EZ42

[Kutscha]

How common was this gun sight on the Me262?

[kaki3152]

Since Kutscha brings up the EZ42, I would like to ask the forum a question.

Why wasn't the EZ42 as succesful as the K14 used by the Allies? Surely, German engineering could have devised a machine just as capable as the K14.

Late start, lack of essential raw materials, poor engineering design, or general incompetence?

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

Based on what I understand from JG 7 The World's First Jet Fighter Unit 1944/1945 by Bohme the answer is not very common. Apparently the new gunsight was tested with the Me 262 by III./JG 7 in late February and early March 1945 after which Major Rudolf Sinner, the Gruppenkommandeur, decided against equipping the aircraft of the unit with the device. Evidently the high speed of the jet fighter allowed very little time to adjust the range controls for the gunsight to compute the necessary deflection. The book mentions that very likely the only victories claimed by a Me 262 equipped with the EZ 42 occurred when Unteroffizier Heiner Geisthövel of 2./JG 7 claimed two P-51 fighters on 8 April 1945. In contrast to the negative opinions concerning the use of the EZ 42 with the Me 262 it is my understanding that the pilots of II./JG 300 equipped with the Fw 190 A-8 that used it operationally were pleased with it. I hope this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[kaki3152]

Well, sorta,. I think maybe lack of numbers of EZ42 sights available to the Luftwaffe in the later years (1944-45) did not help.

But I've read (and can't think of where) that the EZ42 sight has problems that were not corrected and would cause pilots to lock them and use them as regular gun sights.

[Kutscha]

That was mentioned in the Smith/Creek Me262 books kaki which is why I asked.

Thank you Leo.

[Revi16]

Other EZ42 discussions.
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/search...earchid=390675