KG53. 1944

[Steve D.]

Hi I am new to the forum hello to all.

I would like to ask if anyone has a photo of an aircraft from this squadron carrying the V1 rocket.
Also what actual effect did this have on Britain at this time in the year.

Many thanks.

[PMoz99]

If you do a google search for He111H-22 and look at the images results you should see quite a few wartime pics.
As for the effect, I don't know, but I suspect not much.
Cheers
Peter

[Chris Goss]

I have a few photos but there are very few new ones which are not on the www. It was a pin prick and too late but still tied up RAF assets which shot down a number and prompted airborne early warning

[Nick Beale]

There's a book about the campaign, haven't seen it myself though: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-Launche...70_&dpSrc=srch

P.S. The He 111 H-22 is a bit of a myth — the type does not appear in the KG 53 and KG 3 unit strength or loss reports that I've seen, their air-launching aircraft are described as He 111 H-20. I suspect that the H-22 was a planned variant that fell victim to the end of He 111 production and that existing H-20 models were converted instead.

[Chris Goss]

I reviewed it some years ago and found it lacking IIRC

[edwest2]

The effect was a surprise and there was a reaction. It was another burden to be dealt with and so far as I know, the first time such a weapon was air-launched, much like the method used by the US to later launch the X-15.




Ed

[PMoz99]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

There's a book about the campaign, haven't seen it myself though: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-Launche...70_&dpSrc=srch

P.S. The He 111 H-22 is a bit of a myth — the type does not appear in the KG 53 and KG 3 unit strength or loss reports that I've seen, their air-launching aircraft are described as He 111 H-20. I suspect that the H-22 was a planned variant that fell victim to the end of He 111 production and that existing H-20 models were converted instead.

Nick, I think more likely the roughly 80 H-16s and H-20s that were converted were redesignated H-22. I would be surprised if they did not give it a separate designation. Maybe the units simply weren't aware of it and reported them as H-20s? IIRC I have seen irregularities in the designations before, for example Ju88A-4 and A-14.
Most converted H-22s were delivered to II./KG53 from July 1944 onwards.
I think KG3 also had some, but I don't have much a/c info for them after July 1944 so I don't know how they designated them.
Peter

[Nick Beale]

Nick, I think more likely the roughly 80 H-16s and H-20s that were converted were redesignated H-22.

They weren't designated that way by the units operating them, however. See the three attached examples.

To me this seems very like the Ju 87 D-7 and D-8 (the supposed Nachtsclacht versions of the D-3 and D-5) that appear in all the books but not in strength returns, loss reports or wreck investigations.

[Fenix78]

Hi
Do you know maybe any losses III./KG 53 from ending 1944 in Poland.
I am looking for any from august to december 1944 from south of Poland.
Maybe anybody help ??


Regards
Fenix