Ar234 question

[Kutscha]

Any a/c claimed by the Ar234.

[Nick Beale]

The A and B-series bombers were unarmed, likewise all but one of the reconnaissance machines (Erich Sommer's: he made no claims). One of the night fighter conversions with Kdo. Bonow, one crashed during testing, the second made no known successful interceptions.

[yogybär]

Nick, the B-series had 2 backwards-firing MG151/20 operated by the pilot via a periscope "Lotfernrohr".

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by yogybär

Nick, the B-series had 2 backwards-firing MG151/20 operated by the pilot via a periscope "Lotfernrohr".

No it didn't. It had provision to fit this armament (noted by allied teams examining wrecks) but I know of no example of the guns being carried in an operational aircraft.

[yogybär]

OK, I see. You mean you only know of "empty" examples, but not of a fully equipped one?

[ianatheling]

Hi

Not air-to-air combat, but on the 19th March 1945 6./KG 76 were able to launch an operation with four Ar 234B led by Hauptmann Morich which attempted an attack on marshalling yards at Brussels. Soon allied aircraft came against them, but they were able use their speed to escape. Two of the Arados diverted to other targets. An ammunition train was hit at Charleroi, while Leutnant Croissant attacked the base of RAF’s 616 squadron at Melsbreok near Brussels with cluster bombs and did some damage to aircraft on the ground. One British loss was a Gloster Meteor jet.

Ian

PS, not totally convinced of spelling of names.

[ianatheling]

...Hi Nick

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

The A and B-series bombers were unarmed...

I do not have any record of the A series ever being used as bombers. The landing skids would have prevented this. I am sure that the only operational use of the A series was with 1./VVB OKL (SK Götz) as recon over the Normandy front and southern England. But as you note all without armament. The only air-to-air contact for the A series was I think Erich Sommer waving at a passing Mosquito pilot on a recon mission in the other direction.

Ian

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by ianatheling

...Hi Nick

I do not have any record of the A series ever being used as bombers.
Ian

Me neither, just poor phrasing better rendered as "the A-series or B-series bombers."

[mhuxt]

Originally Posted by ianatheling

The only air-to-air contact for the A series was I think Erich Sommer waving at a passing Mosquito pilot on a recon mission in the other direction.

Ian

Hi Ian,

Sounds interesting - any idea of rough date / rough location?

[ianatheling]

Originally Posted by mhuxt

Hi Ian,

Sounds interesting - any idea of rough date / rough location?

Yes, this was a mission over the Thames estuary, dated to the 10th Sept 1944. Sommer recorded that
"This area looked like one big airfield. It was unbelievable how many aircraft they had amassed there."
But having faced no aerial opposition, Sommer continued to fly over London, where he continued to take photographs. He would face potential court-martial for this addition to the mission. His 'unofficial' photos showed that Germany's V-weapons had not had the impact that Nazi officials were informing Hitler.

Sommer met the mosquito on his return journey. I don't have a location, but probably over the channel. The pilots courteously waved at each-other and continued their flights.

Ian