Re: Photos 12-31
 

Hi,

what is also interesting is that a very similarly-painted aircraft 'VG+ES' werk n. 4085 is shown on page 31 of 'He 111 In Action', said to be used by FM Rommel as a personal transport. It looks as if the same painter had a go at both these airframes.

Cheers

GrahamB

Re: Photos 12-31
 

Re: Photos 12-31
 

Gefr. Alfred Michael, IV./JG53, shot down participating in Bodenplatte (from memory)

Regards,
Chris

Re: Photos 12-31
 

Hi Kenneth,

the photo of the downed Bf 109 G-14 appears (at least) in 'Monogram Close-Up No.7 Gustav, Messerschmitt 109G Part 2', page 26. The caption for the two photos does not identify the pilot, aircraft, unit or date but gives the location as 'near Halstroff', and the cause 'brought down...by anti-aircraft fire'. A 0.5 cal hit to the magneto is pointed out by a Major G. Wiess of Ames, Iowa. The aircraft was one of twelve attacking American positions and was one of no less than nine shot down, by 90th Division Artillery.

No doubt someone else can fill in the details with this information as a basis?

Cheers

GrahamB

Re: Photos 12-31
 

I don't think. The He 111H-6 used by this Kommando had no green patches. Pics of its final fate exists (crashed in the desert) and it did not have patches.
Have a good day

Von Alles

Re: Photos 12-31
 

Regarding the downed Bf 109 G-14 referred to above:

I checked in "Bodenplatte The Luftwaffe's Last Hope" by J.Manrho and R. Pütz, Hikoki Publ., 2004. And found the information below.

It is the well published G-14, WNr. 462892, 'Blue 2' of 16./JG 53, flown by Gefr. Alfred Michel. Shot down on 1 Jan 1945 near Waldweistroff, South West of Merzig.
It is not easy, but still possible, to discern the number '2' painted over the patch just forward of the fuselage cross.

Claimed by 'D' Battery of the 455th AAA Bn (M). This battery claimed no less than 10 downed aircraft in this engagement. Five crashed aircraft to have been found afterwards and investigated, but none possible to identify today.
Among those believed to have been claimed by 455th AAA are also;
Fhr Siegfried Leese 14./JG 53, MIA.
FJ.FW. Werner Jaschek, 15./JG 53, MIA. Flying 'Yellow 2'
Fhr. Wolfgang Rosenberger, 15./JG 53, MIA. Flying 'Yellow 12'

More pictures of this G-14 and info on this event on page 237-238 in the book, which I can highly recommend as a good read on the Bodenplatte operation.

Re: Photos 12-31
 

on the He 111 there appears to be no codes and the rudder looks like a replacement.

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eplanepix/u9X.jpg

Re: Photos 12-31
 

Are you sure that this is a MG 17 and no flamethrower
under the tail? I'm no expert and I only know that KG 51
tested He 111 and Ju 88 with flamethrowers in Russia
against enemy fighters.

Re: Photos 12-31
 

I believe that the flame thrower was a far different mounting, longer.

That looks like an MG 17 under the rudder in an H-6 late style tail cone. What is intersting is that there appears to be another one to the right and lower.

The location of the aircraft appears to be North Africa.

Re: Photos 12-31
 

A close up photo of the flame thrower on the Ju-88 A-4 appears in the German edition of Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe, volume III, on page 268 (designated GERO FmW-51). The same unit is shown being tested on an He-111 H-16 in the air, but it is impossible to see it.

On the Ju-88, it consists of two pipes that are side by side, perhaps on the He-111 they were placed one above the other? Who has a photo of the MG in the tail cone of an He-111?


Ed