west of Hamburg. He was the only survivor of his crew and was sent to Stalag Luft 1.

Any help would be most most appreciated.

Thanks - Bruce

Re: Me262s on 31st March 1945
 

Hi Mark,

I'd sortied out some details from RAF records on the encounter on this day, but have to locate my notes. From memory, an analysis of losses shows that a couple of Lancasters came down well south-west of Hamburg, while the rest came down in and around the Hamburg area, with a cluster in the southern outskirts.

What is apparent is that both sides overclaimed.

Below I have reproduced a page from a Bomber Command memorandum from April 1945, giving a resume of claims made by Lancaster crews against the Me262s.

I will post the other docs as I find them; they'll give you a good overview of the two main actions.

Cheers

RodM

Re: Me262s on 31st March 1945
 

Rod - Thanks for posting the a copy of the Bomber Command Claims for March 31, 1945. Are there other Claim Reports available on the web or could you provide me with a source to locate earlier summaries - particularly for the 431 Squardon?

Would you or other readers know if there are similar reports for Me262 pilot claims? I have found lists of claims for this battle but the pilots are only listed as having shot down a Lancaster or Halifax over Hamburg.

I am trying to identify the pilot or pilots who claimed the two Lancasters that crashed that day near Hittfield, south of Hamburg.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers - Bruce

Re: Me262s on 31st March 1945
 

I note that nothing has been posted on this subject since May 2007 but woud like to revive it. The figure of up to 28 Me.262s engaging the Bomber Command aircraft especially struck me - double what I had though to have been the case.

RCAF gunners (over) claimed four destroyed plus others as "probables" and "damaged". While it is evident that no German aircraft were destroyed by the gunners, it there any evidence of severe damage inflicted on any ?

I have read that the loose "gaggle" formations of the bombers helped them by allowing corkscrew evasive action, a tactic not encountered as Me.262s attacked more rigid (though more heavily armed) B-17 and B-24 formations. Informed comment on this would be appreciated.