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

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1463

1. At 07.10 hrs. on the morning of 5 May 1945, Uffz. Hans Eckerlein of 9./KG 76 took off from Leck, Germany for Stavanger-Sola, Norway with nine other pilots from KG 76 in Arado Ar 234 B-2 jet bombers, just prior to the 08.00 hour of capitulation in Germany and Denmark. He immediately encountered bad weather, and, separated from the others, turned around and made a hard landing at 08.36 hrs. at Flensburg-Weiche, Germany. The only serviceable aircraft available to him was the Kommodore's personal aircraft, Ar 234 B-2 W.Nr. 140600 "F1+AA" (green A). This photograph shows that this Arado has the standard green RLM 81/82 splinter camouflage used for both bomber and recce Arados. However, the starboard engine is a replacement with KG 76's grey-white winter camouflage on its nacelle. Note that a green leading-edge ring has been applied to the cowl of the nacelle. The significance of the white "13" is unknown to me.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1464

2. This view shows that the port nacelle cowl also has a leading-edge ring of green but the nacelle is in the standard splinter camouflage. Also note that at this time the bomber Arados of KG 76 did not have racks under the nacelles to carry bombs. Also the tilt of green "A" in this picture is due to the damaged tyre and collapsed oleo on the starboard main strut. This aircraft was unflyable without replacement parts.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1465

3. This portside view gives an excellent example of the open hatch that allowed access to the kabine with its surround of periplex panels. To climb up to this opening, a series of recessed hand and footholds was included on the port side of the fuselage immediately behind the cockpit. As well, a retractable step could be lowered. The wear and tear marks on the coverings of these holds are an additional aid in the recognition of individual aircraft. The collapsed starboard oleo can be seen in this photo.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1466

4. This photo shows that the splinter camouflage of the upper surfaces was given a coat of matte lacquer over which the white balkenkreuz was added, giving the centre cross a two-tone effect. As "F1+AA" was unserviceable, it was likely scrapped at Flensburg or dismantled for parts.

[Maciej Góralczyk]

Originally Posted by Karoband

The only serviceable aircraft available to him was the Kommodore's personal aircraft, Ar 234 B-2 W.Nr. 140600 "F1+AA" (green A).

Is there any particular reference (i.e. an AI report) which confirms the colour of the "A" as green? I would expect blue on a Geschwaderstab aircraft.

[Karoband]

Hi Marciej,

Nope, no AI report. Just my educated guess at the colour from the tone in black and white photos. I have been known to be wrong. However, Creek & Forsyth, Blitz Bombers/Kampfgeschwader 76 and the Arado Ar 234, (Chandos, 2020) on page 167 agree with me and refer to it as "Stab green".

best regards,

Jim

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1467

5. Oblt. Herbert Kolm, staffelkapitän of 8./KG 76, was the ranking officer and leader of the formation of Arado Ar 234 B-2 bombers that took off from Leck on the morning of 5 May 1945 for Stavanger- Sola, Norway. Exactly one month later, he was at Schleswig-Jagel in Germany, entrusted by the British to fly an airworthy Ar 234 to England. This photo shows the two Arados captured at Schleswig on May 5 by the RAF Regiment. They are Ar 234 S7 W.Nr. 140107 and Ar 234 S13 W.Nr. 140113, lined up in a field next to a rollbahn where the vegetation was hardly beginning to grow in this picture. Note that the nose wheels are reversed due to towing.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1468

This photo and others show that W.Nr. 140107 was marked "E2+30" and had the additions of white "07" and "22" on its tail, reflecting its original identity with E-Stelle Rechlin on Lake Moritz north of Berlin. However, Jan Horn inKG 76 Die Chronik ..., (2019) on page 219 publishes the Starkemeldung der 7./KG 76 for 29 March 1945, including:
"6. einsatxbereite Flugzeuge: 4; Zugang 140107 von E-Stelle Rechlin, Lärz, 140346 aus Achmer."
It is not known to me how W.Nr. 140107 got from Achmer to Schleswig. In this photo, W.Nr. 140107 is in the same position in the field next to the rollbahn but the height of the vegetation suggests it id mid-summer, 1945. Note that its companion is gone.
Being unklar (unserviceable), W.Nr. 140107 was given Air Ministry number 78, dismantled, crated and shipped to Oxfordness.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1469

7. Curiously, in the revised 2020 Classic edition of Smith & Creek's Arado Ar 234 Blitz, on page 307 they again identify W.Nr. 140113 as "F1+AA". This photo shows that it was not.
Originally tested at Rechlin-Lärz as "E5+20", Horn on the same page 219 also publishes the Starkemeldung der 7./KG 76 for 27 March 1945, including:
"6. einsatzbereite Flugzeuge: 3; Zugang Werk-Nr. 140113 von Fa. Bachmann".
Firma Bachmann was a repair facility for Arado located at Ribnitz, near Rostok, on the Baltic Sea. How W.Nr. 140113 got from Ribnitz to Schleswig is not known to me.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1470

8. At Schleswig, W.Nr. 140113 received the Air Ministry number 54 and on 5 June 1945, Oblt. Kolm flew it from Schleswig to RAF Tangmere via Melsbroek, Belgium. The Schleswig Arado is easily recognizable by the over-sized roundels and long rectangular RAF fin flashes also painted on the Me 262s captured there.
W.Nr. 140113 was examined by the Central Fighter Establishment at Tangmere until it was flown to RAE Farnborough on 12 June. There it was declared flight worthy and given the RAF serial VH530. After flight testing, Lt Cdr. (RN) Eric "Winkel" Brown on 7 September 1945 flew it to No. 6 OTU at Brize Norton for storage. It was scrapped there and stuck off charge on 6 October 1948.

[Chrisyates]

Hi Jim, great thread!
Photo 6, 140107 colourised presumably. From other photos it is clear that port intake cowl is a replacement but from this appears to have a red ring from an 8th Staffel aircraft. Also, not clear here but B&W photos show the damage to the cockpit nose glazing.
Look forward to seeing more, regards Chris

[Karoband]

Hi Chris,

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1471

Good eye! There is damage to the nose, a panel missing.

And yes, there is more to come.

Cheers!

Jim

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1472

9. At dawn on May 5, 1945, Oblt. Herbert kolm, staka of 8./KG 76, in an Arado Ar 234 B-2 bomber, possibly W.Nr. 140356 "F1+DS" (red D), led nine other jet bombers on a transfer flight from Leck, Germany to Stavanger-Sola in Norway. Four did not make it. As we saw, Uffz. Johann Eckerlein had to turn back and land at Flensburg. Uffz. Harry Thimm, also of 9. Staffel, returned to Leck. Ltn. Hermann-Günter Neumann was shot down, likely in W.Nr. 140324 "F1+BS" (red B) of 8./KG 76. As well, it was likely Ltn. Günter Schnabel, staka. of 7. Staffel, who bailed out over the North Sea. This Arado, probably flown by Kolm, is "red D", pictured later at Farnborough. It was one of three bombers flown to Stavanger that had had winter camouflage applied. Like all the KG 76 bombers, there are no rack fairings under the nacelles.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1473

10. In this photo, it can be seen that a crude winter camo has been added by hand but that the replacement starboard nacelle lacks this camo. Also on the upper bracket of the nose wheel strut, a red "D" can just be made out. Another red "D" blends in with the dark camouflage just below the rearmost plexiglass panel.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1474

11. Lt. Cdr. (RN) Eric "Winkel" Brown is seen entering red "D". Note the extendable foot hold and almost white toehold on the port side of the Arado. Brown transferred this aircraft from Stavanger, via Grove-Karup, Denmark, to Schleswig-Jägel in Germany on 24 September 1945; from Schleswig to Melsbroek, Belgium on 6 October; and from Melsbroek to RAE Farnbourough on 7 October. It was given Air Ministry number 226.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1475

12. This poor-resolution photo shows the port dide of red"D" at Farnborough. with its "Prototype" British marking. It was flown in the Farnborough display of German Aircraft on 2 November 1945 and flight-tested that autumn. It was probably later transferred to No. 6 Maintenance Unit at Brize-Norton for storage and scrapped there.

[Chrisyates]

Hi Jim, are you able to expand on the loss of Ltn. Neumann and confirmation that it was 140324, F1+BS? I do not have any information regarding this. Many thanks, Chris