Armed Ar 234 B-2s?
 

Good morning,

From Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers ..., (2020), p. 47:

"According to an Allied report, Harries '...rebuilt his own aircraft [Ar 234] by installing several MGs on top of the fuselage behind the pilot's seat ...'".

Hptm. Dr. Friedrich Harries was staffelkapitän of 10./KG 76 from 15.02.1944 to 30.11.1944. As such, his "own aircraft" was probably F1+AU (white A), W.Nr. 140115. This aircraft was used by Maj. Karl-Hermann Millahn, the Gruppenkommandeur of IV./KG 76, who failed to lift off and crashed in some woods at Alt-Lönnewitz on 23 January 1945.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....&pictureid=705

This picture comes from a series previously seen on eBay which included the back of a photo that had a stamp from "IV./KG 76". It is possibly F1+AU as it appears to have a white A.

If you enlarge the photo, you will see a bulge on the top fuselage forward of the wing. Is this Harries' gun installation or crash damage?


As well, according to Horn, KG 76 Die Chronik ..., (2018), p. 108:

"Auf Befehl von Hptm. Lukesch warden ab dem 16. September 1944 in der Werft Burg in die F1+BT (Werk-Nr. 140143) zwei Maschinengewehre des Typs Rheinmetall MG 131 auf der Rumpfoberseite nach vorn schießend eingebaut. Dieser Waffeneinbau zieht sich bis zum 07.10.1944 hin."

best regards,

Jim

Re: Armed Ar 234 B-2s?
 

Hi Jim,interesting photo, have not seen that one before. Could this also be from Stab IV./KG76? ie F1+AE. Horn refers to Werk Nr 140118 becoming F1+DE on 12th December 44. (pg 144), so why not other F1+_E, or am I barking up the wrong tree? Regards, Chris

Re: Armed Ar 234 B-2s?
 

Hi Chris,

I stand to be corrected on this, but I think the "A" in F1+AE would be green. Is the shade of the "A" in the picture different than the shade of the white in the Balkanreuz?

Regards,

Jim