Mosquitos über Berlin. Nachtjagd mit der Messerschmitt Bf 109 und Me 262

[CortoM]

I will be in Speyer next Saturday. I hope I can buy a copy.

[azapf1972]

Just a heads-up for everyone - and it was great to meet some of you at Speyer personally.

Andreas

[CortoM]

yep it was nice to talk to you! (I am the guy with the blue NY polo shirt, who was in Joburg SA to see the last ME262 Doubleseater! And there was small impatient young boy by my side) I have not read the book yet. But I will give you a feedback!

Greetings

[azapf1972]

Following the public availability, I had a "special project" to go along with: while talking to my primary source and friend Jorg Czypionka, the story of the night of March 27/28, 1945, was a reappearing topic that needed coverage. And while the book itself covers the night like any other night of combat, I wanted something "more personal".

The night is "special" in many cases - not because of the approx. 80 Mosquitos headed for Berlin - but for the fact that six Messerschmitt Me 262 were scrambled to intercept them. Amongst them - for the very first time - a Messerschmitt Me 262 B-1a/U1, the "Behelfsnachtjäger" [engl. interim Night Fighter].

Four of the Mosquitos were lost - two over the Netherlands, two more west of Berlin where they fell victim to two of the Me 262s. Jorg was one of the pilots downing a Mosquito and it was something that he had to chew on for many years to come. And even today, it bothers him - he looked at me and said "You know, I almost wanted them to see me so they could turn away into the night. The war was almost over - why shooting at two men? The Mosquito was a beautiful bird... but he did not see me and so I opened up."

He never liked the fact that he had to kill that night - so I wanted to find a way to tell his story - it is also the story of Fw. Karl-Heinz Becker (who shot down the second Mossie) and the crews that lost their lifes: F/LT André van Amsterdam (+) and S/LDR Harry Forbes (POW) in MM131, F/O Hudson (+) and F/O Gant (+) in RV326 and F/LT Value (+) and F/O Manning (+) in PF466. Unfortunately (again) in German, Jet&Prop 2/2018 will contain a 10-page article on the events of that night.

[azapf1972]

Just to add for anyone who owns a copy of the book by now: there is a small errata document available on my website.You can either read it online or download a PDF at the end of the page.

Cheers,
Andreas