First Me 163 kill

[Dr.frimarkt]

Hallo Dave,

Lt. Hans Bott was with JG 400, has one "Abschuß" of a B-17. He is very familiar with the stories about JG 400. He wrote, that there were not as many kill's by Me 163 as claimed or reported by bomber crews.
He is a friend of mine and now leaving in Argentina. He was like me with Schulungslehrgang "ELBE".
You can contact him: hansbott@gmail.com

I hope I cold help
Fritz M.

[DaveM2]

Hi Fritz M

Many thanks for your response, most appreciated. I will send Herr Bott a note.
I am sure that I am not alone in saying we would be intersted to hear of you experiences with Schulungslehrgang "ELBE".
If you are able to relate some of these please do so, maybe start a new thread....

regards
Dave

[Dénes Bernád]

Dave, please let us know if you received a reply from Herr Bott.

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

Here is a list of claims recorded by pilots while flying the Me 163. Note that there is quite a lot of conflicting information regarding victories claimed with this aircraft and any additions or correction would be most welcome.

16 August 1944: Leutnant Hartmut Ryll of 1./JG 400 10:52 B-17 HSS north of Brandis at 6,000-7,000 meters
16 August 1944: Feldwebel Herbert Straznicky of 1./JG 400 10:57 B-17 HSS south of Kölleda at 6,500 meters
16 August 1944: Feldwebel Siegfried Schübert of 1./JG 400 11:02 B-17 HSS south of Kölleda at 7,000 meters
24 August 1944: Feldwebel Siegfried Schübert of 1./JG 400 12:08 B-17 northwest Leipzig at 7,000 meters
24 August 1944: Feldwebel Siegfried Schübert of 1./JG 400 12:09 B-17 northwest Leipzig at 7,000 meters
24 August 1944: Leutnant Hans Bott of 1./JG 400 12:18 B-17 HSS Leipzig
11 September 1944: Feldwebel Siegfried Schübert of 1./JG 400 12:38 B-17 Brandis at 2,000 meters
7 October 1944: Unteroffizier Schielbeler of 1./JG 400 12:34 B-17 HSS Naunhof south of Brandis at 6,000 meters
2 November 1944: Feldwebel Wiedmann of 1./JG 400 12:17 B-17 15 Ost / LF-7/MF-1 at 7,000 meters
3 March 1945: Oberleutnant August Hachtel of 1./JG 400 B-17
3 March 1945: Oberleutnant August Hachtel of 1./JG 400 B-17
16 March 1945: Oberleutnant Rolf Glogner of 2./JG 400 Mosquito Leipzig area
10 April 1945: Oberleutnant Rolf Glogner of 2./JG 400 Mosquito
10 April 1945: Leutnant Fritz Kelb of I./JG 400 B-17 near Leipzig
22 April 1945: Oberleutnant Franz Woidich of 6./JG 400 E/a

I have read that an additional claim was made on 3 March 1945 but the pilot is unknown. Ota Jirovec has brought to my attention that Osprey Publishing will release a new book on JG 400 in November 2010 and hopefully it will answer many of the questions surrounding this unit and its operations.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/stor..._9781846039751

Horrido!

Leo

[DaveM2]

Dénes , will do. Leo thanks for the list.

Dave

[Dr.frimarkt]

Hallo Frank,
I mailed your following report on 27. Sept. to Hans Bott:
"5 August 1944 Several Komets reported by USAAF bombers and fighters, and one bomber crew reported three P-51's being shot down. Reports are inconsistent however.
16 August 1944 Five aircraft operational, launched against 1000+ US bomber formation. One Komet shot down near Böhlen by B-17 tail gunner ; Wnr unknown, pilot Feldwebel Straznicky used his parachute. Leutnant Hartmut Ryll attacks two B-17's (both return home), but is shot down by P-51's. The Komet explodes, Ryll is killed, wreck impacts near Bad Lausick (Wnr 3100..). Two more Komets attack bombers."

Hans Bott was a member of JG 400. He downed one Me 163. He replied: This report is not correct.
Hans is living since years in Argentina. He asked me not to publisch his address.

Regards Fritz

[Brian Bines]

There is an account of the loss of Ryll on 16th Aug 1944 in an old Air Classics magazine. It states 'Outhouse Mouse' of the 91st BG had been damaged in attacks by IV/JG3, and had left formation. Ryll in Me163 163100 of 1/JG 400 (white 11) dived at the bomber decelerated and formated on its right hand side for about 30secs. He was then attacked by Lt. Col John B. Murphy and his wingman 1st Lt Mullins in P-51Ds of the 359th FG. the Komet crashing at 1052 hrs killing its pilot.

[DaveM2]

Fritz

Herr Bott confirmed to me that the 16th was the first officially confirmed victory (Schubert), thanks.

Dave