III./ZG26 > EKdo262 > Kdo. Nowotny question.
 

Hallo gents!

I've found a mistery, when tried to compare facts about those three Gruppen:

According one info, Hptm. Thierfelder went to form EKdo262 in december 1943. But EKdo262 was formed only in april 1944. Okay. In that time III./ZG26 flew Bf110G-2 under command of Obstlt. Johann Kogler. But already in spring several pilots of III./ZG26 were transferred to EKdo262:
Lt. Wegmann (from Stab III./ZG26)
Oblt. Bley (from 9./ZG26)
Lt. Weber (from 8./ZG26)
Fw. Herlitzius (from 8./ZG26)

Then:

How it is possible, if :
and
If III./ZG26 was used to form EKdo262, so it must be disbanded on june 1944. But it is not:

That mean that III./ZG26 was not disbanded to Sept. 44?
7./ZG26 at Fels-am-Wagran (13.5.44 - 12.6.44) and at Seyring (12.6.44 - 20.7.44); (but the same sourse state that 7./ZG26 was disbanded already in june 1944.)
8./ZG26 remained at Leipheim until 18.8.44, and moved to Rechlin-Lärz;
9./ZG26 was based at Schwäbisch-Hall (12.7.44 - 20.9.44), and Erfurt-Bindersleben (20.9.44 - 26.9.44)

But according to Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen, III./ZG26, III./ZG26 was going to be equipped with Me262 already in May 1944, but didnt got even 1 Me262 untill its disbandment.

1. Is following correct: "EKdo262 was formed in apr.1944, then in june1944 was merged with III./ZG26"?

So, on late may, Me262 fighter programm closed. EKdo262 was a test unit of Me262 as a fighter. So, it could be disbanded, all pilots returning to original units (including original III./ZG26 pilots). And seems, that only after that III./ZG26 was decided to convert on Me262 (but was operational already in july, and got air victoryes as fighter unit in aug.1944).

2. Who was Kommandeur of EKdo262 (or damn III./ZG26) between death of Hptm. Thierfelder on 18.7.44 and appearence of Maj. Nowotny on 26.9.44?

If somebody gets mad reading all above - my brain exploded too, be sure :)

III./ZG 26 > EKdo 262 > Kdo Nowotny question
 

Hello Evgeny

This is what I have been able to uncover on this question. According to German Jet Aces of World War 2 by Hugh Morgan and John Weal, EKdo 262 was formed on 9 December 1943 under the command of Hauptmann Thierfelder. The first three pilots arrived in January 1944 and in May 1944 a dozen additional pilots, six each from 8. and 9./ZG 26, arrived. Following the 25 May decree, those pilots who had not completed their conversion training returned to their original units but Thierfelder along with eight other pilots remained with the unit. Following the death of Theirfelder, Hauptmann Horst Geyer (18 victories) was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of EKdo 262. In mid-August 1944 the unit was divided into two Staffeln under the commands of Oberleutnant Müller and Oberleutnant Bley and which were built around cadres provided by 8. and 9./ZG 26. On 26 September these operational components of EKdo 262 were redesignated Kdo Nowotny and placed under the command of Major Nowotny while the Gruppenstab under the command of Geyer was redesignated III./EJG 2.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: III./ZG26 > EKdo262 > Kdo. Nowotny question.
 

Thank You Leo! Now it is clear :)

So, in june 44:

Stab/EKdo262 from Stab III./ZG26
1./EKdo262 from 9./ZG26
2./EKdo262 from 8./ZG26
7./ZG26 disbanded and absorbed by JG76

In September 44:

Stab/EKdo262 absorbed by III./EJG 2 (Me262 training unit)

Stab/Kommando Nowotny new
1./Kommando Nowotny from 1./EKdo262
2./Kommando Nowotny from 2./EKdo262
3./Kommando Nowotny new

Right?

III./ZG 26 > EKdo 262 > Kdo Nowotny question
 

Hello Evgeny

My understanding from reading the book is that 8. and 9./ZG 26 were absorbed into EKdo 262 in August 1944. Kdo Nowotny was established with only two Staffeln although a third was planned under the command of Oberleutnant Eder but never formed. Eder took command of one of the two existing Staffels after Oberleutnant Bley was killed in a take-off accident on 28 October and later became Gruppenkommandeur following the death on 8 November of Major Nowotny.

Horrido!

Leo

Re: III./ZG26 > EKdo262 > Kdo. Nowotny question.
 

Oblt. Bley was StaKa 9./ZG26, and became 2./EKdo262.
Oblt. Mueller was StaKa 8./ZG26 and became StaKa 1./EKdo262. (furthert fate? KiA, TFD to III./EJG2???)

But there is a mess of info, each dont mach with other:

Note:
When unit was redesignated from EKdo262 to Kdo Nowotny, 1 and 2 Stafflen exchanged redesignations:
1./Kommando Nowotny from 9./ZG26 (2./EKdo262)
2./Kommando Nowotny from 8./ZG26 (1./EKdo262)

III./ZG 26 > EKdo 262 > Kdo Nowotny question
 

Hello Evgeny

According to the book Major Nowotny quickly replaced Oberleutnant Müller with Oberleutnant Teumer due to the fact that the former had not claimed any victories with the Me 262. I have no idea what was Müller's next role but he later served with JV 44 and survived the war. However, Teumer was killed in a flight accident on 4 October and thus Leutnant Schall replaced him. Oberleutnant Bley was succeeded following his death on 28 October by Oberleutnant Eder. Regarding the activities of Eder in September 1944 and October 1944 we now are discussing an aspect that has bedeviled me for a long time. We know that he served as Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26 from 4 September in succession to Hauptmann Lang until 8 October when he was replaced by Major Hackl. However, we also know that he was serving with EKdo 262 (and later Kdo Nowotny) during the same time and even recorded victories with these units. So it appears that although he was Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 26 he simultaneously was attached to and was receiving jet training and claiming victories with EKdo 262 and later Kdo Nowotny!

Horrido!

Leo

Re: III./ZG26 > EKdo262 > Kdo. Nowotny question.
 

A lot of deciphered German material refers to Kdo. Nowotny as III./JG 6.