time for a poll or two - Erik Mombeek's forthcoming book and the Fw 190 A-8

 

new Luftwaffe books - Messerschmitt Me 309 Development and Politics

MESSERSCHMITT ME 309 DEVELOPMENT and POLITICS

By Dan Sharp and Calum E Douglas

Chosen in 1941 to replace the Bf 109 as the Luftwaffe’s standard front-line fighter, Messerschmitt’s innovative Me 309 embodied a wealth of hard-won experience from the Battle of Britain. Its sturdy tricycle undercarriage would make landings safer, its capacious wings could accommodate much heavier weaponry, its retractable radiator would make it aerodynamically clean, its pressure cabin would allow high-altitude operations and its ejection seat would help preserve the Luftwaffe’s most precious asset – its pilots.

All of this was made possible by a fuselage specifically tailored to accommodate Germany’s newest and most powerful fighter engines: Daimler-Benz’s DB 603 and Junkers’ Jumo 213. Production of up to 800 Me 309s a month had been planned by May 1942 – more than all other German fighter types combined. Yet the type’s advancement from prototype to full series production was reduced to a crawl, not by technical difficulties but by political in-fighting, deception and manipulation behind closed doors.

The Me 309 was set up to fail – doomed to join a lost generation of mid-war Luftwaffe combat aircraft alongside types such as Focke-Wulf’s Fw 190 C and Junkers’ Ju 288 – but why and by whom? 'Messerschmitt Me 309 Development and Politics', the first book ever written solely about this aircraft, sets out its full history – from its forerunners and commissioning to its eventual cancellation and sale to the Japanese military. Using contemporary documents, authors Dan Sharp and Calum E. Douglas explain and explore the development and eventual failure of this fascinating ‘secret project’.

Available to preorder here

He 177 "Zerstörer" in the Ukraine - ebay photo find #361

 

one of the 12 He 177 A-1/U2 "Zerstörer" variants seen here during an intermediate stop in the Ukraine, equipped with a pair of Mk 101 30mm cannon (?) in the chin gondola.

RIAT Air Tattoo Messerschmitt Foundation Me 262

 

..footage captured by the Battle of Britain museum at Hawkinge and reposted using the 'embed' code supplied by FB. Escorted by a BBMF Spitfire the @airbus Messerschmitt Foundation Me 262 replica was seen heading across Kent en route to the Fairford airshow in Gloucs this week/end. The replica '262' will be based for a short period at RAF Coningsby following the show..a single click to view here..




A few images from Fairford by the inimitable Tad Dippel. And if you're wondering, yes, I know Tad - we met up at the 2016 RIAT. A fantastic photographer..

new Kommodore of JG 2 and Wick's successor, Hptm. Wilhelm Balthasar

 

Late February 1941 saw the appointment and arrival of the new Kommodore of JG 2. Wick's successor, Hptm. Wilhelm Balthasar, was another ace who enjoyed a considerable reputation. Born in 1914, he had been orphaned following the death of his father on the Western Front. Following his enlistment in 1933 and service in an artillery regiment, Wilhelm Balthasar had subsequently transferred into the Luftwaffe and gone on to serve in Spain. Appointed to lead the recce detachment of the bomber arm of the Legion Condor (claiming a single aerial victory), he had moved to the fighter arm and added a further six Luftsiege to his score. Kapitän of 1./JG 1 in Poland and during the offensive in the West, Balthasar had been awarded the Ritterkreuz on 14 June 1940 having achieved twenty three victories. In August 1940, the young officer headed up III./JG 3 during the air battles over England. He had added to his tally during the Battle of Britain but sustained injuries on two occasions. It was only following his return to flying duties that this experienced veteran was appointed to command the "Richthofen". Hptm. Karl-Heinz Greisert stood down from his temporary role in charge of the Geschwader and resumed command of his II./JG 2.

Balthasar's presumably 'brand-new' yellow-nosed Bf 109 F-2, most probably only just received at the unit. Rudder scoreboard shows 31 victories (May 19, 1941).

my ICM Friedrich is finished in the markings of Kommodore Balthasar as seen in late May 1941 in the three greys, but being an early F-2, there’s a chance it could have been finished in BoB Emil colours - 71/02/65. Decals assembled from various remnants, including the rudder ‘kill’ markings. Balthasar was one of the leading Luftwaffe aces during the campaign in the West and the Battle of Britain. He was killed in his new Friedrich during July 1941.

Overall the ICM Bf 109 Fs are a little tricky in parts -especially the cowl - but the detail is reasonably good..

More on Balthasar's Battle of Britain Emil
https://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2016/03/more-on-balthasars-battle-of-britain.html

Starboard view Kommodore machine, May 1941

Fw. Rudolf Wagner 10./JG 51 - ebay photo find #360

According to the seller, a series of images from the album of  Rudolf Wagner.

".. On December 11, 1943 another JG 51 ace was reported missing – Fw. Rudolf Wagner had arrived in 10./JG 51 in early 1942 and flew as Otto Gaiser’s wingman. He recorded most of his victories during the summer and fall of 1943 and had been credited with 81 kills at the time he went missing. His RK was awarded posthumously on March 26, 1944...".  

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/ww2fotograf

Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1 WNr. 111711

 

A previous blog post shows Me 262 A-1 WNr. 111711 at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, 1945 - see right. These still captures from REDA archive colour footage at pond5.com quite clearly depict WNr. 111711 following Hans Fay's defection/arrival at Frankfurt - presumably. The tarp and the foliage suggest otherwise. I have read that the branches around WNr.111711 are the result of US troops’ hasty efforts to conceal Fay’s aircraft soon after its landing - they had only arrived at the airfield a few days prior to this. They then later removed them to inspect the machine.

thanks to Snautzer for the find.