Looking for Pilot of Captured DO 335

[shooshoobaby]

I aquired a short Film of a captured DO 335 in Flight.
The Film was taken by Kit Carson , 357th FG , from a
P - 51 Chase Plane. This was Post War somewhere in
Germany.
Can anyone tell me who the Pilot was ?
Thanks,
Mike

[Leendert]

Mike,

There's a story on this website, but not sure if it fully relates to your question: http://www.skylighters.org/dornier/index.html
Scroll down to second half of story.

Regards,

Leendert

Gentlemen,

May I comment to clarify statements made on the above Skylighters web site.

Regarding the statement that one Do335 was found at Lechfeld. According to an Air Technical Intelligence report, "Evaluation Report 39, CIOSC, Lechfield Airfield, 2 May 1945, Report No. PB105, on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, Capt. B. E.Vollprechet and F/Lt S.J. Reason visited Lechfeld as intelligence assessor to determine if this target possessed material of value for potential exploitation. The report lists all aircraft-types and engines found at Lechfeld, and no Do335 is listed.

The Do335 in Merl Olmstead's photos was ferried to Neubiberg by Hans Padell, and his passenger is Sgt. Henry Hodler. I have several photos of them leaving Oberphaffenhoffen on this flight.

Hodler was born in Switzerland and emigrated to the USA at the age of 18. He became a professional chef and when war erupted, the US Army used his fluent langugage skills in both German and French as an interpreter. He was assigned to ATI with these skills, and his ATI team followed the Allied armies into Germany, and eventually to Oberphaffenhofen.

Hodler was placed in charge of the German factory workers refurbishing several Do335s for shipment to USA and UK. I have xerox copies of the pay records Hodler kept for the German factory workers. Because he was Swiss, a natural comradiere established between him and the Germans, including test pilot Hans Padell. That is why Padell offered him a ride in the twin-seat D0335 to assist as interpreter with the Americans.

Besides ferrying the Do335 trainer, Padell also ferried two Do335s to Cherbourg that were later loaded aboard the British aircraft-carrier HMS Reaper. I have colour slides of Padell exiting a Do335. Henry Hodler died in 1996 from the ravages of old age. The two-seat Do335 was later ferried to the UK by RCAF veteran Joe McCarthy as stated.

Norman Malayney

[shooshoobaby]

Norman , Leendert ,
Thanks for all the Info !
Mike

Mike,

Here is some information from my Copyright manuscript that I am preparing for publication on "ATI and Operation Lusty". It is an interview with the late Myron Parker who was in charge of ADS men assisting Dornier factory workers with refubishing the Do335s.

Parker: "After landing at Oberweisenfeld the Do335 was stored in a hangar. Padell made a second test-flight to Nuremberg-Roth airfield and returned.

"Several days later arrangements were made to provide a P-51 escort from a USAAF unit at Oberweisenfeld for a ferry flight to Cherbourg. The two Mustang pilots were rude to Padell and behaved as if he was still the enemy even though he was a civilian. Padell had our trust and ATI allowed him to ferry the aircraft to Oberweisenfeld.

"The P-51 pilots briefed him on the flight plan: They would take-off, circle the field, then he would take-off as they flew over and position himself between them for the ferry flight. I told Padell to ignore the escort pilots and to leave them 'in the dust'.

"The P-51s made their pass across the field and Padell took off, climbed up between them and continued his climb at high power until he was out of sight. He flew at his optimal cruise speed for the range required. En route a flight of US fighters approached, and fearful of the sitatuion, he applied throttles and left them behind.

"We later learned he was on the ground at Cherbourg 45 minutes before the P-51s flew over the field and then returned to Munich. A C-47 returned Padell to Oberphaffenhofen."

Norman Malayney

[shooshoobaby]

Thanks Norman ,
Do you know if the film was taken during
the Ferry Flight or during Test Flights ?
Mike

[Pathfinder]

Wow, a fascinating thread. The 335 has always intrigued me.

Dear Mike,

Let me check with one of Parker's family members.

Norman Malayney

[shooshoobaby]

Thanks Norman !
Mike

Dear Mike,

I spoke with the Parker's grandson. His grandfather is still living! Several years ago I sent Myron a package and it was returned with "Not here" written on it. I presumed he died. When I located his grandson, he said Myron was living with him. He is extremely hard of hearing and can barely speak. I shouted over the telephone if anyone filmed Padell's flight in the Do335. He eventually mumbled no. It was impossible to obtain any further information because of his hearing deficit and possibly the frailty of old age.

The runways at Oberphaffenhofen were damaged by allied bombing. Most of craters were filled in, but the Do335s could not take off with a full load of fuel because of the field conditions. Therefore, each aircraft was ferried with enough fuel to Oberweisenfeld, to prepare for the long ferry flight to Cherbourg.

The first ferry flight was not photographed because, as Parker said, he told Padell to leave the Mustangs "in the dust". I know nothing about the second ferry flight. I should have inquired at the time, if it also was escorted by Mustangs?

No doubt the Mustang pilots were angry with Padell leaving them behind and felt embarassed. They may have launched a protest resulting in Padell faithfully obeying orders on the second ferry flight? I do not know if any Mustangs were involved in escorting the second aircraft to Cherbourg--perhaps not. ATI had full trust in Padell; they realized the German workers took great pride in their workmanship and would never sabotage the Do335 aircraft. This is my impresssion when interviewing Parker.

Regarding the two-seat Do335. Myron and his ADS men never worked on this aircraft--only the two single-seat aircraft. I surmise that after Parker and his men left the project, the civil Dornier factory workers were proficient to fully-restore this aircraft to flyable condition. As mentioned above, they were extremely proud in their involvement with the original Do335 aircraft production.

A Luftwafe colonel by the name of Oberst Edgar Petersen, who spoke excellent English, worked with Parker and his men, plus the factory workers, to restore the two Do335s. Possibly, he may have continued in charge of restoring the two-seater after the ADS men left?

I have no knowledge of when the cine/movie film was taken. Sorry.

Several books on the D0335 have appeared. Unfortunately, my library will not be accessible until 22 June. I will post on this thread information to correct misleading photo captions. One of the books has a photo of Sgt. Henry Hodler, which the author incorrectly states is Hans Padell. And another has a photo of Parker and Oberst Peterson working on a Do335, information that is missing in the caption.

Norman Malayney