[RodM]

Hello One & All,

regarding Welter, I think it is time to stop repeating the myths over and over and over....

I see references made above to the tallies in the lists of some respected researchers and posters on this board, but I would contend that in compiling their lists they have sourced information from some less than reputable sources (i.e. such as the Nonnenmacher Nachtjagd claims lists).

According to the transcripts of the claims microfilms, Welter claimed 10 Mosquitoes between 26 Aug - 28 Oct 1944. Of these 10 claims, according to the transcripts, eight were acknowledged and two were still awaiting acknowledgement.

According to Welter's Wehrpass, between 2 Nov 44 - end of Feb 45 he made a further 15 claims (two of which were reputedly Lancasters), and from March until the end of the war, a further 8 claims.

Thus, from these two fragmentary documentary sources:

10 Mosquitoes (8 of which confirmed) 8-10/44
13 believed Mosquitoes 11/44-2/45
8 believed Mosquitoes 3/45-5/45
__
31 possible Mosquito claims

In looking at these claims, the 13 believed Mosquitoes claimed between 11/44-2/45 inclusive are very difficult to verify in terms of the date of the claim and the actual e/c type claimed.

Then there is Welter's often quoted post-war memo of 29/5/1945, which is in contradiction with itself and the claims microfilms/Wehrpass. The first part of Welter's memo breaks down his flying and Mosquito claims by type flown and date, while the second part of the memo provides a break-down by enemy type of his claims.

(1st part of memo) - 7 Mosquitoes in Bf109 between 8-9/44, 3 Mosquitoes (night) in Me262 between 9/44-1/45, 22 Mosquitoes (20 night, 2 day) in Me262 between 1-4/45 = 32 Mosquito claims.

(2nd part of Memo) - 1 Mosquito (day) in Bf109, 2 Mosquitoes (day) in Me262, 20 Mosquitoes (night) in Me262 = 23 Mosquito claims.

Cheers

Rod