Re: Some enlarged and "tweaked" known photos of Ar 234s

[AndyMa]

Thanks for the clarification Jim.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1600

120. At the same time as the bomber pilots of Einsatzstaffel 234 were training at Burg, the ground crew of 3. Flughaffenbetriebskompanie (FBK)/76 were learning to service the Arados. One of their most difficult tasks was switching out the Junkers Jumo 004B engines, which weighed 745 kg. (1642 lb.) each.
First the access panels of the engine nacelle had to be removed, the side panels dropped down for access to the securing bolts and, in this case, a special gantry with block and tackle wheeled above the wing.


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121. An angled lifting bracket was brought under the wing to attach to the engine's centre of gravity on both sides.


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122. The J2 hose connection had to be uncoupled as well as the bundle of wires coming from inside the wing.


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123. After the securing bolts were removed, the engine could be carefully manouvered away from the wing.


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124. This photo shows clearly where the lifting bracket hooked at the centre of gravity of the engine.


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125. This is a view of a crane with a motorized winch being used with a different shaped lifting bracket. Again the Arado has the yellow ring of the Einsatzstaffel.


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126. In this case, the bracket is C-shaped but also hooks into points of the centre of gravity.The bundle of wires can be seen.


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127. Once the securing bolts were back in place, the wiring and plumbing could be easily re-connected, and the nacelle panels re-attached.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1609

128. On page 99 of Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), they caption this photo as:
"The Ar 234 B-2, F1+BT, of Hptm. Diether Lukesch is made ready for another mission. The mobile generator cart is plugged in to provide auxiliary power and the aircraft has been fitted with Walter RATO units. Bombs have not yet been attached. Note the yellow-coloured rings around the turbojets denoting an aircraft of 9. Staffel."
On 24 December 1944 at 10:14 hours, Lukesch, the staffelkapitän of the Einsatzstaffel, 9./KG 76, took off from their forward, operational base at Münster-Handorf, leading the first bombing mission in Ar 234 B-2 W.Nr. 140143 "F1+BT". Because it was carrying a single SC-500 blast bomb (with 1100 lbs. of trialen), R-geräte were fitted and used by Lukesch and eight others to boost their Arados off the runway.
On page 108 of Jan Horn's KG 76, (2019), he writes:
"Auf Befehl von Hptm. Lukesch werden ab 16. September 1944 in der Werft Burg in die F1+BT (Werk-Nr. 140 143) zwei Machinengewehre des Typs Rheinmetall MG 131 auf der Rumpf oberseite nach vorn schiessend eingebaut. Dieser Waffeneinbau zient sich bis zum 07.10.1944 hin ..."


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129. This photo is found on page 180 of Smith & Creeks' 1992 Monogram edition of Arado 234 Blitz. It is captioned:
"A Kettenkraftrad tracked motorcycle tows Diether Lukesch's Ar 234 B2, F1+BT, along the runway at Münster-Handorf in December 1944. Lukesch, who led the Einsatzstaffel of KG 76 between December 17, 1944 and January 26, 1945, can be seen standing in the cockpit."
Note that the person directly behind Lukesch seems to be sitting on a dark object attached to the top of the fuselage.


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130. "An Ar 234 B-2 of III./KG 76 makes its landing approach at Münster-Handorf," Creek & Forsyth, p.91. However, on p. 121 of Horn's KG 76, this photo is inversed and captioned:
"Mit ausgefahrenen Landeklappe nähert sich die Ar 234 dem Platz Burg."


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131. "Armourers hitch a ride on a trailer laden with an SC 500 bomb. Behind can be seen an Ar 234 that already appears to be bombed up and ready for its next sortie. The cockpit entrance hatch is open and a packed parachute lies just behind it," Forsyth & Beale, Arado Ar 234 Bomber and Reconnaissance Units, (Osprey, 2020). p. 86. Note the winter camouflage and what appears to be a yellow cowl ring. For the most part, the SC 500 was mainly used by the Einsatzstaffel in its first month of operations. A pair of Walter R-Geräte were needed to lift it off the runway as can be seen here. The picture actually show it cradled on a jack as part of the trailer which will lift it into place in the belly of the fuselage.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1613

132. Major Hans-Georg Bätcher was Gruppenkommandeur of III./KG 76 from 6 December 1944 to 25 February 1945 after which he was transferred to lead KG (J) 54 as Kommodore. In this photo, his rank as Major is sewn onto the sleeve of his pilot's jumpsuit, as he waits for his Arado "F1+AD" to be towed to the runway. Note the lack of a bomb under the fuselage.


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133. In this photograph, Bätcher's Arado is hitched to a Kettenkrad tracked motorcycle. The officer standing at attention is Oblt. Herbert Kolm, the staffelkapitan of 8./KG 76, (Kolm was the one who led the last Arados to Stavanger on 5 May 1945). "Being the commander's aircraft of III. Gruppe, in theory the aircraft letter "A" and engine nacelle intake rings would have been green," Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p. 116.


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134. Bätcher "is seen here about to enter the cockpit of Ar 234 B-2 "A" ... in the winter of 1944-45. Note the large riveting of the cockpit framework and clear vision panel at the left," Forsyth & Beale, Arado Ar 234 Bomber and Reconnaissance units, (Osprey, 2020). p. 44.


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135. "F1+AD" is being towed to the startbahn, again without a bomb under the fuselage, possibly for Bätcher's uberfuhrungsflug from Burg to Achmer on 23. January 1945 at 11:07 hours. According to Batcher's leistungbuch, his other four flights in "F1+AD" were operations (feindfluge) from Achmer, presumably using bombs.


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136. Kolm's "F1+AS" with red rings and a red "A" was readied as well, "Die Triebwerke der F1+AS, der Maschine von Oblt. Kolm, Staffelkapitän der 8./KG 76 werden angelassen," Jan Horn, KG 76, (2019), p. 127. Curiously Horn has Kolm flying "F1+NS" that day. Horn attributes these photographs to "Archiv Walter Brieke". Uffz. Walter Brieke was "Ltr. Bildstelle" in Stab/KG 76, (Horn, p 411) and may have been doing a "photo Op" on the day of the transfer of 8./KG 76 to its operational base.

[egbert]

Thanx for the great Arado 234 thread

[Karoband]

You're welcome, egbert.

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137. On 23 January 1945, the Arados of 8./KG 76 transferred from Burg bei Magdeburg to their operational base at Achmer. Once again, Uffz. Walter Brieke was on hand to photograph them at Burg prior to that flight. Smith & Creek, Arado Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), p.209 caption this photo as:
"A line up of Ar 234s of III./KG 76 photographed at Burg during the winter of 1944/45. In the foreground is F1+CS and F1+MS of the 8./staffel with the tail of W.Nr. 140360 F1+ER of 7./KG 76 at the extreme right."
Note the red rings on the engine cowlings and the red letters "C" and "M".


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138. Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers, (Chandos, 2020), p. 111 caption this photo:
"Ground crew walk past the line ... the second Arado from the left being F1+CS of 8./KG 76 (probably W.Nr. 140325) ... The coloured rings around the intakes at the front of the engines are probably red for 8. Staffel. The aircraft have tow bars attached to their nosewheels to enable prompt movement by Kettenkrad should the need arise." While the danger of strafing at Burg was slim in January 1945, the RLM 81/82 (Creek & Forsyth, p. 67) clearly made the Arados sitting targets against a snowy background. Once at Achmer, winter camo would have to be applied.


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139. "With snow and ice coating its wings, an Ar 234 B-2 is towed across from its dispersal at Burg by truck," Creek & Forsyth, p. 115. Note where the braking chute's cable is attached to a hard point beneath the rudder. Smith & Creek, Ar 234 Blitz, (Classic, 2022), p. 226 add: "This photograph of the Arado portrays very well the distinctive negative camber to the main wheels due to the narrow track of the (rear) undercarriage."


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140. "A mechanic waits on the top of an Arado's fuselage for the arrival of a fuel bowser. Note the fuel filler connector nozzle/valve aready inserted into the filler point for the forward 1800 ltr. tank," Smith & Forsyth, p. 120. On 23 January 1945, Uffz. Eberhard Siehnhold of 8./KG 76 flew "F1+CS" W.Nr. 140325 from Burg to Achmer, (Horn, KG 76, p. 197).


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141. Another view of the line up at Burg.

[egbert]

The End?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Jim

Your text above under 137 (quoting Smith/Creek) says WNr 140360 was F1+ER 7./KG 76.

However looking at the photo attached to 139 the attached text says WNr 140360 was
F1+ES.

Since I am right now at Nuuk in Greenland without access to either books or files
which is correct? Presumambly the ES?

Cheers
Stig

[Karoband]

Hi Stig,

Thanks for the catch. I have removed the caption from my photo in 139 because I cannot remember (Senior moment!) why I thought it was ES. I'll try to be more careful.

Hi egbert,

Sorry, no. First 140173, then the C-series.

best regards,

Jim

[egbert]

Can't wait for it.