More Q's about Ar-234....
 

Which a/c was flown by Hans Georg Batcher, III/KG-76 kmdr? I think that it was F1+AD with a green A letter and blue or green engine coloured front ring, which colour is the correct one? Any photo exists of his a/c?

Best regards and TIA again

JOse Luis

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

On page 201 of Monogram Monarch 1 is a close up of Maj.Batcher, commander of III./KG76 clambering into the cockpit of his Ar234B-2 coded F1+AD. The front ring of the Jumo 004 is not visable - but I would guess that the colour would match the individual aircraft letter, and be bright green (RLM 25)?

cheers,

Peter D Evans
LEMB moderator

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

How many missions did Hansgeorg Bätcher fly in the Ar 234 ?

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

While Batcher was likely nominally assigned an aircraft coded 'F1+AD', the question should also include which other Ar 234s did he fly based on serviceability and so forth. No pilot ever just flew his 'assigned' machine.

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

If memory serves me well, then "Das waren die deutschen Kampfflieger-Asse 1939-1945" by Georg Brütting includes an excerpt of Bätcher's flght log. That means the complete flight log must be somewhere out there.

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

Hi, Andreas Zapf over on his website, Chronicles of the Luftwaffe, lists the performance log (Leistungsbuch) of Hansgeorg Batcher in his collection. It covers the period 24/8/41 to 21/2/45, flights 38 to 658.
The (presumably) last page is published in Die deutschen kampfflieger - asse, detailing flights 656 to 658. Cross reference with Chronik des KG 76 by Jan Horn lists these flights as with F1+AD, W.Nr. unknown. Regards, Chris

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

Jan Horn, in KG 76 Die Chronik..., (2019) makes reference to the use of F1+AD on five flights:

1. p.197, 202: On 23 January 1945 Bätcher transferred it from Burg to Achmer, landing along with Oblt. Heinz Volbracht at 11:07 hours;

2. p. 227: On 14 February 1945 Bätcher flew a Feindflug to Raum Kleve-Eindhoven, taking off at 08:05 hours;

3. p. 228: Again on 14 February Bätcher took off at 16:02 hours for Kleve, landing at 17:20 hours;

4. p. 231, 232: On 21 February Bätcher flew a Feindflug to Bedburg 16:59 to 17:59 hours; and

5. p. 263, 265: Oblt. Heinz Volbracht flew a Feindflug in F1+AD on 19 March 1945 from Achmer to Brussels, 11:32 - 12:39 hours.

Bätcher was replaced as Kommandeur on 26 February 1945.There is no mention in Horn's book of Bätcher using another aircraft.

Best regards,

Jim

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

Good morning Chris,

thanks for the hint. I have written a visitor message to him.

Have a pleasant Easter holiday,

Michael

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

you need our book:

Blitz Bombers: Kampfgeschwader 76 and the Arado Ar 234 - Luftwaffe Jet Bombers on the Western Front 1944-1945 - Eddie J. Creek and Robert Forsyth

https://www.chandospublications.co.u...expected-2020/

unfortunately sold out

Re: More Q's about Ar-234....
 

Hello Jose Luis,

In what may be answer to your question in post #1, on page 131 of this book there is a picture of the handover ceremony on 26 February 1945 from Batcher to Zauner. In the background is an Ar 234 that may be F1+AD. While the caption says the cowl ring is the yellow of 9. Staffel it may be the same colour as the "A" on the nose of Batcher's plane on page 86.

Jim