III./ZG26 > EKdo262 > Kdo. Nowotny question.

[Evgeny Velichko]

Hallo gents!

I've found a mistery, when tried to compare facts about those three Gruppen:

According one info, Hptm. Thierfelder went to form EKdo262 in december 1943. But EKdo262 was formed only in april 1944. Okay. In that time III./ZG26 flew Bf110G-2 under command of Obstlt. Johann Kogler. But already in spring several pilots of III./ZG26 were transferred to EKdo262:
Lt. Wegmann (from Stab III./ZG26)
Oblt. Bley (from 9./ZG26)
Lt. Weber (from 8./ZG26)
Fw. Herlitzius (from 8./ZG26)

Then:

Erprobungskommando 262
Kommandeure:
Hptm Werner Thierfelder, 4.44 - 18.7.44
Maj Walter Nowotny, 19.7.44 - 26.9.44

How it is possible, if :

III../ZG26:
Gruppenkommandeure:
Hptm Werner Thierfelder, 2.6.44 - 18.7.44

and

Jagdgeschwader 101
Geschwaderkommodoren:
Maj Walter Nowotny, 1.4.44 - 10.9.44

If III./ZG26 was used to form EKdo262, so it must be disbanded on june 1944. But it is not:

Kommando Nowotny
Formed 26.9.44 in Achmer and Hesepe with:
Stab/Kommando Nowotny from Stab III./ZG26
1./Kommando Nowotny from 9./ZG26
2./Kommando Nowotny from 8./ZG26
3./Kommando Nowotny new

That mean that III./ZG26 was not disbanded to Sept. 44?
7./ZG26 at Fels-am-Wagran (13.5.44 - 12.6.44) and at Seyring (12.6.44 - 20.7.44); (but the same sourse state that 7./ZG26 was disbanded already in june 1944.)
8./ZG26 remained at Leipheim until 18.8.44, and moved to Rechlin-Lärz;
9./ZG26 was based at Schwäbisch-Hall (12.7.44 - 20.9.44), and Erfurt-Bindersleben (20.9.44 - 26.9.44)

But according to Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen, III./ZG26, III./ZG26 was going to be equipped with Me262 already in May 1944, but didnt got even 1 Me262 untill its disbandment.

1. Is following correct: "EKdo262 was formed in apr.1944, then in june1944 was merged with III./ZG26"?

On 23 may, Hitler meets Goring, Milch, Speer, Sauer and Petersen.
during a discussion about the Me-262, Hitler suddenly realizes that it is produced only in the original fighter version, not in "his" bomber version. Hitler is furious. He commands to shift all production to a bomber version. He forbids to even refer to the aircraft as an interceptor or even as a fighter-bomber, and the military responsibilities related to the Me-262 are transferred from the fighter command to the bomber command. This means that jet fighter pilot training is stopped. Instead, bomber pilots will train to fly the Me-262, as a bomber. The decision also further delays production.

On May, 29th, Goering to whom Hitler has assigned a private responsibility for re-equipment Me 262 in a bomber, has called the following conference. This time representatives of production workers and chiefs of research departments have been invited. There were present, among others, Gunther Korten, the chief of Joint Staff Luftwaffe, Adolf Galland, the inspector of assault aircraft of Bodenshatts, willi Messerschmitt, Edgar Petersen, Otto Berens from Rechlin Centre and Hptm.Werner Thierfelder from Ekdo 262. Milch was not invited - Goering well knew that at the previous meeting that has lost Hitler's arrangement.
Goering has begun with the statement that in avoidance further any misunderstanding for program Me 262 the commander of bombing aircraft will answer. All flight personnel which yet has not taken place a full training course on fighter variant, must return to origin units, and all already constructed planes are transferred in bombing connections.

So, on late may, Me262 fighter programm closed. EKdo262 was a test unit of Me262 as a fighter. So, it could be disbanded, all pilots returning to original units (including original III./ZG26 pilots). And seems, that only after that III./ZG26 was decided to convert on Me262 (but was operational already in july, and got air victoryes as fighter unit in aug.1944).

2. Who was Kommandeur of EKdo262 (or damn III./ZG26) between death of Hptm. Thierfelder on 18.7.44 and appearence of Maj. Nowotny on 26.9.44?

If somebody gets mad reading all above - my brain exploded too, be sure