[George Hopp]

The only comments I have heard about thoughts of using a captured Allied a/c for recce over the UK was the following: "Another recent addition to the a/c strength of this Staffel (3(F)/121) is said to be a captured photographic Thunderbolt which P/W had heard made a wheels-down landing in the Cherbourg area. On April 25th this a/c had completed a series of trial flights and was believed to be about to operate on photographic reconnaissance over this country. The normal work of the a/c of this Staffel had recently become so dangerous that it was hoped by this subterfuge to succeed in obtaining photographs of inland objectives. The Allied camouflage of the Thunderbolt had been maintained in its original state but German crosses had been added to keep the pilot, Oberfeldwebel Hans SCHAEFER, "within the law" in case he was taken prisoner.

"It was hoped to make use of the IFF and to approach the Bristol area via the Scilly Isles at a height of 4,000 metres, at which height it was thought that the type and camouflage but not the German crosses could be distinguished from the ground. (A.D.G.B. were immediately warned of this possibility)." This was from an ADI(K) report of 20 May 44.

I never saw further comments about this project, but then I wasn't really looking for them. I know it doesn't help you with your Boston story, but it does show that the Germans were thinking along those lines.