What is the "Holy Grail" of Luftwaffe Research

[Broncazonk]

I come to this place almost every day and I am always amazed by the incredible amount of time and energy, the knowledge, and the passion that is displayed by the members of this forum. It is amazing that when a photo of an aircraft gets posted there is usually a dozen members who recognize it instantly--down to the manufacturer and W.No.--and also have additional photos of the same plane from different angles.

I've often wondered what everyone's "Holy Grail" is. What critical photo, or important document or record, or scrap of information that the experts on this list are searching and waiting for.

Are there missing photos of Luftwaffe aircraft that people are searching for that, if they were discovered, would answer major questions? What would a "wish list" of Luftwaffe photos look like?

Are there missing documents or records that people are searching for that, if they were discovered, would answer major questions? Is there a "wish list" of missing Luftwaffe documents and records?

What are the unsolved mysteries of Luftwaffe research?

All my best,

Bronc

[Steve Coates]

Given the amount of Luftwaffe documentation which did not survive the War, estimated at over 90%, there are plenty. I have a number of items I'd just love for my own research be they individuals' Flugbuecher, KTBs, Monatsberichte, however, I guess the major missing Holy Grail is the 1944 operational losses, which people are attempting to plug as best they can.

[sirbob]

One photo that I have been hoping for has recently been found - a Ju 88G-7. Now the pessimists can see that it did exist, and the optimists will hopefully stop mis-identifying a Ju 88G-6. This illustrates that there are still gems out there to be found.
What I want to find amongst my next ebay search is a clear photo of a Bf 109G-6N(Naxos) in opperational use.

.................Oh yes, and a Bf 109H would be nice.

[gilles collaveri]

I have just received an original clear color picture of a JG400 Me163, during an operational flight, with the emblem "Wie ein Floh, aber oHo !" clearly visible;
Camouflage on the upper of the wings is neat and clear, and the pilot is waiving.







No, remember: today is April's fool !!!

GC

[Rémi Baudru]

Bonjour,

For me it would be to see a big box full of one hundred of very good quality color slides of late war 109, 190, 262, comming out of the forgotten suitcase a late GI, ... published into a well printed book

and as the dreams are open, you could add some nice shots of operational Ta 152 and also a second volume to the fabulous "LO+ST"...

RB

[Mysticpuma]

Originally Posted by sirbob

One photo that I have been hoping for has recently been found - a Ju 88G-7. Now the pessimists can see that it did exist, and the optimists will hopefully stop mis-identifying a Ju 88G-6. This illustrates that there are still gems out there to be found.
What I want to find amongst my next ebay search is a clear photo of a Bf 109G-6N(Naxos) in opperational use.

.................Oh yes, and a Bf 109H would be nice.

I found these images in an old magazine I have from 1974....not sure if they are what you are after but thought I'd share just in-case they were accurate G7 images. Apologies if they aren't, cheers, MP

[Tony Kambic]

One of my 'Holy Grails' would be to locate and identify the wreckage of Col. Gunther Luetzow Me262. I did see a new report (2015) that claims he crashed into the Danube.

Tony

[eknutson]

For Me and the Sola aviation museum, the " Holy Grail " was when Dr. Jochen Prien responded on one of my post here regarding the serch for information to solve the indntity of our Me109 we are restoring. And tankfully for all the help / information we have got from this and other forums WE DID SOLWE IT after 28 yers due to his 3 pictures of 14055.
We still have som loose ends but 3 years ago we had nothing. So with all the dokuments / pictures evolving i recon some day we have all "her " history. The last ting i found was in january, that it was 2 pilots from 350 Belgian sqn claiming 1/2 Me109F each in the circus 200 over France. Fits with 14055 as a G1

[edNorth]

Healthy argument on my part. And I am saying and posting my argument against it. This posting by sirbob alerted me.

[Paul Thompson]

I think the Holy Grail is really quite a simple thing for anyone interested in the Luftwaffe. It consists of just two simple steps:

a) for the German government to digitise and make available online the entire holdings of the Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv

b) for the Russian government to do the same with the entire holdings of TsAMO (the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defence)

Neither government will do this willlingly, so they need to be beaten into doing it.

Regards,

Paul