41 Sqn vs Me262s, Rheine Aerodrome, 14 Feb. 1945

[Steve Brew]

At around 08:00 on 14 Febrary 1945, 41 Squadron arrived over Rheine Aerodrome on an armed recce to see a dozen long-nosed FW190Ds orbiting at 1,000 feet, as well as several Me262s in the process of taking off. The Focke-Wulfs belonged to JG26, and were forming up to cover the Me262s on a bombing mission to Nijmegen, Gennep and Kleve. 41 then spotted another dozen FW190s above them and to the east of the airfield, which belonged to III/JG54 and were forming up to provide high cover for the Me262 mission.

I have consulted The JG26 War Diary and Don Caldwell directly, so have the story from JG26's point of view, but am seeking information on the Me262s, as 41 Squadron claimed two damaged. Don suggests they may have belonged to Stab KG 51 or I./KG 51, which were both based at Rheine. Not being his specialty - nor indeed mine! - I was hoping someone may be able to provide me some information on the 262s involved, please, and potentially confirm whether they recorded any casualties over and around Rheine on this date.

Any additional informaiton would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Steve

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi

I have 5 Me 262's of I./KG 51 listed as damaged or destroyed to various reasons on this date.

Location for two of them given as Fl.Pl.Mühlheim, two not given and one listed as 'by Emmerich'

As we all know there might be more due to the fact that we do not have the lists filed after 1.4.1945 available

In only one of these incidents the pilot was harmed.

Regards,
Andreas B

List:

http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=103177
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=102902
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=103175
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=103176
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=102959

[Stig Jarlevik]

Andreas

I am puzzled about one loss listed by you and that is WNr 500642
http://www.ahs.no/ref_db/lw_loss_pub...?lossid=103175

Checking various second hand sources of mine, according to
a) The Messerschmitt 262 combat diary, it was WNr 110615 9K+NL in which Rudolf Hoffmann was killed
b) Me 262 Vol 3 (Classic 5) says it was WNr 110615 piloted by Richard Hoffmann
c) Me 262 the production log says that WNr 110615 9K+NL was lost already on 2 Feb 1944 (going back to Me 262 combat diary, well it is there too....)
d) Looking at the web site http://www.stormbirds.com/werknummer/block3.htm
WNr 110615 is listed as lost with the double dates under question marks.

"Your" Wnr 500642 is not listed in any of the sources above, so is it possible for you to expand and verify that this really is the correct WNr for the loss in question? It certainly fits better than the present thesis that 110615 rose from the ashes and was again lost 12 days later. It also seems more realistic with the code 9K+CL. Finally I also notice your slightly different spelling of Hofmann. Also can we unite that his first name was Rudolf?

Cheers
Stig

[Steve Brew]

Gents

Apologies for the delay in responding. Thank you for your replies to my query. Most appreciated.

Regards
Steve

[silverfox]

Hi guys,
I am currently researching the Me262 of Rudolf Hoffmann shoot down by Tony Gaze of 610 Squadron in his Spitfire Mk. XIV on the 14th February, 1945. I am producing a limited edition print of this event and am trying to identify exactly where the 262 crashed. I have read both books about Tony’s life (‘Six Aces’ & ‘Almost Unknown’) and both give conflicting locations of the interception, one identifies Nijmegen and the other Munster. I meet with the pilot Tony earlier this week & he couldn’t recall where it went down but did say it was just before the Rhein River. The town of Emmerich am Rhein, Germany which Andreas mentioned on his web site would fit in well with Tony’s accounts but I wonder what logs or accounts where referenced to confirm this the be the site? I want to use the name of the town in the print so need to be 100% sure that it’s the place.

Tony’s flight log;

F/L F.A.O. Gaze of 610 Squadron recorded in his Combat Report for 14 February, 1945:

"On 14/2/45 I was leading Wavey Black section of two aircraft on standing patrol over NIJMEGEN. At about 1630 hours I sighted an Arado 234 pulling up from attacking the CLEVE area. I dropped my tank and attempted to intercept but despite the fact that I cut the corner it pulled away easily at 7,000 ft. After this we continually chased Arados over this area. I fired at two without result. At about 1700 hours when it was apparent that the jets were diving down through the cloud which was from 9 - 11,000 ft. I climbed up through it, leaving Black 2 below, hoping to warn him when they dived. Then I did an orbit at 13,000 ft. to clear off the ice on the windscreen and sighted 3 M.E. 262's in Vic formation passing below me at cloud top level. I dived down behind them and closed in, crossing behind the formation and attacked the port aircraft which was lagging slightly. I could not see my sight properly as we were flying straight into the sun, but fired from dead astern, at a range of 350 yards, hitting it in the starboard jet with the second burst; at which the other 2 aircraft immediately dived into cloud. It pulled up slowly and turned to starboard and I fired obtaining more strikes on fuselage and jet which caught fire. The enemy rolled over on to its back and dived through cloud. I turned 180 and dived after it, calling on the R/T to warn my no.2; on breaking cloud I saw an aircraft hit the ground and explode about a mile ahead of me, at E.9859. I claim this M.E.262 destroyed. Black 2 also witnessed this explosion." *

I./KG 51, Me 262 A-2, WNr. 500064, 9K+CL, Fw. Hofmann Rudolf, KIA.

• - taken from www.spitfireperformance.com

I really appreciate your help with this.
Cheers

Robert

[mhuxt]

E9859 certainly corresponds to Emmerich am Rhein, though what records would have been kept on the ground I don't know. Perhaps there are some German graves records.

[karl lusink]

Originally Posted by mhuxt

E9859 certainly corresponds to Emmerich am Rhein, though what records would have been kept on the ground I don't know. Perhaps there are some German graves records.

Yes indeed!
Fw Rudolf Hofmann 09-11-1918 Wölfersheim
is buried in the Cemetery at Rees, East of Emmerich.
Grave 97
Verlustmeldung gives werknummer 500064 !
I think Hofmann crashed East of Emmerich his first burial location may have been in:
Brünen/Elten/Hurl/Huthum/Isselburg/Vehlingen or Rees!
236 casualties were brought from these places to Rees Cemetery(contains 871 graves)
Kind Regards
Karl Lusink
ARGA
www.arga-nl.nl

[Snautzer]

Karl why do i get an virus/trojan alert when i try to access your ARGA site?

normally i would pm to keep the thread as clean as possible but since other members might click on it.i choose not to.

[karl lusink]

Originally Posted by Snautzer

Karl why do i get an virus/trojan alert when i try to access your ARGA site?

normally i would pm to keep the thread as clean as possible but since other members might click on it.i choose not to.

Yes,
Very strange, I will call the man who is responsible for our website, and I will ask him what's wrong.
I know that they are working on a complete new website.
I will let you know!
Regards
Karl Lusink

[Hey-Hof]

Originally Posted by karl lusink

Yes indeed!
Fw Rudolf Hofmann 09-11-1918 Wölfersheim
is buried in the Cemetery at Rees, East of Emmerich.
Grave 97
Verlustmeldung gives werknummer 500064 !
I think Hofmann crashed East of Emmerich his first burial location may have been in:
Brünen/Elten/Hurl/Huthum/Isselburg/Vehlingen or Rees!
236 casualties were brought from these places to Rees Cemetery(contains 871 graves)
Kind Regards
Karl Lusink
ARGA
www.arga-nl.nl

My son found this web site concerning Rudolf Hofmann while looking for info on genealogy. Rudolf Hofmann was my grandfather. My father has been looking for info about him, the squadron, and associates, for many years. With that said, if you or anybody else have any info on him, that would be most appreciated. If there is any info that you might need, send me a message and I will see what I can get from my father.

Wow! Thank you.