B-24 shot down by Me-262 Photo!

[Rob Romero]

There is a unique action shot of a B-24 being shot down by R4M rockets fired by Me-262 –anyone know who the Me-262 pilot was?

B-24M (44-50838) 448BG/714Sq Lt. Mains 9KIA/1POW R4M Rockets/Me-262 Ludwigslust/Gr. 4 Apr 45
http://mighty8thaf.preller.us/gallery/446thBG/WWII_ETO_448th_BG_Lt_Mains_B_24?full=1

Also, can anyone post any other links to Me-262 combat photos?

Thanks,

Rob Romero

[Nokose]

Six Me-262 of the 9./JG 7 fired 144 rockets at the 8th Air Force over Rathenow for first action with the R4M. Oberfaehnrich Walter Windisch was one of the pilots.

[Modeldad]

What is the source for verification of that picture and the event itself?

[Rob Romero]

http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/wwii/photos/gallery_006/page_06.htm

At the following site, look under MACR 13730
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1944_4.html

[Dick Powers]

To me, this photo always seemed to cry “fake” – too perfectly framed, just blurry enough so that the details can’t be seen. But…
Max Hastings, in “Armageddon, the Battle for Germany, 1944-1945” identifies the photographer, Harold Dorfman, a navigator in the 448th bomb group. Footnotes to the paragraphs discussing Dorfman’s service are footnoted “AI –author interview”. This photo is included in the book, although no details are given and Dorfman;s section only mentions that he was a “passionate amateur photographer and snatched some remarkable images from their cockpit….”

So, it looks like it is a real photo.

[SMF144]

Photo shows up on page 224 of Roger Freeman's piece "The Might Eighth - A History of the U.S. 8th Army Air Force"...and the caption states the following:

Me262s reached Liberators of 20th Wing as they made for jet airfield targets on 4 April 1945. Three 448th BG aircraft were lost. This one was torn completely in half. - (USAF)

Stephen

[foster B]

My uncle Robert S. Foster was with the 448th BG,any information would be helpful

[DCFoster]

The Army Past Conflicts Branch is looking for possible family members of the “Red Bow” Crew to share some updates on the case. Please contact Army Past Conflicts Branch if you are a family member or have leads on family members at 1-800-892-2490 ext 38359.

[DCFoster]

The B-24 "Red Bow" being discussed above.

World War II Pilot Remains Returned to Family. Pilot Lt. Robert Mains perished when his plane was shot down south of Hamburg, just a month before Germany’s surrender. His remains were identified by forensic scientists using DNA evidence, 72 years after his death. They arrived Wednesday evening in a flag-draped coffin at Long Island MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, for burial at Calverton National Cemetery on Saturday.

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/...ily-1.15287267