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Re: How they are reported in GQ?
Hi, Nikita
I have reviewed the strength reports of the unit, and believe the solution to this is that they transferred their damaged (and maybe the remaining operational ones) aircraft to another unit.
It seems that the operations for the Bf 109E equipped part of Schl.G.1 have been very limited from about February 11th and well into March, when they had transferred to Charkow and started operating FW 190@s.
Back to the aircraft found ready for transportation? Why are these not reported as being lost as the area they were kept was taken by the Soviet forces?
In my opinion the solution can be found in the aircraft inventory records of the unit, were we find that the Staffeln of I./Schl.G.1 transferred 19 Bf 109E´s to other units, and sent 5 to servicing in February/March 1943. Thus at least 19 aircraft (probably a lot of those that were found) did no longer belong to the unit, and will not be reported as lost by them. The effect being that by end of March 1943 the unit did no longer have any Bf 109´s on strength
It may well be that aircraft lost once and thus on it´s way out of the units books and then captured by enemy forces is a somewhat black hole in the records, but it will be interesting to discuss further findings of the same kind.
Regards,
Andreas B
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Ahhh... but I have seen the holy grail! And it is painted RLM 76 all over with a large Mickey Mouse on the side, there is a familiar pilot in front of it and it has an Erla Haube!
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