Zurück von der Nachtjagd -Nachtjagd aces Oblt Alfons Köster and Hptm. Leopold Fellerer in Wochenschau film report, Bf 110 G-4

..zurück von der Nachtjagd - return home from the night hunt, some interesting stills from a 1944 Wochenschau film report on the exploits of the Nachtjagd aces Oblt Alfons Köster  and Hptm. Leopold Fellerer. Below, a Junkers Ju 88 C, probably of II./NJG 2, taxies in after a night sortie. Note the prominent flame dampers over the Jumo 211 exhausts...

Lt. Alfons Köster disembarks from his aircraft and is then seen (below) in conversation with another RK-holder, probably Major Paul Semrau, Kommandeur of II./ NJG 2. Köster was killed when his machine hit a farmhouse while attempting to put down at Varel-Obenstrohe on 7 January 1945. He had achieved 26 night victories. Semrau was shot down and killed by Spitfires the following month.

" ..die Machinen sind wieder startklar gemacht....the aircraft are prepared for their next sortie.."
Below, a pep talk from the Kommodore, Hptm. Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein ...

... As Gruppenkommandeur II./ NJG 5 Hptm. Leopold Fellerer claimed two USAAF heavy bombers by day during January 1944. He then claimed five RAF bombers during the night of 20-21 January 1944 and these Wochenschau film stills depict his return from that sortie during the early morning of 21 January 1944 (above and following stills..). Filmed on taxying in at Parchim, his Bordschütze Uffz Arthur Schopf hastens to help the successful Gkr. out of the cockpit of his Bf 110 G-4. The Geschwaderkennung of NJG 5 'C9' is briefly visible ahead of the fuselage Balkenkreuz as the crew dismount. Fellerer then poses alongside his rudder marked with his then-total of 22 victories. He was subsequently awarded the German Cross in Gold in February 1944 and the RK for 34 victories in April 1944...according to the commentary "... that cigar tastes good.."

Daily Ebay Luftwaffe photo find - Friedrichs and Emils of JG 53 and JG 52 (continued..), Jagdflieger Gustav Denk 6./JG 52

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Foto-Luftwaffe-Flugzeug-Me-109-F-JG-53-Pik-As-mit-Wappen-Fruhjahr-1941-Kanal-/380531145586?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

Above, 6./JG 53 at Comiso, Sicily

Below; general views at Lepel-Ost (also transcribed as Ljepel) of Me 109 Friedrichs of 6./JG 52  in early July 1941. "Yellow 7" undergoing an engine change

Below; more from Ebay seller foto-historiker from the estate of RK holder Gustav Denk, 6./ JG 52, 67 victories in approx 500 combat flights, KIA 13 February 1943

Two views of Me 109  Emils of  3./JG 52 seen preparing to taxy out at Calais-Coquelles during the Battle of Britain and then getting airborne - located right on the Channel coast Coquelles is a small village - and site of the Channel Tunnel terminal..

Below; burial ceremony for Oblt. Karl Ritzenberger (6./ JG 52,  total 21 victories) who was forced to ditch in a lake having sustained damage in combat with Russian fighters. Brought ashore unconscious he subsequently died of his injuries, crash indicated as taking place south of Noworossijsk Plqu. 7545 SU on 24 May 1943. Buried in Anapa.

http://www.ebay.de/sch/m.html?item=380531145012&pt=Militaria&hash=item58996c7934&_ssn=macflly41&_pgn=3&_skc=50&rt=nc

Luftwaffe book review and article news - Captured Eagles digital edition, ZG 1 by Peter Kassak, 'Star' of Africa & Axis Fighters from Flight Journal

Roger S. Gaemperle has launched a digital edition of his well-received 'Captured Eagles' previously reviewed here



Roger writes;   "  ..some time has passed since my first book was published. I have been working on the 2nd, but it is not yet finished. However, a digital version of the first book has just been released today at Apple's itunes store. It is available in 50 countries, among them of course the UK and USA.
 The digital edition is an even better value than the printed edition (at less than 50% of the price of the printed book) and on top of that offers 13 additional photos that have not been published in the printed book, but were sent to me afterwards. They show some of the aircraft shown in the printed edition from different views and sometimes reveal additional information (e.g. the serial number, tactical marking and unit of the previously unidentified Ju 87 D in the Ground Attack chapter)... I hope to publish volume 2 during next year. It will first come as printed edition again and only maybe one year later as a digital version (depending on the success).

Best regards,

Roger....."

US-Link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/captured-eagles-vol.-i/id581787151?mt=11&uo=4

UK-Link:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/captured-eagles-vol.-i/id581787151?mt=11&uo=4

For other countries, readers should just enter "Captured Eagles" or "Gaemperle" into itunes to find the book in their corresponding regional itunes store.

Elsewhere Peter Kassak has compiled a neat article devoted to ZG 1 over Slovakia published in the latest Eduard newsletter which should be familiar to all active modellers.

http://www.eduard.com/store/out/media/InfoEduard/archive/2012/info-eduard-2012-12EN.pdf

Colin Heaton's latest title 'Star of Africa' is getting good reviews. 


"...Heaton understands and writes about WWII as a historian would, of the big picture and the tactics. But he also pulls out an ace card in this book and slaps it on the table. During the 80s, while he was an American soldier stationed in Germany, Heaton befriended and interviewed countless German pilots. At the time, these men were overlooked in their own communities, even shunned. But Heaton saw something where others didn't. That's how this book brings something new and enthralling to the table--it's jammed with new stories from the veterans who knew Marseille, gems about Marseille strafing a comrade's tent, banging out jazz tunes on a piano in a room full of Generals, and ultimately, fighting with chivalry as a knight over the desert...."

Colin was in touch recently to explain that his forthcoming title devoted to bomber destroyers (provisionally entitled 'Giant Killers' ) may be on the back-burner as the publisher wants a second volume of  " The Luftwaffe Aces Speak .."  first! I must say that I was looking forward to 'Giant Killers' featuring as it will do some very rare interviews with the likes of Georg Peter Eder and Walther Dahl to name just two 'bomber killers' who have very rarely spoken to authors. I have also recently contributed some unpublished material from Willi Unger and Hans Weik. Colin Heaton's web site is here

Flight Journal's Winter Special is devoted to Axis fighters...Seth at Rare and Collectable Aviation Books on Facebook writes ;

" .. only very occasionally  (other than perhaps an article or two in a very eclectic aviation monthly (or bi-monthly), does any aviation magazine  "special" hit the bull's eye this dead on. What I'm describing to you here, only slightly touches on the treasures you'll find inside, as this publication is a treasure-trove! With comparisons of Allied/Axis fighters, personal accounts of Axis pilots fr

om countries other than only Germany and Japan, etc., this "FLIGHT JOURNAL COLLECTORS EDITION" is a VERY special edition! Having purchased it earlier today and now in the middle of reading it, I will be putting this within the AXIS AIRCRAFT section of my aviation library when I'm done reading it. It is that unique, informative (nothing is recycled) and an outright aviation masterpiece. It's my opinion that this sets a new standard in a "magazine style" aviation publication. Some of the best aviation writers in the business (Tillman, Boyne, Smith, Creek, etc.) have definitely hit the target, compiling something refreshing different. You really owe it to yourself to pick up a copy before they're all gone. It's really a gift at $7.99!.."

..also available in the UK for only £4.25 in the larger branches of WH Smith. A nice publication indeed, certainly the Smith & Creek piece on 'Watson's Whizzers' is well worth checking out. The JG 26 images from the Schroedter collection may not all be "previously unpublished" as far as I can see since some of them have certainly appeared in 'Luftwaffe in Focus' before now..

Daily Ebay Luftwaffe photo find - Gustav Denk JG 52, Galland Siebel, Arado Kradmelder

A selection of views of 6./ JG 52 Emils from the estate of Gustav Denk, 67 victories..(below )

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/foto-historiker?_trksid=p2047675.l2563


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321033809487&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321033813928&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/koelsch333/m.html?item=310523607606&ViewItem=&ssPageName=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AGB%3A1123&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330837682013&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130813537510&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

Messerschmitt Me 262 production & Arado Ar 234 final operations from JaPo Publishing

Apologies for those blog readers who have been waiting to read a detailed review of JaPo's latest title - the story of Luftwaffe jet reconnaissance operations and aircraft over Czech territory in the final months of the war! This is a seriously impressive work, replete with top quality information and photos - the contents have taken a while to digest and assimilate! This then is the latest 160-page A-4 softback from JaPo devoted to the Luftwaffe over Czech territory at the end of the war and more specifically the relatively little-known history of the production and activities of the reconnaissance variant of the Me 262 jet that took place in Bohemia. Thanks to its superior speed the Me 262 was an idea platform for short-range recce missions and while resources were modest both in terms of pilots and aircraft deployed, the Me 262 reconnaissance force was active right up to the last days of the war, especially over Czech lands. Oblt. Herward Braunegg had been ordered to set up an experimental jet recce unit during the summer of 1944 at Lechfeld leading to the establishment of the first jet recce Gruppe in NAG 6. The first Me 262 recce machines were the interim Me 262A-1a/U3 Behelfsaufklärer, modified from the standard jet fighter, development of which took place at Messerschmitt's parent factory. The aircraft featured two Rb50/30 cameras in the nose, requiring the installation of small teardrop fairings over the gun access panels, the standard nose armament itself being deleted with a single Mk 108 cannon being retained in some instances and moved to a central position in the nose of the aircraft. Trials took place utilising machines assigned to EJG 2. The authors examine in detail the concept of the 'new' ME 262 recce design and then explore the attempts to conceive a reconnaissance variant based on the standard Me 262 fighter. Possibly the most fascinating section of the book is a description of Me 262 production and repair in the Protectorat detailing the activities of the two main constructors,  Heinkel's FWE (Flugzeugwerke Eger) at Cheb and LBB (Leichtbau Budweis). The research is outstanding, assiduously compiled from fragmentary documentary sources and rarely seen photos. There are extensive records of the aircraft repaired, produced and operated in the Protectorat, along with the variants and descriptions of camouflage and markings and operational service. According to documents from the Gen. Qu.  the Luftwaffe took possession of some 33 photo-reconnaissance Me 262As assigned to NAG 6 and NAG 1 which were subsequently re-assigned to III./EJG 2. The accounts of production in both Budweis and Cheb are as complete and as informative as the authors could make them - Allied bombing raids against Bohemian production plants are detailed and there are rare personal testimonies  of flight testing and operations from Czech technicians. Note that the book also includes analysis of standard Me 262 A-1a jet fighters assembled by the LBB with five pages devoted to 'Yellow 3' of 3./ JG 7. Reconnaissance Me 262s were even deployed in their place of origin.1./NAG 1 arrived at Cheb on 17 April 1945 but quickly tangled with 9th AF P-51s and P-47s. "White 5" of the Stab./ NAG 1 was shot down as it set up for a landing at Cheb and the pilot Ofw. Peter Wilke was killed. By late April 1945 those remaining jet Staffeln still operating had transferred to Prague-Ruzyne and were assimilated into the Gefechtsverband Hogeback. The battle for Prague raged until 7 May 1945 with the Me 262 recce Staffeln operating right to the end.  

A certain number of recce Me 262s with two-digit tactical markings were found at Lechfeld after the war and the JaPo authors ( Tomas Poruba, Ales Janda and David E. Brown) have undertaken a detailed analysis of fifteen individual aircraft - of FWE and LBB origin-  mostly on the strength of NAG 6, illustrated with superb profile artwork and photos. This section of the work provides new insights into the evolution of late war camouflage and unit markings for the Me 262. By way of example, no fewer than 10 pages are devoted to colour and B&W photographs of Me 262 A-1a/U3 'Red S'  WNR. 500???  (..identifying it as a FWE machine). This machine crash-landed on 1 April 1945 at Brandis  and was later extensively photographed wearing the markings of 'White 26' of III./EJG 2. The authors attempt a comprehensive history of this machine, assigned to Braunegg's NAG 6 and featuring what was effectively an unauthorised Mk 108 cannon repositioned in the nose. Thanks to its characteristic scribble-pattern camouflage pattern the aircraft could be identified among other wrecks at Lechfeld at war's end.

  'White 27', 'White 29', 'White 30', 'White 33' and 'White 34' receive similar coverage, with the history of each of these machines related through log-book entries and post-war flight test and accident reports from the pilots of the 54th Disarmament Squadron, dubbed 'Watson's Whizzers'. 'White 34' is of particular interest - it was the only aircraft from EJG 2 not found by the Americans at Lechfeld but on the edge of the four lane highway at Brunnthal. The U3 reconnaissance nose had been replaced on this machine with a standard A-1a fighter nose finished in Ikarol 201 Green. Beautifully clear photos of the Brunnthal wrecks also show that this machine featured an entire replacement wing which had been left unpainted - other sources merely mention 'replacement engine intake rings '.. While there remains the possibility that 'White 34' had been 'pieced together' by American technicians post-war the authors conclude on balance that the photographs of 'White 34' show the aircraft's original appearance while in Luftwaffe service making this a particularly motley-looking machine and one worthy of much closer consideration from Luftwaffe modellers! Two pages of artworks ensure that you get the best and most accurate interpretation possible of this fascinating machine..

The second part of this very impressive work covers the final operations of Arado Ar 234 Bs and Cs over the Czech lands (partial page view above), detailing sorties flown by aircraft serving with 1.(F)/100 and III./EKG 1 from pilot log books and recollections. The rare Ar 234 C-3s abandoned at Prague-Ruzyne are covered in depth (some eleven pages) and other jet aircraft operating over Bohemia including the Me 262 V11 'V555' receive detailed treatment here (eight pages, partial page view below). 

This chapter also looks at the possibility that other jets and rockets, specifically the Me 163 and He 162, may have been deployed in the Protectorat. The final section of the book comprises ten pages devoted to Luftwaffe dispositions for the fighter protection of Me 262 air bases in Bohemia - this is material supplementary to the publisher's previous " Messerschmitt Me 262s of the KG and KG(J) units". There are several pages of detailed analysis and description of a rare Bf 109 K-4 of III./JG 27 deployed in the Luftwaffe's fighter umbrella over Bohemia.

To conclude, this is a title that the Luftwaffe blog recommends unreservedly especially for aficionados of Luftwaffe jet operations and production. It is replete with incredible details, difficult-to-find high quality information and very many photos (over 200) and documents, including flight log book facsimiles and WNr lists. The profile artworks are stunning. It is difficult not to agree with the publishers when they state that with this volume they have created the definitive account of Me 262 operations over Czech lands at war's end. A top quality work from JaPo!  Congratulations!