Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Thank you, Nick.

Andy, you are correct. They added "probably following its 18th flight," which addled my brain.

Thank you both for getting it accurate.

Jim

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Jim, keep them coming please

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Hi Egbert,

I suspect I will run out of material around mid-September.


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88. By late 1943, with Hitler insisting on a fast blitz bomber to crush, as at Dieppe, the expected invasion at a French port, Arado redesigned the Ar 234 to have a conventional tricycle undercarriage and to carry bombs ... the Berta.
The first Ar 234 B was the V9 (W.Nr. 130009; "PH+SQ") here seen unmarked, probably in RLM 70/71 splinter camouflage (Creek & Forsyth, p. 28) upon delivery. Note the proposed bomb rack under the engine nacelle and the cable under the rear fuselage leading to the hatch containing the brake-chute. The V9 is readily identifiable in photographs as it lacks the cockpit periscope that Sommer found was needed operationally to see if the Jumo turbojets were leaving a tell-tale contrail. With the V10, the periscope became standard in every Berta.


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89. For the Arado B-2 bomber variant, Arado designed a recessed rack under the centre of the fuselage, between the main wheels, to carry a bomb upto 1000 kg.


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90. Also proposed was a configuration to carry three 250 kg. bombs, although I have never seen this type of nacelle rack on KG 76 Arados.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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As well, the V9 tested the concept for nacelle racks to carry auxiliary fuel tanks as Rowehl was asking that the Berta also be used as a long-range reconnaissance aircraft. Like the V5, but not the V7, the V9 seems originally to have been equipped with an ejection-seat: "Diese Flugzeuge werden mit Katapultsitzen ausgerüstet," as annotated in a 28.8.1944 document in Pawlas, pp. 4-5.


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92. Although Anton's like the V5 had these climbing features, a step ladder was easier to get to the cockpit. The Berta, however, lower to the ground, had the same handholds and footholds (including the extendable step seen here) that would allow the pilot to climb up the port side and "haul himself onto the top of the fuselage immediately aft of the cockpit," Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p.29, Also note the forked tow-bar that could more quickly hook up a Berta and tow it to the safely of a revement.


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93. "Cette vue de la moite arriere de l'Ar 234 V9 nous expose clairement la disposition du cable du parachute-frein de l'avion. En arriere-plan le queue de l'Ar 234 V1, W.Nr. 130010 Skz. PH+SR," Jean-Claude Mermet, Arado Ar 234 Blitz, (AeroJournal, 2016), p.18.
Ar 234 V9 first flew on 12 March 1944 piloted by Arado's Flugkapitän Ubbo Janssen. After serving as a test aircraft at Alt Lonnewitz and Rechlin, according to Smith & Creek, (Classic, 2022) p. 305 its last known flight was its 110th on 5 September 1944 (14:58-16:09 hrs. by Arado's new test pilot Otto Frach). However, on pp. 110-111 of the same source, Ludwig Dambach of BMW recounts how he damaged the V9 on landing when the main wheels did not deploy.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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94. Because the General der Aufklärungflieger required a variant of the Berta that did not need all the ground equipment of the Anton, the Arado designers made simple modifications to the B-2 eliminating the recess in the fuselage for the bomb and installing two slightly oblique cameras in the rear fuselage. As long-range missions would require extra fuel in auxiliary tanks, fairings and racks were installed under the engine nacelles. This recce variant, according to Jan Horn, was designated Ar 234 B-2b.


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95. This picture and the one above are captioned on p. 117 of Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022) as:
"Above and below: After being completed as a bomber, it was proposed that the Ar 234 S12, GM+BL, would be transferred to Sagos Gm.b.H. (at Sagan-Küpper) on 21st August 1944 for conversion to a reconnaissance variant. After this was completed, the aircraft was handed over to Horst Gotz of Kommando Sperling on 22 September 1944 and this became the first B-series aircraft to be flown operationally. It was then remarked T9+GH."
Oblt. Horst Gotz was staffelkapitän of 1./Versuchsverband der OKL and the aircraft code "T9+GH" (white "9", black "G") was of that unit which was based at Oranienburg. On 27 September, 15:08 - 16:10 hrs., Gotz flew "T9+GH" to Kommando Sperling's operational base at Rheine, making the first op in a Berta the next day covering Paris-Riems-St. Quentin-Albert Canal, (Horn, Des Augen des OKW, Teil 1, (2020), p. 58-59. On 1 October 1944, Gotz was promoted to Hauptmann.


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96. From 2 to 7 October, Gotz personally flew four more ops in "T9+GH". From the leaves still visible on the deciduous trees, it is likely this photograph was taken in late September or early October 1944. The black "G" can be seen behind the balkenkreuz. Technicians are removing a film cassette from the aft camera compartment access hatch on top of the rear fuselage.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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97. This accompanying photo shows the technician about to set the cassette onto a wheeled trolley, while another reaches into the forward camera compartment.


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98. This poor photo may be of Gotz's "T9+GH" landing at its base at Rheine. Kommando Sperling operated from there from 1 October 1944 to 7 February 1945 when it was absorbed by 1.(F)/123. With the death of that unit's staffelkapitän, Hptm. Hans Felde, on 11 February, Gotz replaced him on the 19th. However, in spite of the teletype order of 7 February for the aircraft of Kommando Sperling to adopt the verbandskennzeichen of 1.(F)/123, (Horn, Teil 1, p. 102), that unit continued to give in its strength reports the "T9" unit codes of the aircraft of Gotz, Muffey and Ziese.
Gotz's last feindflug in "T9+GH" took place on 6 April 1944, taking off from Reinsehlen at 13:16 hrs., covering Antwerp and landing at Lübeck-Blankensee. On 5 May, Gotz attempted to transfer "T9+GH" from Leck to Stavanger, Norway, but Horn, Teil 2, p. 92 reports it as "Bruch Bugrades beim Start." Therefore, at 08:00 hrs., it was blown up by German troops at Leck, (Horn, Teil 2, p. 82).

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

To clarify that point, when the Allies examined Ltn. Günther Gniesmer's T9+DH, W.Nr. 140142, in April 1945 they found that the ventral recess was faired over with plywood.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Thank you, Nick, for this information.

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This picture can be found on p. 193 of Smith & Creek Arado 234 Blitz, (Monogram, 1992) and is captioned:
"The wreckage of Lt. Günther Gniesmer's aircraft, T9+DH, photographed by the Field Intelligence Party from the Mediterranean Air Force, south west of Bologna in Italy in April 1945."

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This picture is found on p. 194 and is captioned:
"Another view of Gniesmer's aircraft after it had been shot down by Mustangs from the US 52nd Fighter Group. The square aperture beneath the rear fuselage was the opening for one of the aircraft's Rb 75/30 cameras."

As can be seen, Gniesmer's Arado crashed inverted and broke into sections including the fuselage belly exposed intact above the wing in the first photo. The British would have been able to compare it to the B-2 bomber W.Nr. 140173 "F1+MT" already at Farnborough and noted the modifications.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

The Arado was encountered in the air SW of Bologna but the wreck lay east of the city. It was found about 16 km NW of Alfonsine in the province of Ravenna. Some years ago the Romagna Air Finders were able to explore the site. I had supplied the map reference from the original report and they sent me a few of the small pieces of aluminium they discovered.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

That's a great correction! Thanks, Nick.

Jim

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

The Romagna Air Finders included the Ar 234 in a book 'Aerei Perduti Romagna 1942–1945' by E. Lanconelli, A. Raccagni and F. Raccagni (Società Editrice «Il Ponte Vecchio», 2008). This says they visited the crash site on 5 March 2005 and gives the co-ordinates as 44º 35.30' N, 11º 56.67' E.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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99. The second recce Ar 234 Berta to become operational was W.Nr. 140153 "T9+HH" of Kommando Sperling that Ltn. Wolfgang Ziese used on 13 October 1944 13:23-15:26 hrs. to cover Antwerp and Ostend, (Horn, Die Augen des OKW, Teil 1, p. 62). The rear camera hatch did not close properly and the "3" stencil was inverted.

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100. These are stills from a film showing "T9+HH" being taken out of a hangar to be fitted with Walter R-Geräte. Like Gotz, Ziese was transferred to 1.(F)/123 in February 1945 taking "T9+HH" with him.

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101. To my suspicious eye, this seems to be a staged photo op, with crewmen pushing the Arado out of the hangar.

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102. Even pilots seem to be helping lift the RATO booster into place.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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103. The werknummer can be seen in this picture.


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104. And finally it gets pushed back inside. The rear camera hatch still seems to be loose.


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105. Wolfgang Ziese climbs up the side of his Berta.


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106. "Lt. Wolfgang Ziese beim Einstieg in Seine Ar 234 B-2b. Auf den Rumpfrüchen lingt Ogfr. Willi Mensching, sein I Wart. Hier in Rheine, noch beim Kdo. Sperling," (Jan Horn, Die Augen des OKW, Teil 2, (2023) p. 36.
On 14 April 1945, Hptm. Horst Gotz, staffelkapitän of 1.(F)/123, flew his last feindflug in "T9+HH", 08:35 - 10:15 hrs., from Lübeck-Blankensee, (Horn, Teil 2, p. 69. Although "T9+HH" was present at Leck on 5 May 1945, Ziese flew "4U+FH" to Stavanger. At 08:00 hrs., "T9+HH+ was blown up by German troops at Leck, p. 82.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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107. The third recce Ar 234 B-2b (W.Nr. 140151; "T9+KH") first appears on the strength reports of Kommando Sperling on 24 October 1944, (Horn, Die Augen des OKW, Teil 1, (2021), p.67). Its first operation was flown on 1 November 1944 by Oblt. Werner Muffey, 14:32 to 15:25 hrs., when he aborted a sortie to SE England due to bad weather. This photo can be found on p. 200 of Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022) and is captioned:
"Werner Muffey's T9+KH being towed in the approved manner by a Kettenkrad tracked motorcycle. His aircraft is carrying two drop tanks, one under each engine nacelle."
This picture may have been taken after an op was aborted due to rain.


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108. This view of "T9+KH", W.Nr. 140151, shows the wappen of Kommando Sperling [Sparrow], a white silouette of a stylized sparrow carrying a camera being propelled by a jet. As far as I know, this was the only Arado to carry this wappen.


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109. "Not a KG 76 aircraft, but very represntative of a typical pre-take-off scene foe all the Ar 234 units. Here the B-2 of Oblt. Werner Muffey, W.Nr. 140151, T9+KH of Kommando Sperling, is readied for flight at Rheine in the autumn of 1944. This reconnaissance aircraft has Walter RATO units fitted and a generator provides auxiliary power for preflight checks," (Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p. 64).


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110. From another angle, the wappen can be seen, as well as the technician in white pants.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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111. At some point in December or January, W.Nr. 140151 was relaced by a new "T9+KH", W.Nr. 140349. In this photo, taken shortly after sunrise, Muffey's "T9+KH" is being towed to the startbahn. At this hour it was too early for Allied day fighters to get to Rheine to begin their cover, hoping to shoot down jets taking off or landing, which they called "rat catching".


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112. This is another view of the above scene and Muffey's Arado is being towed by a fuel bowser. As the earliest time that Muffey took off on an op while using "T9+KH" was at 08:48 hrs. on 25 December 1944, these pictures may show preparations that day.


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113. On 22 January 1945, despite constant Allied day fighter cover over Rheine that day, Muffey attempted to take off in W.Nr 140349 at 12:40 hours. He was quickly attacked by Allied fighters and hit in the fuselage and engines, making a quick landing at Rheine and leaving the badly damaged Arado on the field, (Horn, Teil 1, p. 97 and p. 332). Curiously, even Jan Horn cannot find an Allied claim for this incident. Note the brightness of the white of the hakenkreuz and the "T9" while the balkenkreuz and "KH" are almost invisible.


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114. The next day, 23 January, W.Nr. 140349 was strafed by Flt. Lt. Dick Audet of 411 RCAF Squadron in Spitfire LF Mk. IXE (RR201), hitting the forward fuel tank and burning out the front of the Arado. The Rheine ground crew then removed the engines and set the wreak up as a decoy. In these pictures, it is seen after Rheine was captured on 8 April 1945.
Muffey was also transferred to 1.(F)/123 in February 1945 becoming its Technical Officer. Curiously a "T9+KH" was listed on strength but only on 5 February, (Horn, Teil 2, p.10). However the British ULTRA report BT 8070 has Muffey using "AN AIRCRAFT WITH ONE FOX ONE TWO THREE MARKINGS" on 22 March 1945 when he covered ports along the South-east coast of England.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Was waiting for.... and got rewarded. Thanx

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

You're welcome, egbert!

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115. In May of 1944, perhaps in hopes of ameliorating Hitler's demand that the Me 262 solely be used as a high-speed bomber, the RLM ordered an early introduction of the Ar 234 Berta as a bomber. On 6 June, III./KG 76 was ordered to Alt-Lonnewitz to convert to the Ar 234 B-2 "Blitz", [Horn, KG 76, (2019), p. 94] and on 29 June, an Erprobungskommando 234 was established at Rechlin-Lärz to test the first S-Series bombers using a standard tricycle landing gear, [Smith & Creek, (2022), p. 133].
"Luftwaffe officers and a man, second from left who appears to be a civilian pilot, possibly from Arado, watch an Ar 234 of KG 76 being refuelled with J2 through its forward filler point from an Opel Blitz bowser at Alt-Lonnewitz. Note the technician at right is about to use the drop down step and hand hold to climb atop the fuselage," Forsyth & Beale, Arado Ar 234 Bomber and Reconnaissance units, (Osprey, 2020), p. 31.


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116. "The Ar 234 B-2 bomber had a maximum payload (without R-Geräte) of 4,409 lbs. (2000 kgs.) including fuel. It was equipped with a Patin PDS three axes autopilot with LKS7D-15 over-riding control, enabling the pilot to swing the control column clear so that he could use the Lotfe 7K tachometric bomb sight. A BZA bombing computer was used in connection with a RF2C periscope sight for shallow dive bombing," cf. www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_Ar_234.htl .
Smith & Creek, (2022), on p. 105 label this photo as:
"An Arado workman slides into the cockpit of a prototype prior to a test flight. The aircraft is thought to be the Ar 234 V10."
The V10 was being used at Alt Lonnewitz by the Patin company to test and calibrate their PDS autopilot. On 22 July, Patin's flugbaumeister Dipl. Ing Hans Richter was forced to bail out of the V10 when the port engine caught fire, (RL 2-III/780, p. 52).

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117. "An unidentified Ar 234 B-2 of KG 76 possibly at Alt-Lonnewitz in the summer of 1944 during the Geschwader's conversion period. it is fitted with racks beneath each turbojet for either bombs or droptanks," Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p. 53.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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118. One of the earliest decisions of the Geschwader was to differentiate between the Arados of each Staffel by painting a ring of the staffel colour on the leading edge of the forward engine cowls: white for 7. staffel, red for 8. staffel and yellow for 9. staffel which was also known as theEinsatzstaffel Ar 234 der III./KG 76. Curiously Smith & Creek, (2022), p. 135 caption this photo as:
"The Ar 234 S16 (W.Nr 140116) was one of the first Arados flown by Erprobungskommando 234. The aircraft saw service with 8./KG 76 as F1+BS but crashed on take-off on 12 October 1944 from Rechlin and was 85 percent damaged. The piolot, Lt. Hans-Egon Arndt, was injured." To my eyes, the colour of the staffel rings is the yellow of 9. staffel.


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119. From September to mid-December 1944, the pilots of the Einsatzstaffel learned to use the new technology and practiced bombing at Flugplatz Burg bei Magdeburg.
"Technicians and fitters crowd around an Ar 234 B2 undergoing maintenance in a hangar at Burg. Note a second Arado at rear and the glazed canopy section on the floor. KG 76 struggled to maintain a high level of serviceability," Creek & Forsyth, p. 66.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

I'm not doubting you, but just noting that on Page 305 of "Arado Ar234 The World's First Jet Bomber" (Smith & Creek, Classic), the loss of V10 is listed as being on 27 July 1944. A typo in that book?

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Hi Andy,

Yep, in this case I think Smith & Creek got it wrong. Not only is the 22 July date found in RL 2-III/780 p. 52, the Arado report of the crash can be found on p. 104 of Karl R. Pawlas, Arado Ar 234 Der erste Strahlbomber der Welt, Band 1, (1976), which also gives the crash date as 22 July. However, a confusing sentence on p. 213 maybe the source of the mistake:
"Ar 234 V10 ... Richter - Fa. Patin 10.23 - 10.40 ... Zusätzlich Umfallbereicht vom 27.7.44 ist von unser Seite noch Folgendes dem Vorkommnis auszuwerten: ..."

best regards,

Jim

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Thanks for the clarification Jim.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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120. At the same time as the bomber pilots of Einsatzstaffel 234 were training at Burg, the ground crew of 3. Flughaffenbetriebskompanie (FBK)/76 were learning to service the Arados. One of their most difficult tasks was switching out the Junkers Jumo 004B engines, which weighed 745 kg. (1642 lb.) each.
First the access panels of the engine nacelle had to be removed, the side panels dropped down for access to the securing bolts and, in this case, a special gantry with block and tackle wheeled above the wing.


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121. An angled lifting bracket was brought under the wing to attach to the engine's centre of gravity on both sides.


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122. The J2 hose connection had to be uncoupled as well as the bundle of wires coming from inside the wing.


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123. After the securing bolts were removed, the engine could be carefully manouvered away from the wing.


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124. This photo shows clearly where the lifting bracket hooked at the centre of gravity of the engine.


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125. This is a view of a crane with a motorized winch being used with a different shaped lifting bracket. Again the Arado has the yellow ring of the Einsatzstaffel.


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126. In this case, the bracket is C-shaped but also hooks into points of the centre of gravity.The bundle of wires can be seen.


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127. Once the securing bolts were back in place, the wiring and plumbing could be easily re-connected, and the nacelle panels re-attached.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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128. On page 99 of Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), they caption this photo as:
"The Ar 234 B-2, F1+BT, of Hptm. Diether Lukesch is made ready for another mission. The mobile generator cart is plugged in to provide auxiliary power and the aircraft has been fitted with Walter RATO units. Bombs have not yet been attached. Note the yellow-coloured rings around the turbojets denoting an aircraft of 9. Staffel."
On 24 December 1944 at 10:14 hours, Lukesch, the staffelkapitän of the Einsatzstaffel, 9./KG 76, took off from their forward, operational base at Münster-Handorf, leading the first bombing mission in Ar 234 B-2 W.Nr. 140143 "F1+BT". Because it was carrying a single SC-500 blast bomb (with 1100 lbs. of trialen), R-geräte were fitted and used by Lukesch and eight others to boost their Arados off the runway.
On page 108 of Jan Horn's KG 76, (2019), he writes:
"Auf Befehl von Hptm. Lukesch werden ab 16. September 1944 in der Werft Burg in die F1+BT (Werk-Nr. 140 143) zwei Machinengewehre des Typs Rheinmetall MG 131 auf der Rumpf oberseite nach vorn schiessend eingebaut. Dieser Waffeneinbau zient sich bis zum 07.10.1944 hin ..."


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129. This photo is found on page 180 of Smith & Creeks' 1992 Monogram edition of Arado 234 Blitz. It is captioned:
"A Kettenkraftrad tracked motorcycle tows Diether Lukesch's Ar 234 B2, F1+BT, along the runway at Münster-Handorf in December 1944. Lukesch, who led the Einsatzstaffel of KG 76 between December 17, 1944 and January 26, 1945, can be seen standing in the cockpit."
Note that the person directly behind Lukesch seems to be sitting on a dark object attached to the top of the fuselage.


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130. "An Ar 234 B-2 of III./KG 76 makes its landing approach at Münster-Handorf," Creek & Forsyth, p.91. However, on p. 121 of Horn's KG 76, this photo is inversed and captioned:
"Mit ausgefahrenen Landeklappe nähert sich die Ar 234 dem Platz Burg."


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131. "Armourers hitch a ride on a trailer laden with an SC 500 bomb. Behind can be seen an Ar 234 that already appears to be bombed up and ready for its next sortie. The cockpit entrance hatch is open and a packed parachute lies just behind it," Forsyth & Beale, Arado Ar 234 Bomber and Reconnaissance Units, (Osprey, 2020). p. 86. Note the winter camouflage and what appears to be a yellow cowl ring. For the most part, the SC 500 was mainly used by the Einsatzstaffel in its first month of operations. A pair of Walter R-Geräte were needed to lift it off the runway as can be seen here. The picture actually show it cradled on a jack as part of the trailer which will lift it into place in the belly of the fuselage.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

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132. Major Hans-Georg Bätcher was Gruppenkommandeur of III./KG 76 from 6 December 1944 to 25 February 1945 after which he was transferred to lead KG (J) 54 as Kommodore. In this photo, his rank as Major is sewn onto the sleeve of his pilot's jumpsuit, as he waits for his Arado "F1+AD" to be towed to the runway. Note the lack of a bomb under the fuselage.


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133. In this photograph, Bätcher's Arado is hitched to a Kettenkrad tracked motorcycle. The officer standing at attention is Oblt. Herbert Kolm, the staffelkapitan of 8./KG 76, (Kolm was the one who led the last Arados to Stavanger on 5 May 1945). "Being the commander's aircraft of III. Gruppe, in theory the aircraft letter "A" and engine nacelle intake rings would have been green," Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p. 116.


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134. Bätcher "is seen here about to enter the cockpit of Ar 234 B-2 "A" ... in the winter of 1944-45. Note the large riveting of the cockpit framework and clear vision panel at the left," Forsyth & Beale, Arado Ar 234 Bomber and Reconnaissance units, (Osprey, 2020). p. 44.


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135. "F1+AD" is being towed to the startbahn, again without a bomb under the fuselage, possibly for Bätcher's uberfuhrungsflug from Burg to Achmer on 23. January 1945 at 11:07 hours. According to Batcher's leistungbuch, his other four flights in "F1+AD" were operations (feindfluge) from Achmer, presumably using bombs.


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136. Kolm's "F1+AS" with red rings and a red "A" was readied as well, "Die Triebwerke der F1+AS, der Maschine von Oblt. Kolm, Staffelkapitän der 8./KG 76 werden angelassen," Jan Horn, KG 76, (2019), p. 127. Curiously Horn has Kolm flying "F1+NS" that day. Horn attributes these photographs to "Archiv Walter Brieke". Uffz. Walter Brieke was "Ltr. Bildstelle" in Stab/KG 76, (Horn, p 411) and may have been doing a "photo Op" on the day of the transfer of 8./KG 76 to its operational base.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Thanx for the great Arado 234 thread

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

You're welcome, egbert.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1618

137. On 23 January 1945, the Arados of 8./KG 76 transferred from Burg bei Magdeburg to their operational base at Achmer. Once again, Uffz. Walter Brieke was on hand to photograph them at Burg prior to that flight. Smith & Creek, Arado Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), p.209 caption this photo as:
"A line up of Ar 234s of III./KG 76 photographed at Burg during the winter of 1944/45. In the foreground is F1+CS and F1+MS of the 8./staffel with the tail of W.Nr. 140360 F1+ER of 7./KG 76 at the extreme right."
Note the red rings on the engine cowlings and the red letters "C" and "M".


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1619

138. Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p. 111 caption this photo:
"Ground crew walk past the line ... the second Arado from the left being F1+CS of 8./KG 76 (probably W.Nr. 140325) ... The coloured rings around the intakes at the front of the engines are probably red for 8. Staffel. The aircraft have tow bars attached to their nosewheels to enable prompt movement by Kettenkrad should the need arise." While the danger of strafing at Burg was slim in January 1945, the RLM 81/82 (Creek & Forsyth, p. 67) clearly made the Arados sitting targets against a snowy background. Once at Achmer, winter camo would have to be applied.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1620

139. "With snow and ice coating its wings, an Ar 234 B-2 is towed across from its dispersal at Burg by truck," Creek & Forsyth, p. 115. Note where the braking chute's cable is attached to a hard point beneath the rudder. Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), p. 226 add: "This photograph of the Arado portrays very well the distinctive negative camber to the main wheels due to the narrow track of the (rear) undercarriage."


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1621

140. "A mechanic waits on the top of an Arado's fuselage for the arrival of a fuel bowser. Note the fuel filler connector nozzle/valve aready inserted into the filler point for the forward 1800 ltr. tank," Smith & Forsyth, p. 120. On 23 January 1945, Uffz. Eberhard Siehnhold of 8./KG 76 flew "F1+CS" W.Nr. 140325 from Burg to Achmer, (Horn, KG 76, p. 197).


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1622

141. Another view of the line up at Burg.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

The End?

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Jim

Your text above under 137 (quoting Smith/Creek) says WNr 140360 was F1+ER 7./KG 76.

However looking at the photo attached to 139 the attached text says WNr 140360 was
F1+ES.

Since I am right now at Nuuk in Greenland without access to either books or files
which is correct? Presumambly the ES?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Hi Stig,

Thanks for the catch. I have removed the caption from my photo in 139 because I cannot remember (Senior moment!) why I thought it was ES. I'll try to be more careful.

Hi egbert,

Sorry, no. First 140173, then the C-series.

best regards,

Jim

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Can't wait for it.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

No worries Jim
I suppose ehhhh welcome to the Club.....
Cheers
Stig

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Thanks, Stig.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1623

142. Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), on p. 212, caption this photo as, "Hptm. Josef Regler's Ar 234 B-2 F1+MT, W.Nr. 140173 after crash landing at Salgerdorf on 22 February 1945 ... ."


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143. In the afternoon of 22 February 1945, fourteen Arados of KG 76 took off to bomb enemy columns in the Aachen area in shallow dives. At 17:35 hours, 1st Lt. David B. Fox in a P-47 of 391 FS/366 FG claimed a "Me 262" that "bellied in" 10 miles north-east of Aachen, but film from his gun-camera showed that it was an Ar 234. Hptm. Regler, Lukesch's replacement as staffelkapitän of 9./KG 76, made an emergency landing just inside German lines near Selgerdorf. Regler was safe, but the first Arado Ar 234 to fall into Allied hands was captured the next day.
"The aircraft was examined briefly and dismantled ready for shipment to the UK, while still under fire from the Germans, who were probably attempting to destroy it. It was found to be only slightly damaged," Creek & Forsyth, p. 125 quoting UKNA/AVIA 6/9212: Ar 234 Jet-Propelled Bomber, Report No. 2324, AI(g), 27 March 1945.


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144. The captured Arado was Ar 234 B-2 W.Nr. 140173 "F1+MT" (yellow "M") of 9./KG 76. This photograph shows how operational units of KG 76 used sprays of off-white, probably available RLM 76, to make their Arados less conspicuous in winter. Note the intact turbines, jettisoned hatch and almost totally smashed forward windscreen.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1626

In this photo the jettisoned hatch has been replaced but the smashed windscreen and collapse of the forward instrument panel is obvious.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1627

146. While the first intact Jumo 004Bs were of special interest and are missing in this photograph taken at Farnborough, also of interest would have been the PDS gyroscope, the Patin automatic pilot and BZA bombsight. Moreover, a staffelkapitän's aircraft would also have had the FuS An 730 Freya-Egon navigational device for blind flying that amazed American gunners at Remagen seeing Arados diving out of the clouds, right over the Ludendorf Bridge. Unfortunately, the smashed windscreen may indicate that German troops had removed or destroyed those prizes.
Note the damage to the the starboard wing that was not there when captured.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1628

147. In August 1943, it was, in theory, a good idea to replace the two Junkers Jumo 109-004 B-0 turbojets on the Arado Ar 234 with four BMW 109-003 A-0s. While the BMWs had yet to produce their promised 800 kg. of thrust compared to the 900 kg. of the Jumo, the BMW weighed only 623 kg. compared to 745 kg. of the Junkers. That meant that an Ar 234 airframe could just accommodate the weight of four 003s, giving a total thrust of 3200 kg. for an engine weight of 2492 kg. compared to a thrust of 1800 kg. for a weight of 1490 kg. of two Jumos. "Preliminary performance figures for the project looked promising, including a maximum speed of 860 km./h (534 mph) at 4000 m. (13,000 ft.) and a range of 1,470 km. at 12,000 m. (39,370 ft.)," Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), p. 150. This would make it faster than the Me 262 but it would need reliable engines, a pressurized cockpit and a new tricycle undercarriage to carry the weight of engines and cockpit. There was also a drawback. The BMW 003 was designed to run on B4 87-octane aviation fuel.
Two configurations using Ar 234 Anton airframes were designed by Arado to test the four engine concept. The V6 (W.Nr. 130006; "GK+IW") would have two individual, separated nacelles under each wing, while the V8 (W.Nr. 130008; "GK+IY") would have paired nacelles. The V8, seen here under construction, was the first of the two to fly on 2 February 1944.


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148. This screenshot shows that the V6 and V8, like the other Antons, used tubular jacks to lift the aircraft so that the take-off trolley could be placed beneath it.


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149, Arado's test pilot, Flugkapitän Johan-Ubbo Janssen, immediately encountered problems. For the V8, the most serious concerns were the Henschel-built, unreliable fuel pumps that emptied fuel tanks at uneven rates causing great shifts in the centre of gravity, (Pawlas, p. 85) and the fact that the 003s regularly flamed out and could not yet be restarted in the air.


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150. The final flight for the V8 was on 6 May 1944. Persistant problems with fuel pumps, throttles, landing flaps,hydraulics and skids made this aircraft too dangerous to fly. Janssen aborted this final flight, (Pawlas, p. 120)

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Two typos. The crash location is spelled Selgersdorf (with an ‘s’ in the middle): https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selgersdorf

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Thanks, Nick. Just checked. Both typos are mine. And there is a thread in TOCH on the spelling!

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

forum.12oclockhigh.net/album.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1632

151. The Arado Ar 234 V6 (Wn.Nr. 130006; "GK+IW") first flew on 25 April 1944 using four BMW 003 A-0 turbojets in four separated nacelles. Ubbo Janssen reported that he was constantly throttling to control the engines and that they could not be restarted in flight, Pawlas, p. 110.


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152. As one of its innovations, the V6 had radio telemetry of each exhaust temperature, Pawlas, p. 122.


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153. Problems with the V6 included inconsistent fuel flows to the engines and swings in the centre of gravity due to uneven emptying of the fuel tanks. At 7000 m. the Henschel pumps could only inject enough fuel for idling and the aircraft became uncontrollable and went into a spin on 30 May 1944, Pawlas, p. 166.


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154. The final straw for Ubbo Janssen came on 1 June 1944. After about ten minutes, all four engines cut out at 500 m. over a wide forest. He managed to relight number two and, losing height, made a quick notlandung in the first open field he saw. In his report of 14 June, he summed it up:
"Abschliessend ist zu sagen, das die BMW-Triebwerke in dieser Form nicht erprobungs reif sind. Das Risiko ist untragbar Geworden, Pawlas, p. 154. Neither the V6 nor the V8 flew again. However it had been concluded that the paired configuration was superior.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Only trust maps!

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1636

155. After two months of adjustments, a new paired set of BMW 003 A-0s were fitted to the wings of a standard Ar 234 Berta prototype with its tricycle undercarriage. The Ar 234 V13 (W.Nr. 130023; "PH+SU") was delivered on 30 August 1944 and, despite his misgivings, Ubbo Janssen made the first flight on 6 September 1944 using the same Henschel fuel pumps as on the V6 and V8.
This is a frontal view of the V13. Not only does the Berta cabin have the downward sloping main spar separating the periplex windscreens, but the fuselage has only one set of main wheel doors above the tyres. Note the distinctive grey colour of V13.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1637

156. Janssen's misgivings were justified. On its first flight, on take-off, the two outer turbos (numbers 1 and 4) flamed out and number 3 lost power. At 20 metres, Janssen turned back but had to belly-land before reaching the airfield boundary.


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157. On page 83 of Smith & Creek's Arado Ar 234 Blitz, (Monogram, 1992) they caption this photo and the one above as:
"The only genuine B-Series airframe to be fitted with four separate engines was the Ar 234 V13. The aircraft made one flight, on September 6, 1944, but crashed following the successive failure of three engines. The airframe was then transferred to the Technical High School at Jüterbog for instructional purposes." The engines were removed and sent to BMW Berlin, Pawlas, p. 284.


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158. The unusual grey colour and darker rudder stand out in this picture of the V13.

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

This is the right time for some more treasures.......

Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s
 

Hi egbert,

OK. Here it is.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1640

159. Flight testing of the BMW 003 A-0 turbojet had begun in 1943 using Ju 88 test-beds both at E-Stelle E-3 at Rechlin and at the BMW TL-Erprobungsgruppe at BMW's facility at Berlin-Aldershot. In January 1944, BMW's turbojet testing was transferred to Oranienburg where it seems to have become integrated with theVersuchsverbande der Ob.dL.. Of the Ju 88's known to have tested the BMW 003, DH+JX, TH+GE W.Nr. 3255, DG+FR W.Nr. 5077, DH+AG W.Nr. 7143, it was Ju 88 RG+RW W.Nr. 430827 [Horn, p. 302, gives W.Nr. 430857] that was first given the kennzeichen T9+MH then T9+EL, according to a post in TOCH by Peter Achs on 19 Nov. 2009. This unit was headed by a civilian engineer, Flugbaumeister Peter Kappus, who realized that Arado's Ar 234 Berta would be a better test-bed for the turbo.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1641

160. Two Berta prototypes were set aside as test-beds for the BMW 003, both using twin engines. The V15 (W.Nr. 130025; "PH+SW") was first flown by Janssen at Alt Lonnewitz on 20 July 1944, 17:34-17:51 hours. On 8 August, Janssen transferred it to Oranienburg where it was given the kenn "T9+HL" and was mainly flown by Hptm. Josef Bisping of 3./VV-OKL until November. In December, it was handed over to Kappus who flew it on 10 December 12:00-12:38 hours at Oranienburg. In January-February 1945, Kappus moved hisSonderkommando from "O-Burg" to Burg bei Magdeburg transferring the V15 on 15 February 17:00-17:20 hours. With the bombing of Burg bei Magdeburg on April 10, the V15 was unserviceable and could not be evacuated. It was blown up there by German troops on 4 May 1945.
This is the only picture of V15 that I have found so far.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1642

161. The V17 (W.Nr. 130027; "PH+SY") was first flown by Janssen at Sagan-Küpper on 25 September 1944 17:16-17:30 hours. On 7 November, St.Fw. Rudolf Seefeld of 1./VV-OKL transferred V17 from Sagan-Küpper to Oranienburg and it was coded "T9+LL". Kappus first flew V17 at "O-Burg" on 22 November 10:25-11:00 hrs.
Ordered to transfer his unit to Burg bei Magdeburg, on 30 January 1945, Kappus flew "T9+LL" there, 15:25-15:50 hours.
Probably due to overcrowding at Burg bei Magdeburg, Kappus was ordered to move what was now called Erprobungstelle BMW to Neubiberg in Bavaria. On 7 April 1945, Kappus flew "T9+LL" from Burg to Lechfeld, 18:00-19:18 hours. On the 12th April, he completed the flight to Neubiberg, 18:25-1855 hours. On 1 May, as American forces approached Neubiberg, V17 was blown up by German personnel.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1643

162. From Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), p. 163, Peter Kappus is quoted as saying:
"Subsequently, I made a number of other test flights in Ar 234 V15 and V17, most of them aimed at investigating the flameout behaviour of the BMW 003 at Altitude, and a new Junkers control system that was supposed to enable us to burn the more readily available J2 heavy oil fuel instead of B4 white gasoline for which the engine was designed. J2 was a very heavy paraffin fuel of better availability. Starting was very difficult with J2 and we usually began with B4, carried in one of the two tanks in the Ar 234, and switched to J2 in flight, when the engine was hot ... ."