PRO documents on captured Luftwaffe aircraft

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Erwin Verhaeghe
still questions about my He 219 A-7
Mon Aug 6 21:56:56 2001


My model is finished, ready for paintjob! I was suprised that Dragon ( 1/72 scale) proposed a colorsceme for an a/c of 3./NJG3, D5+CL. Colors shued be RLM 76 overall with RLM 75 mottling. I'm suprised because I thought 3.?NJG3 flew only Bf110 and Ju88 at the end of the war.Help me out please!

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Junker
He 219 from Grove/DK
Tue Aug 7 11:33:09 2001


The code was reported as D5+ by the RAF, after the war. This is not correct, as the maschine belonged to I/NJG 1. Code G9+CL. I/NJG 3 did not have any He 219!!!!!
Junker

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Nick Beale
He 219 and I./NJG 3
Thu Aug 9 22:51:50 2001


The RAF may have made a mistake but PRO file AIR40/2022 has a list of "German Aircraft Selected for Ferrying to UK" and this includes three He 219 at Grove with the D5 marking: D5+BL (WNr. 290126), D5+CL (310189) and D5+DL (310200).

Maybe they made the same mistake three times (there is certainly an error with one Ar 234 code) but later in the list are Bf 110G-4 D5+RL (730301) at Grove and D5+DM (180551) at Kastrup. Also, file AIR55/227 (based on information supplied by Luftflotte Reich to the RAF at the surrender) says I./NJG 3 was at Grove on 6 May 1945.

A document dated 28 January 1945 on file RL2 III/66 at BA-MA Freiburg refers to the re-equipment of I./NJG 3 with the He 219 also. (I do not have full notes of this, so I do not know if this was a plan or a fact).