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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1463

1. At 07.10 hrs. on the morning of 5 May 1945, Uffz. Hans Eckerlein of 9./KG 76 took off from Leck, Germany for Stavanger-Sola, Norway with nine other pilots from KG 76 in Arado Ar 234 B-2 jet bombers, just prior to the 08.00 hour of capitulation in Germany and Denmark. He immediately encountered bad weather, and, separated from the others, turned around and made a hard landing at 08.36 hrs. at Flensburg-Weiche, Germany. The only serviceable aircraft available to him was the Kommodore's personal aircraft, Ar 234 B-2 W.Nr. 140600 "F1+AA" (green A). This photograph shows that this Arado has the standard green RLM 81/82 splinter camouflage used for both bomber and recce Arados. However, the starboard engine is a replacement with KG 76's grey-white winter camouflage on its nacelle. Note that a green leading-edge ring has been applied to the cowl of the nacelle. The significance of the white "13" is unknown to me.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1464

2. This view shows that the port nacelle cowl also has a leading-edge ring of green but the nacelle is in the standard splinter camouflage. Also note that at this time the bomber Arados of KG 76 did not have racks under the nacelles to carry bombs. Also the tilt of green "A" in this picture is due to the damaged tyre and collapsed oleo on the starboard main strut. This aircraft was unflyable without replacement parts.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1465

3. This portside view gives an excellent example of the open hatch that allowed access to the kabine with its surround of periplex panels. To climb up to this opening, a series of recessed hand and footholds was included on the port side of the fuselage immediately behind the cockpit. As well, a retractable step could be lowered. The wear and tear marks on the coverings of these holds are an additional aid in the recognition of individual aircraft. The collapsed starboard oleo can be seen in this photo.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1466

4. This photo shows that the splinter camouflage of the upper surfaces was given a coat of matte lacquer over which the white balkenkreuz was added, giving the centre cross a two-tone effect. As "F1+AA" was unserviceable, it was likely scrapped at Flensburg or dismantled for parts.

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

Is there any particular reference (i.e. an AI report) which confirms the colour of the "A" as green? I would expect blue on a Geschwaderstab aircraft.

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

Hi Marciej,

Nope, no AI report. Just my educated guess at the colour from the tone in black and white photos. I have been known to be wrong. However, Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers/Kampfgeschwader 76 and the Arado Ar 234, (Chandos, 2020) on page 167 agree with me and refer to it as "Stab green".

best regards,

Jim

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1467

5. Oblt. Herbert Kolm, staffelkapitän of 8./KG 76, was the ranking officer and leader of the formation of Arado Ar 234 B-2 bombers that took off from Leck on the morning of 5 May 1945 for Stavanger- Sola, Norway. Exactly one month later, he was at Schleswig-Jagel in Germany, entrusted by the British to fly an airworthy Ar 234 to England. This photo shows the two Arados captured at Schleswig on May 5 by the RAF Regiment. They are Ar 234 S7 W.Nr. 140107 and Ar 234 S13 W.Nr. 140113, lined up in a field next to a rollbahn where the vegetation was hardly beginning to grow in this picture. Note that the nose wheels are reversed due to towing.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1468

This photo and others show that W.Nr. 140107 was marked "E2+30" and had the additions of white "07" and "22" on its tail, reflecting its original identity with E-Stelle Rechlin on Lake Moritz north of Berlin. However, Jan Horn inKG 76 Die Chronik ..., (2019) on page 219 publishes the Starkemeldung der 7./KG 76 for 29 March 1945, including:
"6. einsatxbereite Flugzeuge: 4; Zugang 140107 von E-Stelle Rechlin, Lärz, 140346 aus Achmer."
It is not known to me how W.Nr. 140107 got from Achmer to Schleswig. In this photo, W.Nr. 140107 is in the same position in the field next to the rollbahn but the height of the vegetation suggests it id mid-summer, 1945. Note that its companion is gone.
Being unklar (unserviceable), W.Nr. 140107 was given Air Ministry number 78, dismantled, crated and shipped to Oxfordness.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1469

7. Curiously, in the revised 2020 Classic edition of Smith & Creek's Arado Ar 234 Blitz, on page 307 they again identify W.Nr. 140113 as "F1+AA". This photo shows that it was not.
Originally tested at Rechlin-Lärz as "E5+20", Horn on the same page 219 also publishes the Starkemeldung der 7./KG 76 for 27 March 1945, including:
"6. einsatzbereite Flugzeuge: 3; Zugang Werk-Nr. 140113 von Fa. Bachmann".
Firma Bachmann was a repair facility for Arado located at Ribnitz, near Rostok, on the Baltic Sea. How W.Nr. 140113 got from Ribnitz to Schleswig is not known to me.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1470

8. At Schleswig, W.Nr. 140113 received the Air Ministry number 54 and on 5 June 1945, Oblt. Kolm flew it from Schleswig to RAF Tangmere via Melsbroek, Belgium. The Schleswig Arado is easily recognizable by the over-sized roundels and long rectangular RAF fin flashes also painted on the Me 262s captured there.
W.Nr. 140113 was examined by the Central Fighter Establishment at Tangmere until it was flown to RAE Farnborough on 12 June. There it was declared flight worthy and given the RAF serial VH530. After flight testing, Lt Cdr. (RN) Eric "Winkel" Brown on 7 September 1945 flew it to No. 6 OTU at Brize Norton for storage. It was scrapped there and stuck off charge on 6 October 1948.

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

Hi Jim, great thread!
Photo 6, 140107 colourised presumably. From other photos it is clear that port intake cowl is a replacement but from this appears to have a red ring from an 8th Staffel aircraft. Also, not clear here but B&W photos show the damage to the cockpit nose glazing.
Look forward to seeing more, regards Chris

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

Hi Chris,

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1471

Good eye! There is damage to the nose, a panel missing.

And yes, there is more to come.

Cheers!

Jim

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1472

9. At dawn on May 5, 1945, Oblt. Herbert kolm, staka of 8./KG 76, in an Arado Ar 234 B-2 bomber, possibly W.Nr. 140356 "F1+DS" (red D), led nine other jet bombers on a transfer flight from Leck, Germany to Stavanger-Sola in Norway. Four did not make it. As we saw, Uffz. Johann Eckerlein had to turn back and land at Flensburg. Uffz. Harry Thimm, also of 9. Staffel, returned to Leck. Ltn. Hermann-Günter Neumann was shot down, likely in W.Nr. 140324 "F1+BS" (red B) of 8./KG 76. As well, it was likely Ltn. Günter Schnabel, staka. of 7. Staffel, who bailed out over the North Sea. This Arado, probably flown by Kolm, is "red D", pictured later at Farnborough. It was one of three bombers flown to Stavanger that had had winter camouflage applied. Like all the KG 76 bombers, there are no rack fairings under the nacelles.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1473

10. In this photo, it can be seen that a crude winter camo has been added by hand but that the replacement starboard nacelle lacks this camo. Also on the upper bracket of the nose wheel strut, a red "D" can just be made out. Another red "D" blends in with the dark camouflage just below the rearmost plexiglass panel.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1474

11. Lt. Cdr. (RN) Eric "Winkel" Brown is seen entering red "D". Note the extendable foot hold and almost white toehold on the port side of the Arado. Brown transferred this aircraft from Stavanger, via Grove-Karup, Denmark, to Schleswig-Jägel in Germany on 24 September 1945; from Schleswig to Melsbroek, Belgium on 6 October; and from Melsbroek to RAE Farnbourough on 7 October. It was given Air Ministry number 226.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1475

12. This poor-resolution photo shows the port dide of red"D" at Farnborough. with its "Prototype" British marking. It was flown in the Farnborough display of German Aircraft on 2 November 1945 and flight-tested that autumn. It was probably later transferred to No. 6 Maintenance Unit at Brize-Norton for storage and scrapped there.

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

Hi Jim, are you able to expand on the loss of Ltn. Neumann and confirmation that it was 140324, F1+BS? I do not have any information regarding this. Many thanks, Chris

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

Hi Chris,

Thank you for the catch. I am usually more careful to use "possibly" or "likely" when making educated guesses as to who flew which aircraft. The basic information comes from Jan Horn, KG 76 Die Chronik ..., (2019) who makes no reference to the incident in the text. On page 386 in the appendix containing the losses for III./KG 76 is this entry:

05.05/1945, 8./KG 76, -, F, Abschuss, Ar 234 B-2, 140???, F1+?S, 100, F, Lt., Neumann, Hermann-Günter, verl.

In the text, the only other Arado of 8./KG 76 that is mentioned as flying in April 1945 is "F1+BS", the personal aircraft of Fw. Anton Drewes who did not fly on 5May. I surmised it was this aircraft that Neumann was flying and was remiss in not adding "likely" which I have now done. By the way, Neumann may have been the Gruppe IA, page 316.

Thank you again,

Jim

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1476

13. On 5 May 1945, Ltn. Reinhard Radermacher, T.O. of III./KG 76, probably pulled rank and flew Arado Ar 234 B-2 bomber W.Nr. 140311 (likely Fw. Karl-Heinz Herzog's personal "F1+HS") from Leck, Germany to Stavanger-Sola, Norway. On 2 July at Stavanger, with British roundels but no fin flashes and now marked "USA 40", Messerschmitt test pilot, Karl Baur flew a werkflug, 20:10 to 20:26 hours. On 3 July, after another test at 14:02 - 14:14 hrs., Baur (with Col. Harold E. Watson in W.Nr. 140312 "USA 50") flew "USA 40" 14:52-16:05 hrs. from Stavanger to Schleswig-Jägel, Germany; 18:25-19:44 hrs. to Beauvechain-Le Culot, Belgium; and 21:10-21:45 to Melun-Villaroche, France, the base of Watson's Whizzers. Here, American insignia were added but the original camouflage was untouched. On 5 July, Baur transferred "USA 40" to Cherbourg-Querqueville 17:45-18:23 hrs., where it was cocooned in Plastiphane and loaded aboard HMS Reaper as article number "28".

After Reaper landed at Newark, New Jersey, on 1 August 1945, both "USA 40" and "USA 50" were de cocooned and assigned to the USAAF. On 11 August, Baur flew "USA 40", 14:00 - 14:45 from Pittsburg to Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. Unfortunately there are no photos I know of it being in Norway. This picture was taken at the Air Fair at Wright Field in October 1945

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1477

14. This is another view of "USA 40" during Wright Field's Air Fair. The werknummer "311" is visible as well as most of the original winter camouflage. The "H" is red with a black outline and like the other B-2s at Norway, there are no racks under the nacelles. Smith & Creek, Arado Ar 234 Blitz, (2020) p.287 reported that by 3 December 1945, W.Nr. 140311, now designated FE-1011, was at Freemam Field where it would be used for parts to refurbish W.Nr. 140312, now designated FE-1010. On page 308, they state: "It was 'recommended for salvage' on 15 August 1946."

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

And on the side of that building is a sign that looks to me as if it says "XXI JAGDGESCHWADER". I wonder what that was about?

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

A Hollywood sense of faux reality?

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1479

15. On 1 May 1945, "Feldwebel [Willi] Kriessmann, 3.(Mitte)/Fl.Ü.G. 1, startet um 20:10 Uhr mit der Ar 234 B-2 (F1+GR; Werk-Nr. 120312) in Kaltenkirchen zum Cerlegungsflug. Er landet 12 Minuten später in Leck...", Jan Horn, KG 76 Die Chronik ..., (2019), p. 306. It is likely that Ltn. Werner Dreisbach of 7./KG 76 was the one who transferred W.Nr. 140312 from Leck to Stavanger-Sola on the morning of 5 May 1945. Unfortunately, I can find no photograph of it in Norway where it was given a hurried hand printed marking "USA 50" and on 3 July 1945, Colonel Harold E. Watson of the USAAF transferred it via Schleswig, Germany and Le Culot, Belgium to Melun-Villaroche, France. There the RAF roundels (there were no fin flashes) were painted out and American insignia substituted, leaving the green splinter camouflage intact. On 5 July Watson flew the Arado to Cherbourg-Querqueville where it was cocooned and placed aboard HMS Reaper as article "27" for shipment to the USA.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1480

16. HMS Reaper arrived at Newark, New Jersey, on 1 August 1945 where W.Nr. 140312 was de-cocooned and flown by Watson from Pittsburg to Wright Field. Here, Watson is pictured with the Arado.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1481

17. At Wright Field, previous markings were painted out and spurious Luftwaffe insignia added. It was assigned the code "FE-1010" which is just visible on the tail as well as the notation of its werknummer due to the great resolution of this photo. Note that there is no evidence of a white RLM 21 ring on the nacelle cowl nor rack fairings beneath the nacelle.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1482

18. This is one of the few colour photos to be taken of W.Nr. 140312 in its original camouflage. In December 1945, it was flown to Freeman Field to be made serviceable for flight testing using parts from W.Nr. 140311 "FE-1011". It was used for flight tests at Wright Field from 1 August to 16 October 1946. Eventually it was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution where it was stored and then readied for display in the 1980's. After being on view at the Smithsonian in downtown Washington, D.C., it was moved to its current home, in 2005, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport.

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

Hi Jim, there is a photo at the back Of "War Prizes - The Album" by Phil Butler showing the code of USA 50 as ending DR (or possibly OR). It seems odd that Horn quotes Kriessmann as GR, and I cant believe they would change the code so late in the day. Any ideas?

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

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the tip of the picture in Butler's book. I can only surmise from Horn's quote of the times that he had access to Kriessmann's flugbuch. Perhaps he misread the "G"?

Jim

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

Yes, I was also going to query this. I think F1+DR is the correct code.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1484

19. The satellite airfield of Stavanger-Forus, Norway, was located 4.5 km. ENE of the main Stavanger-Sola fliegerhorst. It was here in May 1945 that most of the captured Arado Ar 234s were being stored, and because of unauthorized flights in Germany, the rudders of German jets in British hands were removed instead of propellers. In this photo of Arados still in their German markings, there is one aircraft near the far end of the line-up that is wearing the winter camouflage of KG 76.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1485

20. This is W.Nr. 140596 "F1+HT" (yellow "H") that was flown to Sola on 5 May 1945 from Leck, Germany, probably by Ltn. Alfred Frank of 9./KG 76 (see Jan Horn, KG 76 Die Chronik ..., (2019), p. 309). Note the positions of the nosewheels.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1486

21. The hilly background, white posts for wire fencing and the irregular concrete slabs with gaps of vegetation identify photos taken at Forus. On its starboard side, Ar 234 B-2 "F1+HT" (yellow "H") shows a distinctive winter camo pattern. Both this jet and the Arado beside it lack the nacelle fairings and racks for the long-range auxilliary fuel tanks that are seen on the recce Arados.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1487

22. This photo shows that the winter camouflage has been sprayed on, and there is a yellow "H" on the nosewheel bracket. The Arado beside it has a yellow "F" and a balkenkreuz with a black centre. The yellow is clearly distinct from the RLM 21 white of the balkenkreuz.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1488

23. On 24 September 1945, Hptm. Helmut Miersch of 1./FAGr 1 flew W.Nr. 140596 out of Stavanger, accompanied by Lt. Cdr. (RN) Eric Brown in a recce Arado. They staged through Grove-Karup, Denmark, to Schleswig-Jägel, Germany. Both pilots took off from Schleswig bound for Melsbroek, Belgium, at about 17:45 hrs. on 3 October 1945 but soon encountered heavy sea fog. Separated by poor visibility, Brown turned back and landed inland at Nordholz. Miersch, however, was forced to make an emergency landing on the short, cratered airstrip at Eelde, Netherlands, probably using his drogue chute for braking. This photo show W.Nr. 140596 at Eelde. Both engines had been previously swapped out for those with fairings and racks from a recce aircraft. As well, the periscope had been removed.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1489

24. Unable to be flown out, according to Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), p. 311, it was handed over to the No. 417 Repair and Salvage unit for disposal. Are those Canadian patches on the uniforms?

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

Regarding photo 21 (or rather the typed info on that photo), I thought that:
140491 was 9V+BH
140493 was 9V+CH
I don't have any proof either way, can someone confirm please?

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

Hi Andy, you are correct. Smith & Creek Pg 311 (and numerous other sources)
140491 9V+BH
140493 9V+CH

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

Hi Chris and Andy,

As far as I know, there is no documentary "proof" as to their identities. In a future post I will explain why I think W.Nr. 140493 is neither 9V+BH nor 9V+CH.

Jim

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1491

25. On Pinterest, this photograph is captioned "poor quality snap of a 297 Sqn RAF crew posing with a captured Ar 234."
On 25 April 1945, Ltn. Alfred Frank of 9./KG 76 flew a feindflug from Kaltenkirchen in Arado Ar 234 B-2 W.Nr. 140343 "F1+FT" (yellow "F"), according to Horn, p. 299. Uffz. Ludwig Rieffel, of the same staffel, took off in the rain from Leck, Germany, in this jet at 06:45 hrs. on the morning of 5 May 1945. He landed at Stavanger-Sola, Norway, at 07:33 hrs. (Horn, p. 309 probably quoting his flugbuch). It was one of the two remaining Arado bombers to reach Norway, presumably both in the green splinter camouflage. This photo of W.Nr. 140596 "F1+HT" was probably taken at Stavanger-Forus with "F1+FT" in the background.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1492

26. This cropping from the third Forus picture shows "F1+FT" in its position beside "F1+HT" in the lineup, the "343" of the werknummer can just be made out. It is in the green splinter camo without a ring of staffel colour on the nacelle cowl and also without fairings or racks below the nacelle.

On 6 June 1945, W.Nr. 140343 was noted as Category D at Sola - serviceable in seven days. It has been surmised by Norwegian historians that W.Nr. 140343 became unserviceable during that summer and that it was "... dismantled, crated and shipped from Sola in October," (cf. https://www.Luftwaffe.no/SIG/1945/Arado.html).


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1493

27. The sixth and last Arado bomber found by British forces at Stavanger on 10 May 1945 was W.Nr 140148, possibly "F1+FR" (white "F"). Although it was rated on June 6 as Category C (serviceable in twelve hours), the above Norwegian source says this:
"During the summer the Allied forces performed evaluation and demonstration flights with the Ar 234 at Sola. The actual flying was done by German pilots. During one of these flights an Ar 234 made a hard down-wind landing resulting in a nosewheel collapse. This was probably Werk-No. 140148, and the machine was written off and scrapped in Norway... ."
This photo probably shows either W.Nr 140343 or 140148 in Norway. Like other bombers we have seen, it lacks the staffel colour ring on the nacelle cowl, and the absence of fairings and racks indicate it was a bomber. The buildings in the background have the same style as those in Forus.

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

"In addition to the damaged 140148, another damaged Ar 234 was also present. Information and photos indicated that this machine had been deliberately damaged on 7. May before the German capitulation in Norway. this was probably Werk-No. 140491. Together with 140148 it was scrapped before the British forces left Norway in November," cf. https://www.Luftwaffe.no/SIG/1945/Arado.html .


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1498

28. In this cropping of the first picture of Forus, Norway, three recce Arado Ar 234 B-2bs can be recognized by their racks for the auxilliary fuel tanks under the engine nacelles. As far as I know, there were already two Arado recce's at Stavanger before 5 May. On 1 May 1945, the recce unit 1./FAGr 5 at Sola was redesignated 1./FAGr. 1 but the two remaining aircraft retained the "9V" code of FAGr. 5. They were "9V+BH" (white "B") and "9V+CH" (presumably white "C"). In this picture, the aircraft that I presume is "9V+CH" has distinctive wide RLM 21 white cowl rings with visible fairings and racks under the nacelle and is immediately to the right of the Arado identified as 140581 "8H+CH" by Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p. 172.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1499

29. In this cropping of the third picture of Forus, Norway, showing a gap of two missing aircraft after 140581, "9V+BH" can be seen in the distance with its prominent RLM 21 white letter "B" and, if you look closely, the same wide RLM 21 white cowl rings as the missing aircraft. Smith & Creek in their Arado Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), p. 278 identify "9V+BH" as 140491 in their caption of this picture, although I have seen no documentary proof to support this.

As far as I know, there are no pictures of Arados, either bombers or recces, with wide white cowl rings, that were flown either to England or France. Yet three recces with green splinter cowls are known to have flown from Norway to England. They are 140141, 140493 and 140 581 which after arriving at Farnborough were randomly given Air Ministry numbers 227 to 229. This suggests to me that there were five recce and six bomber Arados at Stavanger and due to sabotage on 7 May, one was not repairable when the other ten were categorized for readiness on 6 June, including 140491 that was "Category D". It is possible that "9V+CH" was the one that was sabotaged, not categorized, and also scrapped in Norway.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1502

30. There was a recce Arado Ar 234 "CH" that was flown to England, but it did not have white rings on its engine cowls. This photo, taken at Forus, shows an Ar 234 B-2b with a black "C" on its nosewheel bracket. Not only does it have racks under the nacelles but also lines hanging down that hooked in to the auxilliary fuel tanks used for long range missions, the fern in Fernaufkarungsgruppe, ascribed as FAGr. or (F)/ units .

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1503

31. Phil Butler, on page 4 of the Crecy 2022 edition of War Prizes, captions this photo as, "Arado Ar 234B, WNr 140581, 8H+CH at Stavanger-Sola on 6th August 1945, being ground run for the benefit of the press by surrendered Luftwaffe ground crew...".
Note the extendable step and the point where the auxilliary power cord was plugged in. Creek & Forsyth, in Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p. 172, also identify this ircraft as "8H+CH" W.Nr. 140581 of 1.(F)/33, which was missing from those of that unit captured at Grove-Karup, Denmark. This aircraft was possibly flown to Norway on 5 May 1945 by Oblt. Ulrich Planck of 1.(F)/33 from Grove.
It is likely that this was the Arado that "Winkel" Brown transferred on 25 September from Stavanger to Schleswig via Grove. In his log, Brown described the attempted next stage on 3 October:
"Ar 234B 140581 Self - Schleswig to Nordholz after running into sea fog on south bank of Zuider Zee and darkness on the way back again. Fuel very low, pitch black and no lights on Nordholz airfield but made it ok, But Haupt. Miersch down on tiny grass airfield at Eelde, O.K."

On 27, October, Brown returned to Nordholz and staging throug Schleswig and Melsbroek, reached RAE Farnsborough that day in W.Nr. 140581. It was the last Ar 234 to reach England. No longer needed, it was transferred to No. 6 MU at Brize Norton for storage on 6 November 1945 and was struck off charge in October 1948 and listed as scrapped.

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

Hi Jim, this picture has also been captioned as 140493, 9V+CH by Smith & Creek, first in the original Monogram Monarch book, but also the recent updated version published by Classic. Second time around they also include a colour profile.
There were 2 A/C in Norway with the identifier "C", 140493 as above, and 140581, 8H+CH and the picture could be either as both reece versions and both have standard camouflage. Is there any way to distinguish either?

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

Hi Chris,

Smith & Creek's profile of "9V+CH", found on p. 279 of their Classic 2022 edition, is quite interesting as it is inconsistent with the photographic evidence of the markings of "9V+BH", which has a white "B" and white rings on the engine cowls. To me, it would be logical that "9V+CH" should have a white "C" as the aircraft letter and a white "C" on the nosewheel bracket, as well as white cowl rings. Therefore I suspect that W.Nr. 140493 belongs to a fifth recce at Stavanger.

best regards,

Jim

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1504

32. This is the only picture I have seen that is of an identifiable Arado in the makings of 1.(F)/123. It is W.Nr. 140454 "4U+EH" (black "H") that Oblt. Fritz Worscheck was shot down in near Flugplatz Hohn on 2 May 1945, cf. Horn, Die Augen des OKW, Teil 2, (2023), pp. 78-79. Note what appears to be the top of a small RLM 21 white "E" on the nose, whose bottom is blocked from view by the rear of a detached engine nacelle. There are better resolution copies of this picture in Horn's book and on p. 193 of Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022).

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1505

33. Smith & Creek on page 278 caption this photograph as, "This Ar 234 undergoing an engine test was almost certainly W.Nr. 140141, 4U+FH of 1.(F)/123 which was captured at Stavanger and had RAF markings applied as seen."
On 9 February 1945, Oblt. Ulrich Planck, who was originally with 1.(F)/123, flew Ar 234 B-2b (SM+SA; Werk-Nr. 140141) from Burg to Rheine where it was coded "4U+FH", (Horn, p. 12). By 5 May, when Ltn. Wolfgang Ziese flew it from Leck to Stavanger (Horn, p. 92), it was a well-worn veteran with paint peeling from the engine cowls. W.Nr. 140141 also wore a small RLM 21 white "F" on the front of its port fuselage but the fairing and rack under the nacelle in this photo indicates that it is a recce Arado. There is also a white "F" on the nosewheel bracket, likely the standard for 1.(F)/123 aircraft.
Götz, Krüper and Jackstedt of 1.(F)/123 on the morning of 5 May 1945 also attempted to fly from Leck to Stavanger but were unable to reach it, (Horn, p. 92).


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1506

34. "4U+FH" was also stored at Forus and is recognizable to the right by its worn cowl and the rack under its engine nacelle. On 25 September 1945, Hptm. Helmut Miersch of 1./FAGr 1 in W.Nr. 140141 "4U+FH", accompanied by Lt. Cdr. (RN) Eric Brown in W.Nr, 140581 "8H+CH", flew from Stavanger via Grove to Schleswig-Jagel, Germany. After Miersch's mishap at Eelde in W.Nr. 140596, S/Ldr. "Tony" Martindale was sent to Schleswig. On 8 October 1945 he flew 140141 from there via Melsbroek to RAE Farnborough. However, it was no longer needed and on 15 October Eric Brown flew it to No. 6 MU at Brize Norton for storage. It was listed as scrapped and struck off charge on 6 October 1948.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1507

35. The fifth recce Arado Ar 234 captured in Norway is "somewhat of a mystery". This poor photo shows a recce Arado "TH" (black "T") with fairings but no racks. On page 219 of their 1992 Monogram edition of Arado 234 Blitz, Smith & Creek give this caption:
"Taken at Stavanger Sola in Norway, this photo shows an unusually camouflaged Ar 234 with the code ??+TH which may have belonged to 1.(F)/33."
As far as I know, neither 1.(F)/33 nor 1./FAGr 1 reported an Arado "TH". However, according to Jan Horn, Die Augen des OKW, Teil 2, (2023), Oblt. Otto Merk transferred a newly delivered 4U+TH, "probably 140495", from Lübeck-Blankensee to Hohn, 11:59 - 12:22 hrs on 2 May 1945, (p.79). But this same "TH" was blown up at 08:00 hrs on 5 May at Leck, (p.82). There is even a photograph of a burning Arado on p.83 labelled:
"Das Ende der Ar 234 B-2b (4U+TH; Werk-Nr. vermutlich 140495) auf dem Flugplatz in Leck."
Moreover, in all the pictures of "TH" at Stavanger, there is no small RLM 21 white "T" on the nose, and the size and placing of the black "TH" on the rear fuselage match those of Arados "8H+EH" and "8H+HH" that were photographed at Grove-Karup, Denmark.

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

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1508

36. This photo is found on page 174 of Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020) and is captioned:
"Flanked by three Fw 190s apparently in a hangar at Sola in May 1945. The last two code letters on this aircraft are 'TH" which makes it somewhat of a mystery. Note the faired rack under the turbojet."


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1509

37. The third recce jet known to have been flown out of Stavanger to England was W.Nr. 140493 whose werknummer is visible in this picture.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1510

38. This photo, taken at the same time as the above (note the puddle), shows W.Nr. 140493 to be a newly minted Arado with a barely worn engine nacelle. To me, the lack of white rings on the engine cowls and no signs of them being painted over, precludes it from being "9V+BH" or "9V+CH".
On 9 July 1945, S/Ldr. Anthony F. "Tony" Martindale of RAE Farnborough flew W. Nr. 140493 from Stavanger to Schleswig-Jagel, Germany. Then on 13 July, he flew it from Schleswig to Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands; on the 14th to Melsbroek, Belgium; RAF Manston; and finally to Farnborough. According to Smith & Creek's 2022 Classic edition, p. 311, W.Nr. 140493 made "twelve test flights at the RAE totalling 9hrs. 25 mins." On 27 November, it was transferred to No. 6 Maintenance Unit at Brize Norton and eventually scrapped. While the test flights are all listed on page 134 of Phil Bultler's 2022 Crecy edition of War Prizes, neither source mention it receiving a RAF serial.

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

Regarding Werk Nummer 140495, it featured in this deciphered message of 1 March 1945:

CX/MSS/R479(C),46

On 1/3, Workshop Detachment 4/XI Hesepe Technical Admin. requested of GAF unit 606 Dept/ A2 Diepholz replacement parts for engines ORKAN ((Jumo 109004)) W.Nr. 140494, 140495, and 140587 in a/c Ar 234 of KEGIA ((6./KG)) 76 which were needed for operations.

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

Thank you Nick. Horn was careful to use the word "vermutlich", but he was obviously wrong. However, he states categorically that 4U+TH was blown up at Leck. The photo accompanying this is attributed to "Archiv Pdeter Petrick".

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

Hi Jim, regarding "TH", post 35 & 36, these photos have to my mind always been published alongside others post war in Norway. However, no evidence of a "TH" has been found of it being "Captured" In Norway. Re-reading my copy of Profiles in Norway, page 7, the author refers: "On 10th April, another unit, 1.(F)/33, performed a sortie via Sola. This was a flight to the Orkneys, to Scapa Flow and southwards to the Firth of Tay, then back to Sola."
I have no other information regarding this flight. Could it be that "TH" was photographed whilst "visiting" Sola? Thoughts anyone?

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

Hi Chris,

Indeed, there was a successful recce of the Scottish coast on 10 April 1945 by one Ar 234 (RL 2-II/391, p. 0103). Nick Beale in "The Arado Ar 234 in Norway and Denmark: 1945" research found on his Ghostbombers site gives this:

"9 April ... Next day, warning was given to friendly units that an Ar 234 of 1.(F)/1 was due to take off from Stavanger around 14:00 hrs, and an aircraft was duly plotted of Rattray Head from 15:18 - 15:43 hrs. ..."

best regards,
Jim