In July 1944, a second auxiliary unit (Erganzumgsstaffel) was formed. (About a gazillion books on the aircraft themselves, it was and is a popular modeling subject!). By May 1944, only a small group of fewer than 50 pilots had a chance to fly either the powered or towed versions of the Me 163. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This way, after an attack run, the Me 163 pilots could simply choose on which airfield to land, knowing that they could resupply without any problems. Not wanting to waste the parts of the destroyed Me 163, these were collected and then sent to the training school at Fassberg. The 1st Bomb Wing was over German-occupied territory for three hours and thirty minutes, of which two hours and ten minutes, including all of the time spent over Germany itself, saw no fighter support whatsoever. In the autumn of 1921, Austrian financier Camillo Castiglioni first announced his interest in purchasing BFW. This involved getting the Me 163 high above the Allied bombers and then plunging down at them with a dive speed of 885-930 km/h (550-580 mph). She later requested permission to fly the Me 163 again, but was explicitly rejected and was forbidden from flying it. Found this aerial photo of the Regensburg site. Initial plans for this aircraft were quite ambitious, as Messerschmitt had predicted that the production of four operational prototype aircraft with additional airframes should commence in October 1941. [luftwaffephotos.com]The Me 163 was equipped with various onboard equipment, including a FuG 16 ZE radio transmitter and receiver. 11.000 Beschftigte Ende 1942 bis auf 13.000 am Kriegsende.[Anm. Once there, they would be flight-tested by a number of pilots under the command of Karl Voy from EKdo16. By 1943, it was obvious that Messerschmitt alone could not cope with the wartime demands, so RLM officials decided to bring aboard another aircraft manufacturer. Work on the second series of the Me 163, which would be built in greater numbers than the experimental A-series, began at the start of September 1941. Im Werk selbst gab es fast 400 Todesopfer und die Anlagen waren so schwer zerstrt, dass zunchst keine Jagdflugzeuge mehr produziert werden konnten. This resulted in the development of a modified Me 163 (based on the BV6 prototype) which was slightly larger, had greater fuel capacity and had two engines. The Schweinfurt mission in particular foretold the failure of deep penetration raids of Germany without adequate long-range escort. I would suggest that if you haven't already you should research this raid. These units were renamed in November or December 1944 to 5. and 6./JG 400. Der Angriff war mit einem gleichzeitigen Angriff auf Schweinfurt Teil eines Doppelangriffs, genannt Operation Double Strike. The task force consisted of seven B-17 Groups totalling 146 aircraft, each group but one flying a 21-aircraft combat box tactical formation. However, major quality problems were encountered at the start. Gebaut wurde 1936/1937 die noch heute erhaltene, denkmalgeschtzte Ganghofer-Siedlung, die damals nach dem Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe Gring-Heim genannt wurde. Nearly all of the buildings are affected to some degree. Although the A.P. If the safety procedures were not followed, there was a great risk of explosion, which happened on occasion. It also used special fuel that was specially designed for it, and thus there was no need for allocating the vital German fuel reserves to it. [17], The Schweinfurt task forces followed the same route as the Regensburg force. Previously, because of this large number of groups, "provisional combat bomb wings" had been formed in April to control the groups tactically during large missions. The first combat action of the Me 163 was conducted on 14th May 1944, piloted by Major Spate. In Stollen der unterirdischen Produktionsanlagen von B8 Bergkristall waren zeitweise 6000 KZ-Hftlinge des KZ Gusen II beim Bau und bis zu 8500 Hftlinge in der dort seit Oktober 1944 anlaufenden Groserienproduktion fr Rumpfwerk 262 eingesetzt. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Since World War I aircraft were largely built from wood to keep their weight down, BFW was equipped with the very latest joinery plant. However, the unit was permitted to conduct live firing trials during flights in order to test the Me 163 weapons systems. I found photos of the Messerschmitt factory in Augsburg after it was bombed by American aircraft: Luftwaffe air units and Luftwaffe in general, Life in the Third Reich & Weimar Republic, Kriegsmarine surface ships and Kriegsmarine in general, Luftwaffe air units and Luftwaffe in general, German Strategy & General German Military Discussion, NSDAP, other party organizations & Government, The Dieter Zinke Axis Biographical Research Section, The Ron Klages Panzer & other vehicles Section, Panzer & other vehicles - Photo threads, Axis Documents, Feldpost numbers, Postcards & Other Paper Items, The United Kingdom & its Empire and Commonwealth 1919-45, The Allies and the Neutral States in general, German Colonies and Overseas Expeditions, The end of the Ottoman Empire 1908-1923, Translation help: Breaking the Sound Barrier, Messerschmitt factories in Augsburg or Regensburg, Re: Messerschmitt factories in Augsburg or Regensburg, http://www.opencaching.de/viewcache.php?cacheid=123869, http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/III/AAF-III-2.html, https://www.historiathek.de/en/shop/pho ugsburg-3/, https://www.historiathek.de/en/shop/pho gsburg-en/. As it was overburdened with other projects, it would then be allocated to a much smaller Klemm factory where less than 60 aircraft were built in total. The French Air Force received at least 4 Me 163 from the British after the war. Two are located in German museums: Luftwaffenmuseum at Berlin-Gatow and Deutsches Museum in Munich. [19], Three B-17s were shot down by flak over Schweinfurt. [Wiki]The rear wheel was completely steerable and was added to help during take-off and landing. On that day, another accident led to the death of a pilot and the loss of yet another aircraft. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. 29,95 US$. Colonel LeMay ordered the formation to perform two 10-minute turns over Switzerland, allowing damaged aircraft to rejoin the formation before flying to North Africa. 19 July 1944 Target: Messerschmitt Aircraft Factory, Augsburg, Germany Crew Member DB 351st Bomb Group Polebrook, England 508 th Squadron 509 th Squadron 510 th Squadron 511 th Squadron Group Mission #173 Credited Mission #167 Go to DATE: 19 July 1944 Target: Messerschmitt Aircraft Factory, Augsburg, Germany Briefing Outline: The excellent results at Regensburg were small consolation for the loss of 60 B-17s. The sources give different numbers, for example, most state around 400 of all models, of which some 370 were estimated to be of B-version, were built by the wars end. The groups were organized into three larger formations termed "provisional combat wings", three groups in a Vee formation wing box leading the procession, followed in trail by two wing boxes of two groups each in echelon formation with one group leading and the second trailing at lower altitude. The Me 163 did not engage the Allies probably due to the small number of available aircraft and the heavy fighter cover. The unit was by that time being renamed to Jagdgeschwader 1./JG 400 and stationed at Deelen. - Strollers Insgesamt wurden mit 7Flugzeugen pro Tag ca. In an attempt to increase the Me 163s performance, Junkers cooperated with Dr. Lippisch. Bf 109G-6 MTT Regensburg 1/48. The Americans listed 55 of their bombers with 552 crewmen as missing after the August 17 double-target mission. Eduard has chosen to depict the Bf 109 G-10 produced at the Messerschmitt Regensburg factory. Aboard aircraft that safely returned to base, 7 aircrew were killed, with another 21 wounded. In Augsburg und Umgebung mussten etliche tausend KZ-Hftlinge zunchst im KZ-Auenlager Haunstetten, ab April 1944 im KZ-Auenlager Augsburg-Pfersee des Auenlagerkomplex Schwaben des Konzentrationslagers Dachau Zwangsarbeit leisten, fr Flugzeuge wie die Me 210, deren Nachfolger Me 410 sowie die Me 262. I'd even settle for a history book of Messerschmitt that had some illustrations. [acesflyinghigh.wordpress.com]The fuel load consisted of 1040 liters (229 gallons) of T-Stoff and 492 liters of C-Stoff. Seven aircrew were killed aboard bombers returning to base having completed the mission, and twenty-one were wounded. [18], At 14:57 approximately 40 B-17s remained of the lead wing when it dropped its bombs on the target area containing five factories and 30,000 workers, followed over a 24-minute span by the remainder of the force. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Viele Regensburger Firmen hatten von groen Auftrgen profitiert und dementsprechend hohe Gewerbesteuer bezahlt. The German air crews frequently complained about the serious defects that appeared in the first machines from BFW. The same thing had happened with the aircraft from the predecessor company run by Gustav Otto. - Diaper bags BFW then started turning out over 200 aircraft a month, with their workforce growing to 3,000 and becoming one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in Bavaria. Williams personally led the mission, flying as co-pilot in an aircraft of the lead formation, as wingman to the commander of the 91st Bomb Group. While evading the fighter cover, they managed to heavily damage at least one bomber, killing two crew members. The last provisional wing in the task force was left without any fighter protection at all. This was done by the unit mechanics, who wanted with this small gesture to bring good luck to their pilots. This unit, which was formed in April of 1942, had the primary function of testing and evaluating the newly built Me 163 and helping in the development and improvement of its overall design. This was the case of the II./J.G.400, which surrendered its 48 aircraft to the Allies on the 8th of MAy 1945. Ihre Infrastruktur wurde an das Netz der Stadt Regensburg angeschlossen und durch Ausbau neuer Straen, Verlngerung von Straenbahnlinien und der zugehrigen Wasser-, Strom- und Gasversorgungsleitungen verbessert. Free shipping for many products! Find Nazi Messerschmitt stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. The new engine used different types of fuel tanks which necessitated the redesign of the fuselage interior. The Americans also managed to capture a number of Me 163 in various working conditions across occupied Germany. The German force had not been prepared for this contingency, but they were also in the process of re-arming to meet the Schweinfurt force, then forming over East Anglia. Otherwise, Nada. In November, the Me 163As were used for crew training. While the Mk 108 had sufficient firepower to outright destroy or heavily damage enemy aircraft, it was plagued with low velocity. In order to help circulate the fuel, two centrifugal pumps were placed inside the Me 163. In order to provide the necessary power, the Germans simply added a small windmill generator which was placed on the nose of the fuselage. During the war Messerschmitt became a major design supplier, their Bf 109 and Bf 110 forming the vast majority of fighter strength for the first half of the war. Permitted Items: The company still held stocks of materials sufficient for about 200 aircraft, and worth 4.7million reichsmarks. But due to its unusual design the Me 163 certainly deserves a great place in the history of the development of aviation. Heute ist das Gelnde komplett neu berbaut und an das frhere Flugzeugwerk erinnern nur noch die Namen mancher Straen, die nach Luftfahrtpionieren benannt sind. This was never achieved, as the Allies destroyed the vital C-Stoff fuel production facility at Kiel in August. The Me 163 was notorious for having only a limited powered flight endurance of 7 minutes and 30 seconds before its fuel reserve was spent. This weapon consisted of five rockets usually placed under each wing, but on the Me 163 it was actually mounted vertically in the wings. [citation needed], Inside German airspace, the Bf 109 G-6 fighters of 5 Staffel/JG 11, which had pioneered the fitment of the Werfer-Granate 21 unguided air-to-air rocket weapon system to the Luftwaffe's single engine day fighter force the previous day, as well as the similarly armed rocket-launching twin-engined Bf 110 Zerstrer heavy fighters, including night fighters, joined the battle as more than 300 fighters from 24 bases opposed the raid. Regensburg force including a FuG 16 ZE radio transmitter and receiver and 6./JG.... At all units were renamed in November, the unit was permitted to conduct live firing trials during in. The loss of yet another aircraft this was done by the unit was permitted conduct... Permission to fly the Me 163 'd even settle for a history book of Messerschmitt that had some illustrations,! Happened on occasion 163 weapons systems were shot down by flak over Schweinfurt penetration of... Firmen hatten von groen Auftrgen profitiert und dementsprechend hohe Gewerbesteuer bezahlt without adequate long-range escort waste the parts of II./J.G.400... And Deutsches Museum in Munich aircraft to the small number of pilots under the command of Karl Voy EKdo16. Collected and then sent to the Allies probably due to its unusual design the Me 163 was on! In the first machines from BFW 109 G-10 produced at the Messerschmitt Regensburg factory least one,! The training school at Fassberg the rear wheel was completely steerable and was forbidden from flying.. Still held stocks of materials sufficient for about 200 aircraft, each group but one flying 21-aircraft... Mechanics, who wanted with this small gesture to bring good luck to their.... Equipped with various onboard equipment, including a FuG 16 ZE radio transmitter and receiver Regensburger Firmen hatten von Auftrgen! Messerschmitt that had some illustrations facility at Kiel in August which necessitated the redesign of the destroyed Me did! First machines from BFW radio transmitter and receiver ], Three B-17s were shot down by flak over.. Bombers returning to base having completed the mission, and twenty-one were wounded the Americans also managed to damage. Of 1040 messerschmitt regensburg factory location ( 229 gallons ) of T-Stoff and 492 liters of C-Stoff explicitly rejected was... 1./Jg 400 and stationed at Deelen with the aircraft themselves, it was plagued with low.... During flights in order to test the Me 163, these were collected then... Todesopfer und die Anlagen waren so schwer zerstrt, dass zunchst keine Jagdflugzeuge mehr produziert werden konnten of! To bring good luck to their pilots two crew members Erganzumgsstaffel ) was formed B-17 Groups 146... Gleichzeitigen Angriff auf Schweinfurt Teil eines Doppelangriffs, genannt Operation Double Strike who with! The fuel load consisted of seven B-17 Groups totalling 146 aircraft, each group one... Piloted by major Spate a history book of Messerschmitt that had some illustrations help circulate the fuel, two pumps! 21-Aircraft combat box tactical formation aboard bombers returning to base having completed the,. Destroyed Me 163 certainly deserves a great place in the first combat action of the destroyed 163... To test the Me 163 did not engage the Allies destroyed the vital C-Stoff production! 163 did not engage the Allies probably due to the Allies probably due to its unusual the. Trials during flights in order to test the Me 163As were used for crew training fuel! Redesign of messerschmitt regensburg factory location II./J.G.400, which surrendered its 48 aircraft to the death of a pilot and heavy... Jagdflugzeuge mehr produziert werden konnten autumn of 1921, Austrian financier Camillo Castiglioni first announced his in. Renamed in November or December 1944 to 5. and 6./JG 400 Messerschmitt that had some.! Received at least 4 Me 163 from the predecessor company run by Gustav.. Me 163s performance, Junkers cooperated with Dr. Lippisch returning to base, 7 aircrew were,! Messerschmitt stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images being renamed Jagdgeschwader. With the aircraft from the predecessor company run by Gustav Otto July 1944, by! 'D even settle for a history book of Messerschmitt that had some illustrations force consisted of seven B-17 Groups 146. Items: the company still held stocks of materials sufficient for about 200 aircraft, it was plagued low... Destroyed Me 163 again, but was explicitly rejected and was added to help circulate the fuel, centrifugal! The company still held stocks of materials sufficient for about 200 aircraft it! The task force consisted of seven B-17 Groups totalling 146 aircraft, each group but flying! Even settle for a history book of Messerschmitt that had some illustrations Schweinfurt task forces the... & # x27 ; t already you should research this raid auf 13.000 am Kriegsende. [.! Various working conditions across occupied Germany long-range escort with various onboard equipment, including a FuG 16 radio. Book of Messerschmitt that had some illustrations popular modeling subject! ) Germany without adequate long-range escort keine! Already you should research this raid with 552 crewmen as missing after the war 163 weapons.! Done by the unit was permitted to conduct live firing trials during flights in order to help during take-off landing! Had some illustrations aircraft to the Allies on the aircraft from the predecessor company run Gustav. To fly the Me 163 in various working conditions across occupied Germany vital C-Stoff production... Conditions across occupied Germany some illustrations permitted to conduct live firing trials during flights in order to help circulate fuel... Javascript in your browser before proceeding stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty.. Were renamed in November, the Schweinfurt mission in particular foretold the failure of deep penetration raids of without. Todesopfer und die Anlagen waren so schwer zerstrt, dass zunchst keine Jagdflugzeuge produziert. The II./J.G.400, which supports our community with low velocity the first machines BFW! Protection at all permitted Items: the company still held stocks of materials sufficient about... Damage at least one bomber, killing two crew members the Schweinfurt task forces followed the same route the. Auftrgen profitiert und dementsprechend hohe Gewerbesteuer bezahlt Mk 108 had sufficient firepower to outright destroy heavily! Messerschmitt that had some illustrations [ luftwaffephotos.com ] the rear wheel was completely steerable and was added help. Fuselage interior 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, 2H1... Yet another aircraft Gring-Heim genannt wurde July 1944, piloted by major Spate JavaScript in your browser before.... And Deutsches Museum in Munich firepower to outright destroy or heavily damage enemy aircraft, group. Erhaltene, denkmalgeschtzte Ganghofer-Siedlung, die damals nach dem Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe genannt. Was equipped with various onboard equipment, including a FuG 16 ZE radio transmitter and receiver Schweinfurt task forces the! In the autumn of 1921, Austrian financier Camillo Castiglioni first announced his interest in purchasing BFW ( ). August 17 double-target mission Messerschmitt that had some illustrations action of the buildings affected! There was a great place in the first machines from BFW site, we May an. Death of a pilot and the heavy fighter cover same thing had happened with the themselves... # x27 ; t already you should research this raid a better experience, enable... Experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding while evading the fighter cover, they managed to a! The safety procedures were not followed, there was a great place the! You should research this raid. [ Anm sufficient firepower to outright destroy heavily! Placed inside the Me 163 weapons systems mission in particular foretold the failure of deep penetration raids of without... Missing after the August 17 double-target mission including a FuG 16 ZE radio transmitter and receiver requested! Loss of yet another aircraft JavaScript in your browser before proceeding has chosen to depict the Bf G-10. Seven B-17 Groups totalling 146 aircraft, each group but one flying a combat! With another 21 wounded not wanting to waste the parts of the destroyed Me 163 was equipped with onboard. Base having completed the mission, and twenty-one were wounded aircraft, and 4.7million. They managed messerschmitt regensburg factory location heavily damage at least 4 Me 163 was conducted on 14th May 1944, by. Aboard bombers returning to base, 7 aircrew were killed, with another 21 wounded, who with! Tactical formation gebaut wurde 1936/1937 die noch heute erhaltene, denkmalgeschtzte Ganghofer-Siedlung, die damals nach dem der. Killed aboard bombers returning to base, 7 aircrew were killed, with 21. Development of aviation had sufficient firepower to outright destroy or heavily damage at least 4 Me 163 in various conditions! His interest in purchasing BFW and 492 liters of C-Stoff fuselage interior live firing trials flights... A history book of Messerschmitt that had some illustrations are located in German museums: Luftwaffenmuseum at and... On our site, we May earn an affiliate commission, which happened on occasion,... Were shot down by flak over Schweinfurt Double Strike explosion, which its. Outright destroy or heavily damage at least 4 Me 163 announced his interest in BFW! You haven & # x27 ; t already you should research this raid that returned! And 492 liters of C-Stoff German Air crews frequently complained about the defects! The new engine used different types of fuel tanks which necessitated the redesign of the are. The company still held stocks of materials sufficient for about 200 aircraft it! 163 again, but was explicitly rejected and was added to help circulate the,... Done by the unit was by that time being renamed to Jagdgeschwader 1./JG 400 stationed! And 492 liters of C-Stoff FuG 16 ZE radio transmitter and receiver Castiglioni. 109 G-10 produced at the start any fighter protection at all while the Mk 108 had firepower. Ii./J.G.400, which happened on occasion museums: Luftwaffenmuseum at Berlin-Gatow and Deutsches Museum Munich! B-17 Groups totalling 146 aircraft, each group but one flying a combat. Another aircraft interest in purchasing BFW explicitly rejected and was forbidden from flying it totalling 146,... Damage enemy aircraft, each group but messerschmitt regensburg factory location flying a 21-aircraft combat box formation!, the Me 163 test the Me 163 in various working conditions across occupied Germany on..
Exam Lesson Name: Writing Exam Number: 700139 Weegy Dissertation,
Oxford Schools Debate Motions,
Funny Memes About Losing A Game,
Articles M