Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Dear all,

I found an interesting link with some pictures of two Do 335 found at Oberpfaffenhofen in May 1945 and a third one, found in Lechfeld in April 1945; the latter was quickly transferred to Neubiberg, home of the 357th FG, whilst the formers were flown in at the same location during summer 1945.

http://www.skylighters.org/dornier/index.html

The text was written by Merle Olmsted and was published in the Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society, Summer 1997.

Besides the flown-in double seater (Do 335 A-12, Wrknr. 240112) and single seater from Oberpfaffenhofen, which are the subject of Merle Olmsted's article, the 225th AAA Searchlight Battalion did find upon its arrival in Unter Biberg another machine, a Do 335 A-0 Wrknr. 240105, Stammkenzeichen VG+IK which originally was captured in April 1945 at Lechfeld.

Furthter pictures of those three planes can be found here:

http://www.skylighters.org/photos/le...s/dornier1.jpg
http://www.skylighters.org/photos/le...s/dornier2.jpg
http://www.skylighters.org/photos/lo...di/longo54.jpg
http://www.skylighters.org/photos/sp...er/bills3.html (also includes other interesting pics from Unter Biberg, with a close up of an Me 109 G-10 from II/JG 53 and an FW 190 A-8 or A-9 "White 2").
http://www.skylighters.org/photos/ca...ges/do335a.jpg (also includes a pic of wrecked Ju 88 G's)
http://www.skylighters.org/photos/seyler/dadfw190.jpg


Cheers

Marc

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

WNr. 240105 had the Stammkennzeichen VG+PK.

Regards,

Norbert

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Dear Norbert,

Thanks for your correction.

Cheers

Marc

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Hi marc,

The Do 335 A-0 WNr.240105, Stamm.VG+IK was found in a revettment at the northeast corner of the München-Riem airfield. There are numerous published photos of the aircraft confirming its location.

Cheers,

David

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Dear david,

Thanks for your input; this should put to rest the "Lechfeld" assertion found on the mentionned webpage.

Cheers

Marc

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Hi folks,

interesting set of pictures! Here is a set of profiles I have finished some years ago for Classic Publication. It shows the 240112 in different stages.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...mon-Schatz.jpg

Cheers, Simon

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Marc, David, et al,

Is Do 335 A-0 WNr.240105, St.Kz. VG+IK or VG+PK? If it's VG+IK, I need to correct my database file ASAP.

Steve Sheflin

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Hi Steve...

Smith & Creek's superb "Do335 Pfeil" [Classic, 2006] has WNr.240105 coded as VG+PK...

Cheers

Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Hi Folks!

Do 335 A-01, W.Nr. 240101, VG+PG
Do 335 A-02, W.Nr. 240102, VG+PH
Do 335 A-03, W.Nr. 240103, VG+PI
Do 335 A-04, W.Nr. 240104, VG+PK
Do 335 A-05, W.Nr. 240105, VG+PL

Dornier Do 335 had no STKZ with the Letter J!

Source: Dornier Do 335, 435, 635 by Manfred Griehl

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Simon,

Thanks for your great profiles. They are always appreciated! And now, what shall we do with the STKZ of Wn 240105? Always troubling to see what discrepancy exists betwen different secondary sources for one and the same plane (btw, thanks Peter)... Steve, I would refrain from changing your database too early ;-))

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

So was this photo taken at Lechfield or at Unter Biberg?

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Peter,

Neither one. As per Dave Brown post above it was found at München-Riem. It was removed from the revetment where it was found to another part of the field and AFIK it remained there until scrapped.

Walt

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Dear Peter,

Your colour picture is truely an excellent one. Where did you find it?

Thanks in advance

Marc

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Hi all,
I guess there is a little confusion. Here are the sources mentioned in this thread:

Source 1: Dornier Do 335, 435, 635 by Manfred Griehl
Do 335 A-05, W.Nr. 240105 coded as VG+PL.

Source 2: Smith Greek & Hitchcock Dornier 335 Arrow [Monogram] has WNr. 240105 coded as VG+PL.

Source 3: Smith & Creek's "Do 335 Pfeil" [Classic, 2006] has WNr. 240105 coded as VG+PK.

Who is correct?

Norbert

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Thanks Marc-André, this particular one was located on eBay a couple of years ago and I bid on it along with 4 other shots of wrecks on the same field (I'm guessing). But there were also 2 shots of a Jv 44 Fw 190 D-9.

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Gents,

Here are some views of the Munich-Riem airfield that show the Do 335 in question.

Cheers,

David

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Thanks for your precisions, Peter. Were all shots in colour? IF yes, then you're a lucky man. Any chance to see them published in a not too distant future?

David, all my thanks for your valued addition. I remember having seen this serie of pictures in the first semester of 2007, but had forgotten about the Do 335. Thanks for remembering it and tying it down to Wnr 240105.

Cheers

Marc

Re: Do 335's found in May 1945
 

Norbert,

Presumably the latest published book should be regarded as "correct" but can we make that leap? I guess it comes down to the question as to whether the letter "J" was actually used in the alphabetical sequencing of the first batch of aircraft. One can probably make a good case for arguing for, or against, German use of this consonant as the last letter in aircraft codes. One would assume the authors had access of primary data in this regard, but maybe not.

Hal