Final war photo from Cham-Micheldorf airfield

[RolandF]

I´ve discovered this photograph in the book "Sie kommen - the final days of WW2 in the Upper Palatinate":

Two Bf 109s are visible, one with a high metal tail fin and still smouldering, the other with a Morane antenna (better visible in my original) In the background the 2-mot seems to be a Siebel Si204D, to the right an engineless Bücker Bü181.

The caption quotes that about 50 brand-new Messerschmitt fighters were discovered by the US troops when Luftwaffe planes still were landing at this airfield, not knowing it was already captured.

Interesting, too, is the huge camo net perforated by the fire.

Does anybody know more about this pic and about the circumstances when it was taken? Are any copies of better quality available?

TIA

Roland

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Hallo Roland,

No other insight to help you along, except that the engineless airframe to the right is a Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann. Thanks for sharing this document with us.

Cheers
Marc

[masmar]

Servus Roland,
a quote from Timo Bullemer's book "Kriegsende in Cham":

"Auf dem Gelände fanden sie etwa 50 Flugzeuge vor. Viele der Messerschmitts und Focke-Wulfs waren noch einsatzfähig, weshalb die US-Soldaten den Befehl erhielten, sie zu zerstören.
Gegen 19:30 Uhr tauchten drei deutsche Flugzeuge auf. Die Piloten rechneten anscheinend nicht damit, dass der Standort schon besetzt sein könnte. Nach ihrer Landung wurden sie gefangen genommen. [...]"

"On the areal they discovered about 50 aircraft. Severel Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs where still operational, so that the US-soldiers recieved the order to destroy them. About 7:30 pm three german aircraft arrived. The pilots obviosly didn't expect, that the airfield was already in enemy hands. After their landing they were arrested."

Amazing, but it fits perfect.
Cham-Michelsdorf could be the answer.

Regards

Matthias

[RolandF]

Servus Matthias,
The authors obviously use the same sources. Sources with photographic material. I can´t imagine it is German material. Does your book include references for any pics? Maybe it would be interesting to contact Stadtarchivar Bullemer...
When exactly in April was Cham-Micheldorf captured? I remember having read about a Fi156 pilot trying to land at Micheldorf in the evening when he found it already captured and received some shots from the GIs. He turned round and landed at Straubing taking advantage of the last daylight.

Mtt used to ferry its transfer pilots in larger planes (Si204s?) to their destinations to fetch the newly produced planes. The last Me 262s e.g. were flown out from Regensburg-Obertraubling with the American columns in sight.

Regards

Roland

[masmar]

Hi,
Cham was captured on the 23rd of april 1945.
Bullemer refers to the following links:
http://www.11tharmoreddivision.com/h...2tk_zimmer.htm
http://www.11tharmoreddivision.com/h...k_History.html

"Around 2030 hours, it was reported that 3 German planes were trying to land on the airstrip. Our dash was so swift that they were unaware of the fact that the town had been taken. A platoon from Company D raced to the airfield and they captured one of the planes with a surprised pilot and his girlfriend in it. Our total advance that day netted us 34 miles."

But he also mentions that there is a collection on Micherldorf airfield in the Cham Stadtarchiv. Then it should be free for public.
So you knew already that the picture was taken in Cham. I havn't read the topic line before

best regards

Matthias

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Roland,

Must have been too tired yesterday, I even managed to overlook you mentionned the Bü 181...

Sorry, I own you one beers!
Marc