[Huib Ottens]

Hi,

With the great help of Larry deZeng (thanks Larry!) a detailed study of the Karteikarte of Hauptmann Helmut Miersch brought some new (and logical) insights.

Although the last entry on the Karteikarte mentioned that X. Fliegerkorps ordered him to report for temporary duty with the Insp.d.Fallschirmarmee, it seems that this order was cancelled and that Miersch remained with FAGr. 5 as an operational pilot during the remainder of the war.

He flew operations with 2.(F)/FAGr. 5 (one operation is documented and has been mentioned before) and he probably switched to 1.(F)/FAGr 5 when 2.(F)/FAGr 5 was disbanded in February 1945 and used to strengthen 1.(F)/FAGr 5.

1.(F)/FAGr 5 later became Einsatzkdo. 1.(F)/FAGr. 5 (and was later renamed as Einsatzkdo. 1.(F)/FAGr. 1), flying Ar 234’s on long range reconnaissance missions to the east coast of England. This most probably gave Miersch the opportunity to learn to fly the Ar 234. This experience, his longtime experience as a pilot flying multi-engined aircraft, his experience as a Fluglehrer and his knowledge of the English language made him a very good candidate to be enlisted by Captain Eric Brown when he was at Stavanger (Sola) looking for an additional pilot to help him transfer Ar 234’s from Sola (Norway) and from the central collection point at Schleswig (Germany) to Farnborough.