Luftwaffe im Focus 2 - overview

[edwest]

Pardon my lack of expertise, but what follows are highlights from this fine publication. My primary interest is the photographs. Photo 1: captured Storch with S + triangle with outline. Photo 2: Fw 44 with markings indicating HQ Geschwader of JG 301. Note that "An in-depth article on III./JG 54 (II.ZG 76) will appear in a coming edition." Article about Lt. Alfred Heckmann, 3./JG 26 which includes a rudder photo indicating that his victories as published in the past "contains serious errors." An article about "Fw 190 D-9, The Late War Fighter." Photo 11 includes a "Ju 88 C-6 with FuG 212 Lichtenstein C-1 radar." in unusual camouflage where even the propeller blades are painted.

An excellent photo of Uffz. Leo Dombrowa and Uffz. Schmidt (his crew chief). Photos 20 and 21 show an Me 262 B with lightning bolt starting just in front of the cockpit (coded B3 + SH, Werknummer 170075) Photo 22 shows a pilot on the wing of an Me 262 with no identification (aside from the camouflage pattern which is not elaborate). Photo 23 shows the remains of Me 262 A-1 Yellow 3, Werknummer 501221 (nose missing, no cockpit canopy, top of vertical tail missing and engine in foreground). Photo 24 shows a wrecked Ar 234 B-2 of 9.KG 76 (+ HT is visible on the fuselage).

Photo 25 shows an Me 262 flown by the commander of III./JG 7, Major Rudolf Sinner. There are diagonal bands on the aircraft that are angled forward toward the nose. Photo 26 is most extraordinary as it shows another Me 262 with banded camouflage that angles toward the rear. Also, two rocket tubes are visible under the fuselage. Photo 27 and accompanying color illustration show White 5 of the 11. Staffel of III./JG 7 (Werknummer 111588) An unusual feature highlighted in the color illustration is an "upwards facing black chevron" followed by the number 17 which is located below, and just ahead of the horizontail tail piece and another just behind the horizontal tail piece.

Next is "Almost a Miracle: 'Green 5' of 2./EJG 2 in Colour." The color photo is from a slide and whether it is a fault due to age or some other reason, the photo that is published shows a blue 5 outlined in white. Photo 29 and an accompanying color illustration "shows the Bf 109 G-6 of the Gruppe commander of III./JG 5, Hptm. Franz Dorr (umlaut over O), at Gossen in mid-May 1945 (<< + solid black dot, Wnr. 411960)."

Photo 39 shows a partially concealed He 219 A-7 night fighter. It carries a FuG 220 d "Lichtenstein" radar and flame dampers. Only a partial code ( + OH) is visible. Photo 40 and accompanying color illustration show a P-51 C marked T9 + CK. Photo 42 and accompanying color illustration shows a La-5FN coded T9 + PK.

Next is a lengthy article titled "May 1945: Objective Courland, The Luftwaffe's Last Large-Scale Operation." There is a list of Luftwaffe units known to have taken part, a report of aircraft on strength in Courland dated 12 April 1945, and a list of units from Windau, Libau-North, Libau-Groubin, Libau-?, Cirava, Zabeln and Nikas, and aircraft types flown in all but one entry. There is also an accompanying map. Photo 48 shows Ju 88s and Ju 188s of II./KG 26 photographed at Bradufoss, Norway after the surrender (only a 1H unit code is visible). Photo 49 shows an Fw200 C-5, F8 + MS, flown by a crew from 1.(F)/22. Photo 50 is a Ju 88 T-3 (4N + CH). Photo 51 shows a Ju 188 (4N + EH) of 1.(F)/22.

Finally, photo 53 shows a Mistel S 2 training combination. The aircraft was captured and along with a red star painted on the fuselage cross is the legend "RUF-1" just behind it.



Ed