Mistel Designation Confusion

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

I noticed that in most publications I have seen about the Mistel aircraft the Fw 190 / Ju 88 G-1 composite is named 'Mistel 2' (Mistel 1: Bf 109 F / Ju 88 A-4, Mistel 3A: Fw 190 / Ju 88 A or C, Mistel 3B: Fw 190 / Ju 88 H-2 - not realized, Mistel 3C: Fw 190 / Ju 88 G-10).

However, the wartime Junkers manual for the 'Mistel 2' is dated June / August 1944 (the first Fw 190 / Ju 88 G-1 composite apparently flew only at the beginning of December 1944) and clearly mentions the Bf 109 / Ju 88 A-4. See e.g. http://luftfahrt-dokumente.netfirms.com/#Mistel

Was 'Mistel 1' used for the prototypes only (also Bf 109 / Ju 88 A-4)? Is the information regarding the Mistel

• 3A = Fw 190 / Ju 88 A or C,
• 3B = Fw 190 / Ju 88 H-2,
• 3C = Fw 190 / Ju 88 G-10

correct? Or was the 3A used for any combination of a Fw 190 with a Ju 88 A, C or G-1?

Can anybody bring "light into darkness"?

Thanks,
Roger

[Peter D Evans]

Repeated from here Roger, in answer to a similar question we had over on the LEMB:

The following are based on images & colour profiles reproduced in "Mistel, German Composite Aircraft & Operations 1942-45" by R.Forsyth [Classic, 2001]

• Mistel 1 = Bf109F-4 + Ju88A-4 and Bf109G + Ju88C-6
• Mistel S1 = Bf109F + Ju88A-4, Bf109F-4 + Ju88C, Bf109G + Ju88C-6 and Bf109G + Ju88A-4
• Mistel 2 - Fw190A-8 + Ju88G-1 and Fw190F-8 + Ju88G-1
• Mistel S2 = Fw190A-8 + Ju88G-1 and Fw190F-8 + Ju88G-1
• Mistel 3C = Fw190A/F + Ju88G-10
• Mistel S3A = Fw190 + Ju88G-1
• Mistel S3C = Fw190A-8 + Ju88G-10

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the answer.

I have Robert Forsyth's book and assembled the same list based on his information. However, the wartime "Mistel 2" handbook by Junkers mentions the Bf 109 and Ju 88 A-4 as "Mistel 2" and not the Fw 190 A / Ju 88 G-1. So, somewhere there must be a mistake/confusion, which is the reason why I started this thread.

Cheers,
Roger

[Gizmo]

Hi,

There are more puzzles.

Photos of Mistels 3 components which (according to various publications) were based on Ju 88G-10 (i.e. Ju 88 G-6 with Ju 88 H-1 rear part of fuselage) are extremely rare. In other hand, if you looking at OdeB of Mistel units there is much more Mistels 3 than Mistels 2. For example, 24 march 1945, II/KG 200, 14 (7) Mistel 1, 2 (0) Mistel 2 and 13 (5) Mistel 3.

No proof for that, but IMHO Mistel 3 is also a name for planes designed for Operation Eisenhammer, similar to Mistel 2 but with elongated range (i.e. additional drop tanks for Fw 190 and/or adapted to supply Fw 190 fighter from Ju 88 fuel tanks).

[edNorth]

Huuum... And various publications are not always right. Yes, I think there were more "versions" to the Mistel 1 than listed in Forsyth´s book, or did he make an error on the Ju 88 C ?

The (ex-) Ju 88 D-1 W.Nr. 0430123 M 29 SC+CE was one (but so far the only D-1 version aircraft I have found converted) but on surviving photo* this was fitted with C version nosecap, gondola removed, also FuBI and HF antenna mast were removed. It had Bf 109 F-4 (?) SK+ML fitted on top. This has known Absprengung (in-flight-realease) at JFM Nordhausen 16.08.44. Looking at the Mistel (1) number (M 29 abowe), there were quite many Mistel 1 (or S1) converted (I do not have the exact numbers) but 14 on strength in March 45 is not all that surprizing. But as many of the G-1 / G-10 Mistel were only converted / finished in January to March 45 but likely many of them never reached service.

*Chris Bishop: "The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Air Warfare" P.189