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Re: Me 262 KG 51 over Grave 2nd November 1944
Hello Timon,
The information in Combat Diary may be out of date.
According to Jan Horn, Das Flurschaden-Geschwader, (2010), p. 178, four Me 262 A-2as of 3./KG 51 took off at 16:23 hrs. German time on 2 November 1944, including Hauptmann Eberhard Winkel in Me 262 A-2a (9K+CL; Werk-Nr. 170 010).
Robert Forsyth with Eddie J. Creek, Me 262 Bomber and Reconnaissance Units, (2012), p. 36 give the same account as Horn:
"On 2 November, Hauptmann Winkel flew his 40th combat mission in the Me 262. He was one of four pilots to take off from Rheine to strike at various airfields, including Grave, using AB 250/SD 10 combinations. As the jets flew over Grave, they encountered a formation [Horn says 14] of enemy fighters, probably Tempests of No. 274 Sqn. Winkel positioned himself behind a British fighter and opened fire, but did not notice that another enemy machine had manoeuvred behind him and was firing its guns. Winkel received strikes to his cockpit, whereupon the canopy broke away. The Me 262's instrument panel also shattered and fell apart and Winkel suffered splinters in his head. Nevertheless, he somehow managed to fly the aircraft back to Rheine."
Horn says that one of the four aircraft landed at 16:57 hrs.
Hopefully, the above will be of some help.
Jim
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