Mistel Designation Confusion
Hello,
I noticed that in most publications I have seen about the Mistel aircraft the Fw 190 / Ju 88 G-1 composite is named 'Mistel 2' (Mistel 1: Bf 109 F / Ju 88 A-4, Mistel 3A: Fw 190 / Ju 88 A or C, Mistel 3B: Fw 190 / Ju 88 H-2 - not realized, Mistel 3C: Fw 190 / Ju 88 G-10). However, the wartime Junkers manual for the 'Mistel 2' is dated June / August 1944 (the first Fw 190 / Ju 88 G-1 composite apparently flew only at the beginning of December 1944) and clearly mentions the Bf 109 / Ju 88 A-4. See e.g. http://luftfahrt-dokumente.netfirms.com/#Mistel Was 'Mistel 1' used for the prototypes only (also Bf 109 / Ju 88 A-4)? Is the information regarding the Mistel
correct? Or was the 3A used for any combination of a Fw 190 with a Ju 88 A, C or G-1? Can anybody bring "light into darkness"? Thanks, Roger |
Re: Mistel Designation Confusion
Repeated from here Roger, in answer to a similar question we had over on the LEMB:
The following are based on images & colour profiles reproduced in "Mistel, German Composite Aircraft & Operations 1942-45" by R.Forsyth [Classic, 2001]
Cheers Peter D Evans LEMB Administrator |
Re: Mistel Designation Confusion
Hi Peter,
Thanks for the answer. I have Robert Forsyth's book and assembled the same list based on his information. However, the wartime "Mistel 2" handbook by Junkers mentions the Bf 109 and Ju 88 A-4 as "Mistel 2" and not the Fw 190 A / Ju 88 G-1. So, somewhere there must be a mistake/confusion, which is the reason why I started this thread. Cheers, Roger |
Re: Mistel Designation Confusion
Hi,
There are more puzzles. Photos of Mistels 3 components which (according to various publications) were based on Ju 88G-10 (i.e. Ju 88 G-6 with Ju 88 H-1 rear part of fuselage) are extremely rare. In other hand, if you looking at OdeB of Mistel units there is much more Mistels 3 than Mistels 2. For example, 24 march 1945, II/KG 200, 14 (7) Mistel 1, 2 (0) Mistel 2 and 13 (5) Mistel 3. No proof for that, but IMHO Mistel 3 is also a name for planes designed for Operation Eisenhammer, similar to Mistel 2 but with elongated range (i.e. additional drop tanks for Fw 190 and/or adapted to supply Fw 190 fighter from Ju 88 fuel tanks). |
Re: Mistel Designation Confusion
Huuum... And various publications are not always right. Yes, I think there were more "versions" to the Mistel 1 than listed in Forsyth´s book, or did he make an error on the Ju 88 C ?
The (ex-) Ju 88 D-1 W.Nr. 0430123 M 29 SC+CE was one (but so far the only D-1 version aircraft I have found converted) but on surviving photo* this was fitted with C version nosecap, gondola removed, also FuBI and HF antenna mast were removed. It had Bf 109 F-4 (?) SK+ML fitted on top. This has known Absprengung (in-flight-realease) at JFM Nordhausen 16.08.44. Looking at the Mistel (1) number (M 29 abowe), there were quite many Mistel 1 (or S1) converted (I do not have the exact numbers) but 14 on strength in March 45 is not all that surprizing. But as many of the G-1 / G-10 Mistel were only converted / finished in January to March 45 but likely many of them never reached service. *Chris Bishop: "The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Air Warfare" P.189 |
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