[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

In Wollenweber's book 'Thunder over the Reich', he describes several attempts by pilots of his detachment at Junkers Bernburg to ferry He 162s to Lechfeld. However, there are several inconsistencies and I am therefore trying to find some other sources that would confirm his recollections:

(1) The first 3 He 162 were transferred on 1 April 1945 via Unterschlauersbach:

- Fw. Strauss made it to Lechfeld, but made a crash landing at Lechfeld. Strauss was severely injured --> I believe he may have landed at Riem and not at Lechfeld. Is there any other source than Wollenweber's recollection that would confirm this crash landing?

- Uffz. Dobrath made it to Unterschlauersbach, but could - according to Wollenweber - not land there as the airfield had been occupied by US forces already and made a belly landing near Nürnberg. --> Unterschlauersbach was only occupied roughly two weeks later on 17 April and hence either Wollenweber's recollection or Dobrath's claim is wrong.

- Lt. Büttner disappeared en route.

(2) The next 4 He 162 were ready on 6 April. This time the intermediate stop was planned at Eger:

- Wollenweber claims that the reason was that Unterschlauersbach had already been occupied, which - as explained above - was not the case. He then claims that he found out after the 4 took off that Eger had just been bombarded in the morning. However, Eger was only attacked two days later, on 8 April. --> Did they only take off on 8 April insteady of 6 April as claimed by Wollenweber?

- He never found out if the 4 landed successfully at Eger or Lechfeld, but I have never seen photos of captured He 162s at Eger and the photos and documents I have at hand do not indicate that there were more than one Bernburg He 162 on airfields in the South. --> Does anybody have any other source about this alleged transfer flight on 6 (or 8) April by 4 of Wollenweber's pilots (Lt. Finner, Fw. Häusl, Fw. Seeling, Uffz. Dobrath)?

Thanks,
Roger