Ltn. Friedrich Jirmann's mysterious bellylanding

[Karoband]

Thanks to Ed West's wonderful posts in the eBay: German Interest thread, I am able to see logbooks with Me 262 flights. In his post #1288, the third flugbuch is that of Ltn. Friedrich Jirmann. One page contains Me 262 flights whose times are confirmed in Jan Horn's opus, Das Flurschaden-Geschwader (2010).

However when checking for Jirmann's career path in DeZeng and Stankey, I found this entry:
"JIRMANN, Friedrich. (D.O.B.: 25.12.22). 14.02.45 Lt., pilot 5./KG 51 unhurt? - Me 262 A-2a belly-landed at Essen-Mühlheim due to technical fault."

On pp. 237-8 of his book, Horn confirms this incident:
"13 Me 262, davon 9 Maschinen der 5./KG 51 (Rheine) und vier Maschinen der 4./KG 51 in Essen-Mulheim warden am 14. Februar 1945 zu Angriffinen auf Feindansammlungen im Raum Kleve-Kranenburg-Gennep eingesetzt. In Rheine starten von der 5. Staffel gegen diese Ziele zwischen 07:30 Uhr und 08:50 Uhr unter anderen Hptm. Abel, Fw. Witzmann und Oblt. Richter sowie von der 4./KG 51 Lt. Jirmann in Essen-Mulheim …
Leutnant Friedrich Jirmann 4./KG 51 muss mit der 9K+AM (Werk-Nr. 110538) infolge technischer Mängel auf dem Flugplatz Essen-Mulheim Eine Bauchlandung machen, wobei ein Schaden von 30 Prozent ensteht…"

However, in continuing his narrative of 14 February 1945 on p. 240. horn also gives:
"Vom Flugplatz Kitzingen startet Lt. Jirmann mit der Me 262 A-2a (9K+PM) um 09:10 Uhr zu einem Werkstattflug. Er landet danach um 09:39 Uhr wieder in Kitzingen." This confirms the only entry for 14 February in the logbook.

If Jirmann did not bellyland W.Nr. 110538 on 14 February, who did?

best regards,

Jim

[Nick Beale]

ULTRA decrypt CX/MSS/R488(C),36 includes this:

Stamped 0500/10/3 to Obltn. WALTER from Prüfmeister (C% WASSERSCHLAEVER):-
1) Where are the wings and 2 jet units £ TL £ for AM works No. 110538?

So 9K+AM was in need of some major replacement parts on 10 March.

[Rottler]

Hello Jim,

Gen.Qu. loss return 19 Feb 1945 item 4:
14.2. II./KG 51 Feindflug, Ort: Fl.Pl. Mühlheim, Ursache: Bauchlandung infolge technischer Mängel, Me 262 A-2 110538 20% Er (= Ersatz erforderlich).
The pilot was unhurt, so no entry of a name.

Regards
Leo

[Karoband]

Nick and Leo,

Thank you very much for your replies. As the pilot was unhurt and not identified in the loss return, it is unlikely he will be identified. However, as Jirmann's flugbuch appears to be genuine, it seems he was not the pilot of 110538.

Thank you again,

Jim