German Moskito TA154 in operational service?

[Jon]

When the superb HE219 was developed another contender the, TA154 Moskito was also planned and several varients built.
I understand a few TA154A-1's served with 1/NJG 3 from Stade in January 1945 ?
How did the type perform and did the Moskito ever come up against the Mosquito ?

[RossGmann]

The following Website shows an image of a TA-154. It may be of interest

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/474/2/0/1
Ta.154A-4
Unit: I./NJG3
Serial: D5+HD (W.Nr.32000?)
Germany Air Defence, March-April 1945

This website http://www.shockwaveproductions.net/...nual/ta154.htm gives specifications and performances on the aircraft.

Unable to find any combat records between TA154 & a Mosquito

Kind regards

Ross

[RodM]

Hi,

a couple of pilots of III./NJG3 (not 'I.' or '3.') performed Mosquitojagd during 1945 on the Ta154. No combats occurred. D5+HD (an A-2/U4) was WN 320008, and it was flown at least once on operations.

Although the LW strength returns for NJG3 apparently don't show any Ta154s. From 23 December 1944 (3 a/c) to at least 3 March 1945 (5 a/c), Ta154s are shown on the bi-monthly airfield returns for Stade (source ULTRA).

Cheers

Rod

[Jan Bobek]

I think that some were used also by III./EJG 2 for training related to Me 262s

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by RossGmann

The following Website shows an image of a TA-154. http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/474/2/0/1

I'd hazard a guess that profile was "inspired" by Monogram Close-Up No. 22 on the Ta 154 (published 1983) which included both a painting of D5+HD and photos of the wrecked machine itself.

BTW, I concur with Rod on the regular Ultra mentions of five Ta 154 at Stade in early 1945 - and the infuriating absence of any other details about them!

[F19Gladiator]

I can only quote already known sources and one I have on my desk is "Luftwaffe '45 letzte Flüge und Projekte" by Manfred Griehl, p.108-109, Motorbuch Verlag, 2005. According to M. Griehl. In (very) free translation:

Only in the beginning of November was the real front unit testing of the nightfighter to begin. Therefore Feldwebel Schneider was ordered to fly a Ta 154 to Gruppen Stab III/NJG 3, which was stationed at the airport Agathenburg (Stade). Further did Oberleutnant Millius of III/NJG 3, as well as Prof. Kurt Tank and two other factory pilots transfer other aircraft. At last five aircraft were located with NJG 3.
The testing started in the winter of 1944/45. Among the pilots with Stab III/NJG 3 repeatedly flying the aircraft counted Major Bartel, Leutnant Raum, Oberfeldwebel Glitz and Feldwebel Schneider. The latter even flew several missions with the Ta 154. However, Hans Raum as well as the majority of his pilot colleagues from 9./NJG 3 were apparently not particularly convinced by the Ta 154. According to information from the Geschwaderadjutant, Oberleutnant Jochen Jarow, was only Oberfeldwebel Willi Glitz feeling comfortable with the aircraft. Until 16 March 1945 there were several attempts to intercept "Mosquitos", all of which failed however. Most of the aircraft remained parked well camouflaged along the perimeter of the field. The flying activity was also low during the subsequent weeks.

One aircraft was heavily damaged when a night fighter crew belly landed the, to them, rather unusual aircraft around 18.00 on April 30, 1945, immediately outside of the airport perimeter at Stade. The heavily damaged Ta 152 A-2/U4 D5+HD, W.Nr 320006, was later examined by British specialists on May 6, 1945.

The book also gives reference to some other Ta 154 used by Luftwaffe units:

One Ta 152 is to have been with I/NJG 3 in Grove, Denmark, flown repeatedly by Major Husemann, but not on combat missions against "Mosquitos".
Another Ta 154 A-1, KU+SP, W.Nr. 320003, from III/EJG 2 was found in Lechfeld at the end of hostilities. This aircraft had however not flewn combat missions but had been used by conversion training for Me 262 pilots.

Manfred Griehl at the end concludes that the Ta 154 story ended without any pilot having claimed an aerial victory on the type.

I hope the above can be of interest. I can also recommend reading the book as it covers many interesting subjects in connection with Luftwaffe's last months of operation.

[ju55dk]

"The book also gives reference to some other Ta 154 used by Luftwaffe units:

One Ta 154 is to have been with I/NJG 3 in Grove, Denmark, flown repeatedly by Major Husemann, but not on combat missions against "Mosquitos".#

This Ta 154 must really have been well hidden at Grove! Because no one in I/NJG 3 have ever seen this bird there, including members of Husemanns crew!

Junker

[CJE]

Grove/Karup was one of the last sanctuaries of the LW. All a/c stationned there were duly registered by the occupying British forces. AFAIK no Ta 154 was found out by the Brits.

[Griffon]

there is a new book by Dietmar Herrmann about the 154 available too, but it differs from what Griehl has published in some points, so I cannot provide any specific answers.
but it seems that while several sorties were flown, no known kills were achieved with the 154, although one LW officer indicated that a crew might have achieved one kill flying the 154.

[Harold Lake]

When it comes to the Ta 154, I am always amazed when so many authors can not make up their minds as to which subtypes were produced and which ones weren't. Can someone please tell us for certain which "A" subtypes were single-seaters, two-seaters, day or night fighters? IIRC, the "A" series ran from A-1 to A-4, or where there more?