He219 loss 19 April 1944?

[Kutscha]

Keith, in Roland Kemp's book on the He219 he lists no losses in April.

[keith A]

Many thanks. My thinking was that SL HW McLeod of 443 Sqn claimed a Do217 on this date but some have suggested this was a Bf110 of NJG1 as you suggest. However it seems odd that McLeod and WC JE Johnson both misidentified his claim as a Do217. Both were experienced pilots and McLeod identified a second claim for a Do217 (an HS293 carrying Do217M of KG100?) two months later. While the tail configuration of the BF110 and Do217 is similar the Bf110 is much smaller in length and wingspan than the Dornier.

The pilots got a good view of the aircraft before it crashed so again its surprising they could not see it was a Bf110, a type they would have been familiar with but perhaps not encountered.

My thinking is that perhaps it was the much larger He219 (a type much used by NJG1) which does resemble the Dornier in size and configuration from distance.

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello

Actually there was a written off He219 on 19th April 1944 but this He219 was used for training use in Venlo for 'new' pilots of the I./NJG 1. During the landing this He219 was damaged beyond repair (70%) and there is no link with the Allied claim mentioned.

Best regards, Marcel