Me262s on 31st March 1945

[debowa]

I'm about to start painting the fifth subject in the RLM Collection which will depict Me262s in combat with Lancasters on 31st March 1945 over Hamburg. Clearly they were from JG7 but can anyone give me a clear ID on a particular airframe so that I can make it the central subject? I'd also be interested to know if they were likely to have been carrying any extra rocket armament during this interception.

Any help would be much appreciated.


Mark Postlethwaite
www.posart.com

[O.Menu]

Hi Mark,

Information from Manfred Boehme JG7 book, Schiffer Ed, p 137:

With 21 kills, during 4 missions, 31 Marsh 45 had been JG7 greatest one-day success of the war.

The first mission, on early morning, with 20 Me 262 from I./JG7 + 7 from III./JG7 + a little later 8 more Me 262 from 9 and 10./JG7, got 13 Lancasters and Halifaxes kills over 419, 429, 431, 434, 408, 415 and 425 Squadrons.

R4M rockets were used with success. But were very probably fired only by III./JG7 since I./JG7 was not yet cleared to used them if i m right.

Known pilots involved in this first mission: Oblt.Stehle, Oblt. Grünberg, Flieger Gerhard Reiher, Oblt. Sturm, Lt. Todt, Lt. F.W. Schenk, Oblt. Schall, Fhr. Ehrig, Lt. Weihs. (Nothing about individual callsign)

No losses recorded for JG7.

Cheers,
Olivier,
(an happy owner from "War in the Air" a book about your very impressive art work collection: http://www.posart.com/index.cfm?page=book )

[Erich]

March 18, 45 the first useage of R4M's was the greatest singular success achieved by JG 7 in the spring of 45 against one air force, and yes I./JG 7 was equipped with R4M's by March 45's end.

31 March was a two front victory regarding the RAF/RCAF and the later in the day attack with Stab JG 7 and 11th staffel against the US 8th AF bombers. Claims of 6 US heavies downed but I need to make a cross check on that.....

Mark you received by private yes ?

Erich

[debowa]

Thanks to you both for the information and the PMs, I should just about have enough to work on now. Glad you like the book Olivier, hopefully this new painting will appear in volume 2!

Mark

[O.Menu]

Just found that Hermann Buchner also claimed one Lancaster on this 31st March morning. A copy from his "Flugbush" is printed in his book "Stormbird" >> he flew aircraft Nb "11" that day but what was the correct color?
9./JG7 flew both yellow and white digits but Buchner seems to remember more a black one...
I would bet for white...
Perhaps Erich or Dan could help...


Edited: Just to add that Buchner was leading a kette and probably had R4M...

[O.Menu]

After further reading into "Stormbird" book p134 and into "Me 262 diary".

Buchner took-off at 8h37 in a formation of seven Me 262 Oblt. Schall leadind a schwarm of 4 and Buchner a kette of 3.

Lancasters were surprised without fighter escort flying a night flight formation, staggered about 100m deep and 2000m wide, Flying North on their way to Hamburg.

On their first attack they claimed seven Lancasters destroyed by R4M only, included one for Buchner. 2nd attack was with guns but with far less good results thanks to good evading from the bombers.

Buchner landed at Parchim after a 55mn flight.

[Erich]

friend

for III. gruppe JG 7 the colours were suppoe to be:

9th staffel ~ white
10th staffel ~ red
11th staffel ~ yellow

seems from evidence that 10 and 11th staffels "traded" machines due to serviceability; reason for some odd colored numbers of jets recorded in the private war diaries of pilots

E ~

[O.Menu]

Rgr that Erich.

Buchner favorit machine seems to have been W.Nr.110808. There is no known photos from the aircraft and in his "Flugbush" H.Buchner made no record from the color, indeed in his book profil from 110808 show a "black" 11 with imho wrong III./EJG2 yellow fuselage band instead of usual blue/red one.

In Dan's book "Me 262 production log 41-45" 110808 is said to have been "yellow11" and to have been destroyed on 18th March after another pilot bail out.

So H.Buchner got a new airplane for 31st March mission. We could imagine this one with correct 9th Staffel "white 11" color as were all known Me 262 from 9./JG7 on the surrender days... (if i m right...)

[Erich]

yes remember the Flensburg surrender of several JG 7 jets ?

9th staffel white 5 and white 7 as examples, yellow numbered machines were also present

[O.Menu]

Originally Posted by O.Menu

We could imagine this one with correct 9th Staffel "white 11" color as were all known Me 262 from 9./JG7 on the surrender days... (if i m right...)

Well this sentence is is not really correct. Especially since in the last Chaos days "staffeln" organisation left for Gefechtsverband.

But from photo document they for sure tried to keep correct staffel colors up to the end.

(H.G.Mutke 9./JG7 surrender on correct white3+I, yellow 11+I was correctly flown by H.Arnold then F.Muller 11./JG7 and A.Schöppler 11./JG7 surrender on correct yellow5+I)