Looking for Pilot of Captured DO 335

[Leendert]

Mike,

There's a story on this website, but not sure if it fully relates to your question: http://www.skylighters.org/dornier/index.html
Scroll down to second half of story.

Regards,

Leendert

Gentlemen,

May I comment to clarify statements made on the above Skylighters web site.

Regarding the statement that one Do335 was found at Lechfeld. According to an Air Technical Intelligence report, "Evaluation Report 39, CIOSC, Lechfield Airfield, 2 May 1945, Report No. PB105, on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, Capt. B. E.Vollprechet and F/Lt S.J. Reason visited Lechfeld as intelligence assessor to determine if this target possessed material of value for potential exploitation. The report lists all aircraft-types and engines found at Lechfeld, and no Do335 is listed.

The Do335 in Merl Olmstead's photos was ferried to Neubiberg by Hans Padell, and his passenger is Sgt. Henry Hodler. I have several photos of them leaving Oberphaffenhoffen on this flight.

Hodler was born in Switzerland and emigrated to the USA at the age of 18. He became a professional chef and when war erupted, the US Army used his fluent langugage skills in both German and French as an interpreter. He was assigned to ATI with these skills, and his ATI team followed the Allied armies into Germany, and eventually to Oberphaffenhofen.

Hodler was placed in charge of the German factory workers refurbishing several Do335s for shipment to USA and UK. I have xerox copies of the pay records Hodler kept for the German factory workers. Because he was Swiss, a natural comradiere established between him and the Germans, including test pilot Hans Padell. That is why Padell offered him a ride in the twin-seat D0335 to assist as interpreter with the Americans.

Besides ferrying the Do335 trainer, Padell also ferried two Do335s to Cherbourg that were later loaded aboard the British aircraft-carrier HMS Reaper. I have colour slides of Padell exiting a Do335. Henry Hodler died in 1996 from the ravages of old age. The two-seat Do335 was later ferried to the UK by RCAF veteran Joe McCarthy as stated.

Norman Malayney