Bär's Me 262 at Innsbruck-Hotting?

[Karoband]

Hi Nick,

I am looking forward to reading your article in Axis Wings. I concur that III./EJG 2 was assimilated without authorization by JV 44 and that Bär considered himself as directly subordinate to Galland. If 111857 had been an aircraft of III./EJG 2 and the white engine cowls suggest this, the "narrow yellow band aft of the cockpit" had to have been overpainted before the "1" of the "13" was painted on the starboard side.

best regards,

Jim

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Karoband

Hi Nick,

I am looking forward to reading your article in Axis Wings. I concur that III./EJG 2 was assimilated without authorization by JV 44 and that Bär considered himself as directly subordinate to Galland.

best regards,

Jim

Just to add to that impression, RL 2-III/69 (page 0289) includes lists of units disbanded from 10–30 April 1945 and III./EJG 2 is not there although the other Gruppen of the Geschwader are.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Karoband

Hi Nick,

I concur that III./EJG 2 was assimilated without authorization by JV 44 and that Bär considered himself as directly subordinate to Galland.

best regards,

Jim

None of the surviving General Quartiermeister documents I've seen records the disbandment of III./EJG 2 but a tentative timeline can be pieced together from other sources:

23 April:
Luftflotte 6 reports separate strength figures for "J.G. Baer" and "J.G. 44".

24 April:
During the afternoon, Ofw. Nitschke of 1.(F)/100 flies an operation from Lechfeld (III./EJG 2's base) but lands at Riem.
Also that afternoon, workshop staff are ordered to leave Lechfeld for Erding after Me 262s and jet engines are evacuated.
That evening Luftflotte 6 reports a combined strength for "J.G. Baer" and "J.G. 44", including 35 pupils.

25 April:
Luftflotte 6 gives an evening strength figure for "J.G. 44" only.

26 April:
Luftflotte 6 asks Luftwaffenkommando West for an immediate report on who authorised III./EJG 2's disbandment.
US 12th Armored Division seizes bridge over the River Wertach at Hiltenfingen during the evening (just over 10 km from Lechfeld).

27 April:
At 0430 (GMT+2) US units ordered to reconnoitre crossing points over the River Lech, arriving about 0830.
Since Lechfeld airfield was west of the river, presumably it was captured that morning.