The mystery Mosquito of Cirkus Rosarius - solved?

[Skyraider3D]

Alex, DZ466 is well-documented. It was this second Mosquito I was interested in and I seem to have found the answer in RS563.


I found a bit more information on the other contenders as well:

We can exclude NS899 as it came down in allied territory (crew safe). (http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...-613Sqn-1-3-45)

NS859 came down near Bergen with both crew KIA in the middle of the night. The chances of that airframe being recoverable while both crew were killed seems unlikely, plus we don't know the fuselage code. (also: http://www.chronicles-of-the-luftwaffe.de/?p=799)

Therefore it is highly likely that Cirkus Rosarius indeed obtained RS563. But the airplane apparently survived the crash in good condition, while the crew were KIA. Were they heavily wounded when they came down and did they succumb to their wounds, or was there foul play? It was a daytime crash and many locals weren't overly kind to allied airmen landing on their territory. Even German pilots who were shot down often went through some scary moments, as angry locals often assumed they were allied airmen.

[zorglub]

Just one question : why did Cirkus Rosarius has to do with a Mosquito lost on 22 Feb. 45 ,
as the party was almost over ? I think you have it wrong and this plane was lost previously certainly in 1944 , furthermore I still suggest LR290 .

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by zorglub

Just one question : why did Cirkus Rosarius has to do with a Mosquito lost on 22 Feb. 45, as the party was almost over ?

The Luftwaffe did not lose interest in examining captured enemy equipment. It had intelligence value, whether or not the aircraft could be flown. Also, an unflayable machine might be a source of parts to make another flyable.

[Skyraider3D]

Originally Posted by zorglub

Just one question : why did Cirkus Rosarius has to do with a Mosquito lost on 22 Feb. 45 ,
as the party was almost over ?

That's suggesting Cirkus Rosarius wouldn't be doing their assigned job in 1945. I agree with Nick and I'm sure they went on to the end. In fact, the Mustang in the foreground proves it. That's 44-14687 LH-N of 350th FS/353rd FG lost on 24 March 1945, with its pilot made POW. A Mosquito lost only a month earlier fits very well in this picture.

[Alex Smart]

Found on my old papers that at some time in the early 2000's I found that the Luftwaffe code was T9+AB, and not as always reported T9+XB.
Unfortunately I now have no idea where it came from.
Perhaps someone on the Other Luftwaffe forum who is a member of this forum can look up the LEMB details held within their forum and report back to us here ?
Alex

[Kaiyan]

Hi, Here are a couple of pics from the old LEMB board and it is understandable that the XB could be seen as AB given the quality of the pics, however it is T9+XB. A second is SB-T there was some mention of it could be -T this was also talked about back then.
take care stay safe
regards
sorry need to change the extension on SB-T put up later.

[Kaiyan]

SB-T ...

[Skyraider3D]

Thanks for the SB-T pic Kaiyan. This is another Mosquito though, as the photo clearly shows SY-F (or SY-E) fuselage codes.

[Revi16]

I don't know if this will help or not?

Scroll down to The US Missing Air Crew Listing of Allied A/C Losses
http://www.chronicles-of-the-luftwaffe.de/

There's a list of Mosquito's lost in German Occupied Territory

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Kaiyan,
Those two pictures of T9+XB shown from two different angles and light.
The second one is the one that I recall looking like an "A".
But it clearly is an"X" .
The center of the "X" and "B" is in line with the center of the "T9" on the a/c which means that the top of the "X" and "B" are effected by the light and does not appear visible.
Thank you for sharing the photographs as they clear up my question and refresh my memory ☺