Kdo. SOMMER – 1.4.1945 missions. Italy

[Milan Hercut]

Hello all,
I´m looking for details pertinent to Kdo. Sommer 1.4.1945 missions. I found this info ragarded to this day:


„01 Apr 1945 - Sommer moved T9+EH to Lonate Pozzolo, arriving from Udine at 0823, the flight was recorded as a “mission transfer”. Gniesmer arrived at Lonate in T9+DH having transferred from Osoppo.
Sommer departed, in T9+EH, on a westerly heading at 10.14, his sortie covered Corsica and several airfields around Pisa – the flight was completed at 12.21, landing at Lonate. “


From RAF source there is one notice that two Spitfires „chased“ one twin engined jet plane at 12:00 hours proceeding North at ahigh speed over the Pievelago area.


I think that RAF Spitfires sighted Oblt. Sommer´s Arado Ar-234B-2b, Wn.140344 - registered: T9+EH - NM+BR.


Any idea will be warmly appreciated
Milan

[Nick Beale]

You don't say who you are quoting but here's what we had in our book "Air War Italy, 1944–45" (Airlife, 1996):

In Lonate, Oblt. Sommer's +EH arrived from Udine I at 0823, the flight logged as "mission-transfer." At 0840 Lt. Gniesmer arrived in +DH, on a similar errand from Osoppo; both aircraft departed westward, at 1014 and 1019 respectively …

Sommer's mission lasted from 1014–1221, covering Corsica, several airfields and Pisa, where an AA unit sighted his Arado, estimating its speed at 500 mph. RAF eavesdroppers also plotted: "a German aircraft probably engaged on tactical reconnaissance … south of Lake Comacchio…"

I'm guessing that "Pievelago" would be Pievepelago, 55 km. SW of Modena.

[Milan Hercut]

Hi Nick,

thank you very much for your reply. I quoted ORB of No. 225 (TAC/R) squadron operated from Peretola (Florence) airfield. There were two Spitfires on TAC/R mission which chased the twin engined jet plane over the Pievepelago area (sorry for my previous typing error).
Is there posibility that these Spitfires chased Sommer´s Arado?

Milan

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Milan Hercut

Is there posibility that these Spitfires chased Sommer´s Arado?

Milan

It's entirely likely that they were chasing one of Kommando Somer's three Ar 234s, although the Allies sometimes "saw" jets (and other strange aircraft) where there were none. Sommer was pursued by a P-51 on 20 April for example.

[Milan Hercut]

Hi Nick,

I think that they saw jet, because they were angry for their "slow" Spits on the full throttle.

Milan