Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

Hi all,

My grandfather served as a Rifle platoon leader in the 83rd Division’s 330th Infantry Regiment. Over the years, I have read everything I can on the “rag tag circus” and one thing that has continually popped up is that along with commandeering every vehicle they could, the division also captured and flew an Me109. I have not yet found a photo, but I have put out my feelers through the association. Just wondering if anyone here may have any insight. Apparently they painted “83d Div” on the underside.

Thanks!

Jon

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

Nupe.

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

Hi Jon.

I was browsing photos on WW2Aircraft.NET last night and I am pretty sure I saw pictures of that aircraft.

Unable to point you to the exact part of the site but I was going the photos.

I did not take much notice as I was after something else.

Hope it is there for you.

Rick

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

Thanks for the lead Rick. Haven't been able to find anything over there, but I will continue to hunt.

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

I hope I have not led you in the wrong direction.

I was looking at photos over several sites and hours.

I remember thinking whats an infantry battalion doing flying an aircraft and that is what stuck in my mind.

I will try and retrace my steps and let you know.

Rick

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

The story appears in Cornelius Ryan's book, "The Last Battle". The story was told by William G Presnell, who was in the 30th Infantry Division.

https://books.google.com/books?id=F8...%20109&f=false

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

Right, among other sources. Trying to find photographic documentation though.

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

Most (maybe all)of the other sources I have seen seem to be using Ryan's version, which appeared in the 1966 book. Have you seen any of the sources dated before 1966?

For example, the 83rd Infantry Division newsletter, "Thunderbolt" has Ryan's version, in a 1997 issue here:

http://www.83rdassociation.com/Thund...compressed.pdf

but are you aware of any "Thunderbolt" references that appeared before the book was published.

There are some 1945 versions of "Thunderbolt" on this site:
http://www.staatliche-bibliothek-pas...aadi/thun/pdf/

and this July 21 issue has an article about the liaison pilots in the division on page 3. No mention of any of them flying a ME 109. ;-(
http://www.staatliche-bibliothek-pas...f/thun4.12.pdf

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

Excellent! I am looking in our archives (83rdinfdivdocs.com) to see if there are any documents there. Hopefully one or two of the surviving Veterans can shed some light on this.

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

I hate to rain on this parade, but given the fact that the Bf 109 killed a significant number of trained Luftwaffe pilots on take-off, and you had to hand crank it to start it, and nobody in this infantry unit had any idea what the Vr was on the airplane, and landing it killed a significant number of trained Luftwaffe pilots, can't we log this account as a really fun, greatly exaggerated story? Like, someone in the infantry unit sat in the airplane and said, "zoom, zoom."

Re: Me109 captures and flown by the 83rd Infantry Division
 

While I am leaning toward that myself, it is possible that one of the spotter pilots from one of the division’s Artillery Battalions did take one up. Looking at the increase in horsepower from 65hp to 1700hp, one would think it impossible, but I’m looking at my own experience going from a 400shp TH-67 to a 3400shp AH-64D in a matter of three days, and it certainly is possible for a combat experienced L-bird pilot.

But again, without photographic and documentary proof, I am strongly leaning towards this being an exaggeration.