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Old 7th May 2007, 18:48
F19Gladiator F19Gladiator is offline
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Re: German Moskito TA154 in operational service?

I can only quote already known sources and one I have on my desk is "Luftwaffe '45 letzte Flüge und Projekte" by Manfred Griehl, p.108-109, Motorbuch Verlag, 2005. According to M. Griehl. In (very) free translation:

Only in the beginning of November was the real front unit testing of the nightfighter to begin. Therefore Feldwebel Schneider was ordered to fly a Ta 154 to Gruppen Stab III/NJG 3, which was stationed at the airport Agathenburg (Stade). Further did Oberleutnant Millius of III/NJG 3, as well as Prof. Kurt Tank and two other factory pilots transfer other aircraft. At last five aircraft were located with NJG 3.
The testing started in the winter of 1944/45. Among the pilots with Stab III/NJG 3 repeatedly flying the aircraft counted Major Bartel, Leutnant Raum, Oberfeldwebel Glitz and Feldwebel Schneider. The latter even flew several missions with the Ta 154. However, Hans Raum as well as the majority of his pilot colleagues from 9./NJG 3 were apparently not particularly convinced by the Ta 154. According to information from the Geschwaderadjutant, Oberleutnant Jochen Jarow, was only Oberfeldwebel Willi Glitz feeling comfortable with the aircraft. Until 16 March 1945 there were several attempts to intercept "Mosquitos", all of which failed however. Most of the aircraft remained parked well camouflaged along the perimeter of the field. The flying activity was also low during the subsequent weeks.

One aircraft was heavily damaged when a night fighter crew belly landed the, to them, rather unusual aircraft around 18.00 on April 30, 1945, immediately outside of the airport perimeter at Stade. The heavily damaged Ta 152 A-2/U4 D5+HD, W.Nr 320006, was later examined by British specialists on May 6, 1945.

The book also gives reference to some other Ta 154 used by Luftwaffe units:

One Ta 152 is to have been with I/NJG 3 in Grove, Denmark, flown repeatedly by Major Husemann, but not on combat missions against "Mosquitos".
Another Ta 154 A-1, KU+SP, W.Nr. 320003, from III/EJG 2 was found in Lechfeld at the end of hostilities. This aircraft had however not flewn combat missions but had been used by conversion training for Me 262 pilots.

Manfred Griehl at the end concludes that the Ta 154 story ended without any pilot having claimed an aerial victory on the type.

I hope the above can be of interest. I can also recommend reading the book as it covers many interesting subjects in connection with Luftwaffe's last months of operation.

Last edited by F19Gladiator; 7th May 2007 at 18:53. Reason: typo
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