[Simon Trew]

Probably an odd question, and a bit of a long shot, but I'll ask it anyway.

At least one (probably several but I'd have to check my notes) Luftwaffe prisoner mentioned Peltz flying around during Steinbock to visit participating units - and there is well-known photographic evidence of one of his visits.

UKNA HW 13/38 CX/MSS/OPD 1087, 20 February 1944 states that in the raid against London on the night of 18-19 February (the first attack that actually achieved a reasonable concentration on target), a single aircraft from I./KG 60, P1+AB, participated. The same document notes that the same aircraft also participated in a raid a few days earlier.

Was this most likely to be a plane transferred to I./KG 66 (de Zeng Bomber Units Vol.2 p.207 raises this possibility but since the bit of I./KG 66 that the planes went to wasn't involved - I think - this early in Steinbock, I wonder)? Or might it have been Peltz himself? I ask mainly because Peltz commanded the Gruppe in late September 1942 and I wonder if he retained the aircraft as a personal mount when he went off to do other things.

On 18 Feb the plane was identified as working to Beauvais control, which might be relevant evidence.

Probably a silly question, but is there any chance a very senior commander might fly in a raid of this sort? Clearly Peltz was exercised by the inaccuracy of the Steinbock bombing - thus the decision to send reconnaissance Me 410s to take photos. But would his concerns have manifested in a decision to go along to have a look himself? I can imagine it might have happened, but that doesn't really count as evidence.

Thanks,

Simon