Lt. Herbert Abendroth, 9./JG 77

[Ferreira]

Hi,

I'm searching more information on the career of Lt. Herbert Abendroth. He flew a Me 109 K-4, Wk-Nr. 330204, "White 1", serving in 9./JG 77, in Operation Bodenplatte, January 1945.

How many abschusse he had?

Thank's,

Franklin

* from Brazil

[John Beaman]

Originally Posted by Ferreira

Hi,
How many abschusse he had?

He is credited with 3 abschusse. He became a POW when force landed during Bodenplatte.

[Ferreira]

Hi, mr. Beaman,

Thank's for your reply.

'White 1' is shown on plate 88 (and photo) in Deutsche Jagdflugzeuge 1939-1945 in Farbprofilen (Claes Sundin/Christer Bergström), and this aircraft have a Rüstsätze R3 (or R1).

Is possible to know if this aircraft took a 300 liter drop tank or a SC 250 bomb in the Operation Bodenplatte?

Cheers,
Franklin

[John Manrho]

Abendroth did not fly "weisse 1" on 1.1.45 but "weisse 13". The Werknummer of "weisse 13" was 330204. The "weisse 1" on the well known photograph can not be 330204.

On 1.1.45 the JG's used 300 ltr droptanks and NO bombs...

John.

[Ferreira]

Hi, mr. Manrho

Thank's for your attention and help.

In the book of Osprey, Bf 109 F/G/K Aces of the Western Front, is mentioned that the pilot of "Weiss 1" was the Lt. Abendroth (p. 95) in Operation Bodenplatte.

In which book I can find this new information of "weiss 13"?

Cheers,
Franklin

[John Manrho]

Page 257 of the following book;

http://www.hikokiwarplanes.com/bodenplatte.htm

John.

[Ferreira]

Wow!

Thank's!

Who was the pilot who flow "weiss 1"?

Thank's a lot, again!

Franklin

[John Manrho]

To be honest I have no idea. The point is that well known picture of "weisse 1" was attributed to Wnr. 330204 based on a difficult to read loss report of Lt. Abendroth. On first glance it seems the loss report indicates "weisse 1" and therefore it was concluded in the past that the well known "weisse 1" was identical to the a/c flown by Lt. Abenroth on 1.1.45, being 330204.

However, after carefull examining one can see that the loss report of Abendroth says he flew "weisse 13" and therefore 330204 = "weisse 13" and not "weisse 1". This is confirmed by the picture I published, another loss report and RAF intelligence reports on crashed enemy a/c.

So what is the werknummer of weisse 1? I don't know....some say it was Hptm. Menzel, St.Kap. of 9./JG 77.

Cheers,

John.

[Jochen Prien]

Gentlemen,

John Manrho is absolutely right with his comments on Lt. Abendroth's a/c being Bf 109 K-4, WerkNr. 330 204 and marking " white 13 " instead of " white 1 " as I have stated in the past. The loss report stored at the WASt. in Berlin gives the marking of the a/c as "white 13", the "3" being covered by a stamp mark that leaves only minimal traces of the "3" visible. Werner Girbig, who first copied the WASt.-lists by hand obviously didn't notice this and therefore gave the numeral of Lt. Abendroth's a/c as "white 1" which was also the source of my originally identifying the well known photo of the "white 1" as WerkNr. 330 204.

So: the photos of "white 1" show a Bf 109 K-4 of 9./JG 77 with so far unknown WerkNr., whereas Lt. Abendroth was shot down with "white 13", this being WerkNr. 330 204.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Jochen Prien

[Ferreira]

Hi, mr. Manhro and mr. Prien,

Thank's a lot for information and patience!

Which is the first name of Hauptmann Menzel? Some books affirm that he flew "Weiss 1", in 9./JG 77, in Neuruppin, December 1944.

And how many abschusse he had? He received any condecoration? DK-G? RK?

Cheers,

Franklin