Re: 4 Bü 131 claimed on 2 May 1945 by 130 Squadron
 

Hi Stig,

yes you are right.
However, there are two aspects, I think:
In case the pilots have seen biplanes it could have been Bü 131, Ar 66 or Go 145 or maybe even Fw 44. That´s because I have listed the units equipped with biplanes.
However, in the combat reports it is not clearly stated that the planes have been biplanes. Thus - for me - there is still a chance that in fact they have been Bü 181. [or at least I hope so ;-)]
Also, the question for me is how familiar the Allied pilots have been with German planes and their designations? Especially in this case: 131 or 181 may be mixed up quite easily.

Usually, the Bü 181 was the standard training plane and successor of biplanes such as Bü 131, Fw 44 and so on.
The chance to hit a Bü 181 during April/May 1945 was bigger than to meet a Bü 131, I guess.

Well, after all it is just speculation and I will let you know any news I come across in this case.

Regards,

Christian

Re: 4 Bü 131 claimed on 2 May 1945 by 130 Squadron
 

Hallo Christian

Vielen Dank. A few thoughts, based on information you have kindly provided in your replies.

1. You may wish to have a look at the link provided by edwest in his post "German a/C interned Switzerland" on this site, as it shows four Bü181 and an FW44 interned in 1945.

2. In his memoirs of this period, which are deposited with the Imperial War Museum here in London, Flt. Lt. John Wilkinson relates a story about when 41 Squadron arrived at Celle on 16 April 1945. He describes how he found that the Luftwaffe had left a number of aircraft scattered around the airfield and in the surrounding forest. Some had been smashed with sledgehammers and others burned. However, using good pieces from a number of different aircraft, he, Flt. Lt. Farfan and Flt. Lt. Fisher built their own composite aircraft, painted it yellow, added RAF roundels, and managed to get it to fly. The aircraft they (re-)built they believed to have been a Bücker 181, which remained with the Squadron during their future moves.

3. I was interested in your mentions of the Fieseler Storche flying to Berlin and back, and was wondering if these might have been the same aircraft (or the same unit) as claimed by 41 Squadron's pilots Chalmers and Fisher. As I don't have the book you mention (Taghon, Peter, Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1, Vol. 2: 1942-1945, 1. Ausgabe, Zweibrücken/Germany 2004, p. 435-437), would it be possible to obtain a scan of this from you, please?

Danke im voraus
Steve

Re: 4 Bü 131 claimed on 2 May 1945 by 130 Squadron
 

Hi Steve,

thank you very much for this additional information.
I know the "Switzerland Bü 181" from Panzerfauststaffel 3 at Dübendorf. Also the story of 41 Squadron is very interesting.
I have mailed the scans via your homepage. Hope they arrived?

Best wishes,

Christian