Walther Wever

[Teresa Maria]

Dear All,
I have a question about Walther Wever (the fighter pilot, 1923-1945). All websites about him say that he was killed in action by allied fighters near Neuruppin on 10 April 1945. Were those allied fighters American, British or perhaps Russian?
Thank you in advance.

[Rottler]

Hello Teresa Maria,

according to the JG 7 chronicle of Manfred Boehme the 10 April 1945 was "the day of the great jet massacre". 20 Me 262 were claimed by P-47 and P-51 pilots, 5 Me 262 were claimed by Boeing-crews. Oblt Wever was one of the victims.

Regards
Leo

[Teresa Maria]

Dear Leo,
Thank you very much for your answer. So, those were Americans, apparently. (By the way, I wonder if Boeings were used by other pilots too, for example, British ones.)
Best regards,
Teresa

[Stig Jarlevik]

Teresa

During the war itself only USAAF and RAF used the B-17 against Germany.

The type was mostly used by Coastal Command and not Bomber Command.
In 1944/45 Bomber Command only used the Fortress with No 100 Group and not for bombing, only for electronic counter-meaures.

I don't believe any crewmember claimed a single victory over Germany.

Cheers
Stig

[Teresa Maria]

Dear Stig,
Thank you very much for your explanation. I suppose you don't believe any Bomber Command crew member claimed a single victory over Germany. Some victories were claimed (by Coastal Command, I suppose) if, among others, Walther Wever was killed.

Best regards,
Teresa

[Teresa Maria]

By the way, I have one more question: Does any photo of smiling Walther Wever exist?
All the photos available show him with a very sad face... https://alchetron.com/Walther-Wever-(pilot)
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknF...r_(pilot).html
https://books.google.pl/books?id=A7v...JG%207&f=false
(In fact, in the last photo he is wearing some kind of glasses which don't look like sunglasses, but as a pilot, he had to have good eyesight, so he can't have worn corrective glasses. What glasses were those?)
Thank you in advance.

[Teresa Maria]

Apparently, the first page no longer exists... Maybe this link will work http://www.luftwaffe39-45.historia.n...ver_walter.htm

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Teresa Maria

Dear Stig,
Thank you very much for your explanation. I suppose you don't believe any Bomber Command crew member claimed a single victory over Germany. Some victories were claimed (by Coastal Command, I suppose) if, among others, Walther Wever was killed.

Best regards,
Teresa

Teresa
That is not quite what I am saying. Since we are talking about the Fortress with Bomber Command, what I am saying is I don't believe any Fortress crew with No 100 Group claimed any victories. There were countless of gunners within Bomber Command who claimed victories....
I would also be very surprised if Fortresses from Coastal Command flew missions over Germany.

Cheers
Stig

[Col Bruggy]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Teresa
That is not quite what I am saying. Since we are talking about the Fortress with Bomber Command, what I am saying is I don't believe any Fortress crew with No 100 Group claimed any victories. There were countless of gunners within Bomber Command who claimed victories....
I would also be very surprised if Fortresses from Coastal Command flew missions over Germany.

Cheers
Stig

Stig,

Not so sure about your statement that no 100 Group Fortress crew claimed any victories.

"Between 8 February and 22 March 1945, seven other 214 Squadron crews failed to return to Oulton. The captains of these crews were P/O Robertson. F/O Shortle. F/O Stewart. F/L Rix (all of these crews were reported PoW), F/O Anderson (all except two of his crew were reported safe), F/O Kingdon and F/L Allies. Air gunners destroyed two Ju 88s, one in July 1944 and another in February 1945, plus two probables. Nine enemy aircraft damaged were claimed."

See:
Confounding The Reich The Operational History of 100 Group (Bomber Support) RAF.
Bowman,Martin W. & Tom Cushing.
Sparkford:Patrick Stephens Ltd.,1996.
pp.110-111.

Col.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Col

Thanks. Seems I have to stand corrected here.
Very few victories, all at night I suppose?, were then claimed, but nothing against the Me 262s

Cheers
Stig