Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

All:

I found an interesting newspaper clipping in a scrapbook on my Great Uncle's WWII service in which he gave an interview describing an attack on the airfield at Eger, Czechoslovakia during his second combat tour. He and his comrades shot up seven silver Do217s that appeared to be preparing some sort of special attack with missiles/flying bombs.

I think this field was Eger-Oberschon (Cheb) based on my Great Uncle's statement that the Do217s "were the only planes on the airdrome standing on wheels--more than a hundred burning planes of all kinds were around the field." This seems to fit given the description of prior aerial attacks on Eger-Oberschon in Henry deZeng's Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-45 Czechoslovakia (bombed by B-24s on 25 Mar 45, strafed by 8th AF fighters on 16 and 17 Apr 45) and Tim Grace's book on the 368th Fighter Group (see below).

I believe this attack happened on 21 April 1945 as my Great Uncle mentioned attacking the same field a few days prior to the mission in question and the 397th and 396th Fighter Squadrons claimed 22 a/c destroyed and 35 damaged on Czech airfields on 16 April 1945.

Given the proximity to the end of the war, are there any Luftwaffe records surviving regarding the loss of the Do217s?

Thanks as always for any help.

Paul Dame

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

A little more Internet research may have yielded a partial answer. I stumbled across a Czech website with photos of Eger/Cheb in 1945 (see http://www.fronta.cz/fotogalerie/che...te-kveten-1945).

A number of the photos show He-219 Uhus on hardstands surrounded by ME-262 fuselages. The He-219s appear to be silver, which matches my Great Uncle's account and the overall shape of the He-219 and Do-217 are similar.

Some of the He-219s have been shot up and are burned out. Seems plausible to me that the flying bombs observed that day may have been the ME-262 fuselages.

Also, since Eger Flugzeugwerke GmbH produced He-219s under license, it may be that the planes attacked in April 1945 were new production that hadn't been assigned to an operational unit.

One of the photos shows an He-219 with a partial marking of "DO" or "DQ" (http://www.fronta.cz/foto/he-219-a-t...-262-2#fotobox). Any thoughts on further leads I could run down?

Thanks,
Paul Dame

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Hi Paul,

some more photos of Cheb/Eger from ground level you can find in "Luftwaffe over Czech Territory 1945" by JaPo publications.

The He 219 with the partial marking you mention is either DV+DO or DV+DQ. It carries the marking V23 on its nose.

Cheers,
Christian

BTW: Nice derivation from the "silver Do 217s on special mission"! This seems absolutely plausible.

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Dear Larry and Paul,

I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope that the "A" and "B" reports will have covered Eger/Cheb. Initially, the "A" reports inventoried what was on airfields as they were captured. But, as the war neared its end, the need for this essentially disappeared and thus the reports began covering other subject areas.

While it is possible that somewhere at the AFHRA and NARA II a more or less complete set exists, I have never found it, but rather, incomplete sets of reports. The AFHRA has the early reports and NARA II the later reports.

One of my great disappointments has been the lack of write-ups on Me 262 assembly facilities. That doesn't mean they don't exist, but rather that I've never found them. There are a couple of very short reports on Kahla, but no where near the detail that one would want to find.

What I think was eventually settled upon was to do a USSBS survey report on Messerschmitt, using a reasonably decent report on the forest assembly facilities using Horgau as the prime example. Nor were the writers especially worried about having everything properly identified in the photo section, as some photos actually were taken at the facility at Burgau (Kuno I).

Fortunately, the folks at JaPo have tried to fill in the gap regarding Me 262 production in Czechoslovakia.

If anyone does have leads on post capture intel reports on Me 262 airfields and production facilities, please share this information with us.

Regards,
Richard

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Larry, Christian and Richard:

Thanks as always for the replies! I've been trying to track down whether the "DV+" marking was for an operational unit or a developmental testbed.

I've found numerous online references to DV+DI as a testbed, but have also found references to other machines with different markings listed as prototypes/testbeds.

I'll keeping plugging away on locating any inventory/intel reports on the aircraft/wrecks at Eger/Cheb and will share any information I find.

Best regards,
Paul

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

I thought all of this was discussed fairly extensively on LEMB over 7 years ago:

David Brown at that time posted this listing:

-- Photos 1 & 2: The aircraft pictured here is not an He177 but in fact the extremely rare four-engined He277. Only 11 were built. This aircraft is either the He219V-1 or He219V-2 with the single large fin.

-- Photos 3, 16 &17: Another He277. This one has remnants of the twin tail and indicates either the He219V-3, or one of the eight He219A-1 production aircraft.

-- Photos 10 &18: From left to right: He219V-23, DV+BQ, WNr.190??? - He219, WNr.unknown - He219, WNr.190223 - He219, WNr.190188. I assume that these are from the Fw190 werknummersies based on comparison of similarly coded and camouflaged He219s.

-- Photo 11: He219, WNr. unknown.

-- Photo 12: He219, WNr.190223.

-- Photo 13: He219, WNr.190188.

-- Photo 14: Me262A, WNr. unknown.

-- Photos 19 & 20: He219V-23, DV+BQ, WNr.190???. The two Me262 fuselages are unmarked (no Werknummern) and are definitely Me262A-1/U3s.

-- Photo 21: He219, WNr. unknown. The Me262 fuselages is unmarked (no Werknummern) and is definitely a Me262A-1/U3. No information on the Fw190A.

-- Photo 22: He219, WNr.190223. The two Me262 fuselages are unmarked (no Werknummern) and are definitely Me262A-1/U3s.

-- Photos 23, 24 & 25: Look like the wings from Si204s?

-- Photo 26 & 27: Fuselages are from He177A-0s.

And Marcel added this:

Photos 10 &18: From left to right:

He219V23, DV+BQ, WNr.190??? According to my incomplete He219 Wnr. database, the 3rd font of all He219's with Stammkennzeichen DV+.. started with a D, rather than a B. I do have He219's ranging from DV+DB up to DV+DL (some Stkz. missing).

He219, WNr.190223 This one was new for me, I stored this one in my database

He219, WNr.190188. This He219 went down on 5/6 June 1944 over Holland [source: Namentliche Verlustmeldung - which could be wrong] so it here remains a question mark.

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Dear Larry,

While NARA II holds the USSBS files, including support material, the files are not as meticulous as one would hope for. There appeared to be both summaries of a general nature as well as focused company reports. But, from what I can tell, not every facility was written up, but rather far from it. The closest one can come to a specific facility report for those not covered in detail are the target folders, although these tended to be mainly collections of wartime intel on each target.

I made a copy of the various European USSBS indexes, as well as delved into what appeared to be the most fertile areas regarding the Me 262, and came away disappointed. For instance, I could find no postwar coverage of the Me 262 forest assembly facilities at Leipheim nor Schwäbisch Hall. It seems inconceivable to me that no one went into these facilities, camera in hand, to photograph and provide an overview, but I never found such reports, save for the Messerschmitt survey report I have already mentioned.

USSBS stands for United States Strategic Bombing Survey, with emphasis on the word "survey". I believe its purpose was to document the impact of strategic bombing on defeating Germany, rather than to serve as a detailed history on each and every place bombed. Perhaps one reason that the Me 262 forest facilities weren't covered in detail was that, for all its prowess, with the exception of a lucky hit on Neuburg because the forest assembly facility was too close to the airfield, the assembly facilities were never bombed. So, if they weren't targeted, then their usefulness in pushing the survey's intended purpose would have been muted.

Clearly, Eger/Cheb took a pounding. And, yes, there is a target folder on Cheb and another on Eger. They are in Section 4. European Target Intelligence:

3. a. Damage assessment photo intelligence reports of European targets filed alphabetically by target area and contain all available information on the area.

(562) Cheb, Czechoslovakia
(795) Eger, Czechoslovakia

Regards,
Richard

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Tony - thanks for the prior insight from LEMB. I'm new to these forums and was able to run across fragments of prior discussions via Google searching, but didn't have the whole context.

Larry and Richard - many thanks for the detailed discussion. I'm fascinated by the whole issue of these planes at Eger, not just the markings. Particularly whether there is any evidence of the secret mission aspect my Great Uncle mentioned. I have seen a picture of an He-219 with what looked like a V-1 under its wing, so I can't totally discount that some sort of mission of that type was about to be launched on 21 April 1945. Or it could have just been a split second observation from a P-47 cockpit during a strafing pass.

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Tony,
In the book :Deutsche Nachtjagd - Personaalverluste by Michael Balss I find:
3/4.6.1944 Airbase Deelen (Holland) 4./NJG 1 He 219A-0 Wkn. 190100 G9+.M The nosewheel broke during the landing. Pilot: Heinz Filipzig WIA
3/4.6.1944 Wilhelminadorp (Holland) 3./NJG 1 He 219 A-0 Wkn. 190188 G9+BL
Engine on fire. Hptm. Heinz Eicke OK Ofw. Heinz Gall KIA Burried Ysselsteyn BA-6-136

Frans A

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Hello

Frans A: the question was related to Cheb/Eger, not Deelen ;)
pdame141: the Do217's on Cheb/Eger were in fact light grey coloured He219's and so far following He219's were identified (seen from behind these four He219's from left to right):

- He219V-23, fuselage code DV+DQ, serial 190121
- unknown
- '223'
- '188'

All the best, Marcel

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Thanks, Marcel! Are you aware of any information on whether these were Eger-built He-219s awaiting delivery to operational units or had been claimed by a Luftwaffe unit and operated from Eger-Oberschon?

Another potentially interesting twist is the presence of ROA Schlachstaffel 8 at Eger-Ost from Jan-April 1945 as noted by Larry deZeng in his work on Luftwaffe airfields in Czechoslovakia. I found references to an old TOCH discussion on this unit indicating it operated 12 Ju-88s and was switched to a Nachtschlachtstaffel in April 1945. I'm not sure how reliable this second piece of information is as it was a one-off reference with no sourcing given.

Doesn't seem likely that the Luftwaffe would cede advanced frontline machines to the ROA so probably most likely that the He-219s were awaiting delivery.

Thanks again for your reply.

Best regards,
Paul Dame

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Paul - Here is some additional information for you:



ROA-Schlachtstaffel 8
(2. eskadril’ya bombardirovshchikov)


Formed January 1945 (formation proposed on 19 Dec 44), probably at Cheb (Eger) airfield in NW Czechoslovakia, with 12 Ju 87s; ordered reorganized on 28 Mar 45 as a Nachtschlachtstaffel with “12 Ju 88 light bombers” because Soviet air superiority along the Eastern Front precluded daylight operations. This sudden change from the Ju 87 dive bomber with a crew of two to the Ju 88 with a crew of four raises questions, but this is how it appeared in an official order issued by the Lw.-Organisationsabteilung in Berlin (Gen.St.Gen.Qu.2.Abt. Nr.4159/45 geh., 28.3.1945). If not an error, then the explanation must be that the Staffel was initially equipped with the Ju 88, but the order did not follow until two months after it was ordered formed. The Staffel was also directed to be outfitted with special servicing and workshop vehicles on 5 April to provide it with tactical mobility along the front, and instructed to be ready for deployment by mid-April. It flew its first combat sorties on 13 April in support of the 600. Infanterie-Div. (russ.), bombing Soviet troops and defensive positions in a bridgehead at Erlenhof to the south of Fürstenberg on the Oder River. There is no record of further employment. The Staffelkapitän, Antilevskiy, was a former VVS Hero of the Soviet Union.

Staffelkapitän
Hptm. B.R. Antilevskiy

[Source:
Hoffmann, Joachim. Die Geschichte der Wlassow-Armee. Einzelschriften zur militärischen Geschichte des Zweiten Weltkrieges.Band 27. Herausgegeben vom Militärgeschichtlichen Forschungsamt. 2., unveränderte Aufl. 1986. ISBN: 9783793001867 ]




© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress).
(1st Draft 2004)

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Dear Paul,

My apologies for not mentioning the fact that the Eger/Cheb facilities were used as a repair centre for damaged He219's. Except for at least DV+DQ which was marked with 'V23' as well (aircraft reserved for a rebuilt or testing purpose), the other He219's were 'under repair' and coming from other units. It might well be that these were out of service completely because other photo's suggest that these He219 had no unit codes on the fuselages, nor a Stammkennzeichen (preliminary fuselage code, applied by the roll out of the production line).

In my He219 database I have multiple references to He219's, sent from Venlo to Cheb/Eger for repairs.

All the best, Marcel

- airfield Venlo in WW-2
- I./NJG 1 history
- He219 project

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Larry & Marcel:

Thanks for your replies -- both are very helpful! Still no word on any of the technical intelligence reports from the AFHRA research staff. Their recent response to my email indicated that they are working through their email requests from October. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything else.

Best regards,
Paul

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

All:

Thanks so much for all your replies on this thread. Here's the article from what I assume to be the local paper in Kittanning, PA that describes the 397th FS mission to Eger in April 1945.

Best regards,
Paul

Re: Attack on Eger/Cheb April 1945
 

Dear Paul,
yes, you are referring to the run on April 21, 1945. According to my files, the 368th FG attacked Ruzyne and Kbely airfields in the Prague area on April 16, 1945. On the other hand, Eger/Cheb airfield was attacked by various units for several times in April 1945.
Regards, Filip Vojtasek