[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by pvanroy

the quoted altitude of 14 200 m it achieved (Nick Beale's Ghostbombers website)

TNA file WO208/1434

S.R.A. 5608

CS/196 – Leutnant WARTHOL (Fighter Pilot: Me 109, G6, 17+Black, 5(F)/123) Captured Dreux 16 Aug 44

CS/202 – Leutnant OTTNAD (Fighter Pilot: Me 109, G6, 9+, 8/JG 27) Captured Dreux 18 Aug 44

Information received 28 Aug 44

TRANSLATION

WARTHOL: We had the ‘H’ The ‘Kommandeur’ said: “What do you want? The ‘H’ has been up to 14200m.” The ‘Gruppenführer’ did that on the firm’s trial with the ‘H’; according to the barogram and according to the altimeter. A special altimeter had been installed, which went up to 15000 in. A special barograph had also been installed, which also registered up to 15000m. “What more do you want? With the ‘H’ you can outclimb any enemy aircraft.” We had to explain to him that we could get away for the moment by climbing, but we couldn’t remain at a height of 14200m, because we hadn’t got the petrol for it. The ‘H’ has such a heavy consumption of petrol at high altitude that you can’t keep it up. In the end the ‘H’ has to come down again. Then it is capable of 650 k.p.h.