It was initially to be involved with crucial crew training. The wings were quite simple in design, consisting of two spars covered in 8 mm thick fabric. Am 15. Initially, in the three-wheel configuration, it was to tow the Me 163 along the airfield, using its own dolly, to a designated takeoff position on the airfield (upper picture). The delays with the construction of auxiliary support buildings on this airfield meant that crew training could not begin until October 1943. [1], Diese Entwicklung fr das Werk Augsburg erforderte die Grndung eines Zweigwerkes fr die Produktion der Flugzeuge vom Typ Messerschmitt Bf 108 eines auch militrisch nutzbaren Kurierflugzeugs, das auch Taifun genannt wurde. Das Netz der Produktionsbetriebe spannte sich ber die Tschechoslowakei bis nach sterreich, umfasste auch Bergwerksstollen, Autobahntunnels und sogar getarnte Waldschneisen. Many[citation needed] of the prototypes crashed, one of them killing Hans Hackmack, a close friend of Erhard Milch, the head of Deutsche Luft Hansa and the German civil aviation authorities. [26] 35,000 m2 (380,000 square feet) of buildings in the five factories were destroyed, and more than 100,000 m2 (1,000,000 square feet) suffered fire damage. Mithilfe einer entwickelten Auslagerungsstrategie konnte die Produktion von Flugzeugen zahlenmig aber weitgehend aufrechterhalten werden. Glad you like it and thanks for the comment! This caused further delays in training operations, until August 23rd. In den folgenden Monaten wurden die bentigten Maschinen geliefert und aufgebaut und die Materiallager aufgefllt. This aircraft was equipped with the experimental SG 500 Jagdfaust and managed to shoot down a British Lancaster bomber. On the other hand, it was overshadowed by a number of critical faults that were never corrected. However, major quality problems were encountered at the start. [28], Albert Speer reported an immediate 34 percent loss of production,[29][note 7] but both the production shortfall and the actual loss of bearings were made up for by extensive surpluses found throughout Germany in the aftermath of the raid. In theory, during take-off, both engines would be activated until a certain altitude was reached. Being highly corrosive and deadly to the touch, the maintenance crews and pilots had to wear specially designed protective clothing and gloves. As you know, this was one of the targets of the Schweinfurt- Regensburg mission on the 17th of Aug 1943, and it was so because an important Messerschmitt factory that was established there. (About a gazillion books on the aircraft themselves, it was and is a popular modeling subject!). Bf 109G-6 MTT Regensburg 1/48. These units were renamed in November or December 1944 to 5. and 6./JG 400. The development of the rocket engines was very slow and plagued with many setbacks, especially the limited production of fuel, which eventually led to huge delays in the Me 163 production. Founded in 1999. I have been looking all over for some 1940s era photographs of the Messerschmitt factories in Augsburg or Regensburg. The 103 CG had 11 from the 303d and 6 from the 379 BG. This mission was enshrined in fiction as the "Hambrucken raid" in Beirne Lay and Sy Bartlett's novel, Twelve O'Clock High. [1][2][4] Three P-47 Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group and two RAF Spitfires were shot down attempting to protect the Schweinfurt force. They were relocated to Wittmundhafen as the airfield at Deelen proved unfit for the Me 163 aircrafts operation. Aerial photograph of a Messerschmitt factory in Regensburg, Germany after an aerial bombing, August 17, 1943. This meant that only the highly experienced Me 163 pilot had a chance of hitting the enemy aircraft. The new engine used different types of fuel tanks which necessitated the redesign of the fuselage interior. As, at that time, EKdo 16 could not provide a fully operational Me 163, these were instead taken from 1./J.G. Die in Regensburg herrschende groe Wohnungsnot hatte bereits nach 1933 zum Bau der eigenfinanzierten Wohnsiedlungen Westheim und Konradsiedlung gefhrt. Spitfire, Messerschmitt Bf 109, R.A.F. This was the case of the II./J.G.400, which surrendered its 48 aircraft to the Allies on the 8th of MAy 1945. In order to provide the necessary power, the Germans simply added a small windmill generator which was placed on the nose of the fuselage. I have been looking all over for some 1940s era photographs of the Messerschmitt factories in Augsburg or Regensburg, or the Junkers factory in Dessau. wurden neben dem Jagdflugzeug Bf 109 (Me 109) im Werk Regensburg an den Standorten in Prfening und im benachbarten Obertraubling auch die Typen Me 210, Me 323, Me 163 und Me 262 produziert. - Backpacks Given the previous success, of destroying 5 enemy bombers with a limited number of available Me 163, attempts were made to increase the number of squadrons with 20 aircraft. The company then changed its name to Messerschmitt-Blkow-Blohm (MBB). The campus is situated in a single location together with the Regensburg University of Applied Sciences. It was provided with an optical sensor that activated its weapon load once it detected shadow, in theory, a shadow of an enemy plane. TheMemphis Belle: American Icon and 25thMission, Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress, Crippling the Nazi War Machine: USAAF Strategic Bombing in Europe, Early Operations (1942 to mid-1943)-Eighth Air Force in England, Ninth/Twelfth Air Forces in the Mediterranean, Keeping them Flying: Mechanics and Armorers, Combined Bomber Offensive: Summer 1943 to Victory, Deadly Skies over Europe (Luftwaffedefense), Operation Frantic: Shuttle Raids to the Soviet Union, Return to the B-17F Memphis Belle Fact Sheet. In November and later in December, two aircraft were lost in accidents with the loss of life of both pilots. Der erste groe Luftangriff auf das Messerschmittwerk in Regensburg erfolgte am 17. April 1945 die Flugzeuge Bf 109 und Me 262 fertiggestellt und eingeflogen bzw. Dort wurden bis zum 23. Then, in May of the same year, when the Italian-born investor was able to acquire BMW's engine business from Knorr-Bremse AG, nothing more stood in the way of a merger between the aircraft company BFW and the engine builders BMW. 1943 waren diese Werke die zweitgrte Produktionssttte fr einmotorige Jagdflugzeuge in Europa. The mission inflicted heavy damage on the Regensburg target, but at catastrophic loss to the force, with 60 bombers lost and many more damaged beyond economical repair. [luftwaffephotos.com]The Me 163 was equipped with various onboard equipment, including a FuG 16 ZE radio transmitter and receiver. While the commanders of EKdo 16 were against such a decision, there was little they could do and, by the end of September, the unit was on its way to Brandis. The first, a diversionary attack, involved the bombing of three locations along the French and Dutch coast: the German airfields at Bryas-Sud and Marck by American B-26 Marauder and Royal Air Force Mitchell medium bombers, and the marshalling yards at Dunkirk by other Mitchells, all timed to coincide with the Regensburg strike.[14]. Ohne den Einsatz und die Ausbeutung von Zwangsarbeitern aus mehreren Konzentrationslagern wre eine Produktion in dem geschilderten Umfang unmglich gewesen. Die 1926 in Augsburg gegrndeten Bayerischen Flugzeugwerke (BFW) wurden nach der Machtergreifung der NSDAP und nach dem NSDAP-Beitritt des Chefkonstrukteurs Willy Messerschmitt von den NS-Behrden mit weitreichenden Auftrgen zur Entwicklung des neuen Jagdflugzeugs Messerschmitt Bf 109 bedacht. One of the first designs, the Messerschmitt M20, was a near-catastrophe for the designer and the company. On Aug. 17, the targets were Schweinfurt (against the ball-bearing plants) and Regensburg (against the Messerschmitt fighter factory), deep inside Germany. In the Flossenbuerg factory of the DEST the Messerschmitt Company produced parts for the ME 109 fighter plane. While the aircraft was heavily damaged, the pilot managed to survive. [warbirdphotographs.com]The Scheuchschlepper essentially fulfilled two roles. Theater Censor ETOUSA. EKdo 16 began receiving the first operational Me 163Bs only in July, or February of 1943. The problem with fuel was even complicated by the increase in production of the Me 163. Click here for frequently asked questions regarding items permitted inside the museum. Messerschmitt AG ( German pronunciation: [msmt]) was a German share-ownership limited, aircraft manufacturing corporation named after its chief designer Willy Messerschmitt from mid-July 1938 onwards, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, in particular the Bf 109 and Me 262. While Olejnik suggested using a drum magazine, which was even tested successfully, his idea would not be adopted. The number of prisoners working for Messerschmitt increased greatly after the bombing of Messerschmitt's Regensburg plant on 17 August 1943. . Finally, for the Me 163 production aircraft, the improved HWK-509 engine was chosen. Klemm was also tasked with providing additional workers for Messerschmitt. The EG was designed with a coaxial rotor configuration and had an ambitious performance estimation. [8][9][10] The 4th Bombardment Wing, using B-17s equipped with "Tokyo (fuel) tanks" for longer range, would attack the Messerschmitt Bf 109 plants in Regensburg and then fly on to bases in Bne, Berteaux and Telergma (French Algeria). During his flight, he attempted twice to attack Allied bombers but failed to properly engage them. Delays in delivering essential parts, such as weapons, caused setbacks in the Klemm Me 163 production. One of the first few Me 163B prototypes built. Facebook: @planeencyclopedia In April and May, 1./JG 400 took delivery of a group of 10 aircraft, but one had to be returned to Klemm for modifications. On the 21st of April Olejnik had an accident during a forced landing where he spent some time in hospital thereafter. [luftwaffephotos.com]While this takeoff and landing system offered the desired reduction in weight, it was not without its problems. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Insgesamt wurden mit 7Flugzeugen pro Tag ca. Maj.Gen. [militaryimages.net]Following the successful testing of the previous Me 163A series, the Germans began developing a new improved version that was intended for operational use. For the "Black Thursday" second bombing of Schweinfurt on 14 October, see, Sources vary as the number lost. The development of a network of supporting airfields for the Me 163 was also never completed. To split the German defense, these raids were supposed to occur simultaneously, with the Regensburg force landing at airfields in North Africa. The most obvious change was the completely redesigned fuselage, which was larger and had an overall more aerodynamic shape. 84", was flown on the anniversary of the first daylight raid by the Eighth Air Force.[5]. In order to help circulate the fuel, two centrifugal pumps were placed inside the Me 163. At the start of September, Luftwaffe Generalmajor Adolf Galland told EKdo 16s Commander Hauptmann Thaler, that the unit was to be disbanded and all personnel and equipment were to be relocated to Brandis. August 1943 mittags mit 146 B-17-Bombern. The tail wheel may have been the long or short variety. Dort gab es sogar einen nicht ausgelasteten Flugplatz. A few days later, another accident occurred when the towing aircraft lost power to one of its engines. Das Werk wurde ab 1943 durch Luftangriffe nahezu vllig zerstrt. P.R.U. The Schweinfurt portion of the mission also formed the framework for the novel The War Lover, by John Hersey. For this reason, the Me 163 was tested with some experimental weapon systems. The 1st Bombardment Wing, which included all of the original B-17 groups, was based in the English Midlands while the 4th Bombardment Wing stations were located in East Anglia. 203 civilians were also killed in the strike. For this reason, several submarines were to transport parts of a disassembled Me 163B to Japan. To increase the firepower these would be replaced with the stronger 30 mm MK 108 cannons. I have all of these wagon sets - from Liliput, Marklin, and Trix - of transported and disassembled Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters (plus the new 2009 Marklin releases on order) and have nowhere for these train consists to originate. The reason for this was the lack of sufficient water supply which was essential for flushing the Me 163 fuel tanks in order to avoid any accidental explosion. The actual flight could be much longer, however, since at sufficient altitude, the pilot could switch off the engine, and reactivate it as needed. Given that the Me 163 operated in late 1944 were shortages of all kinds of equipment and materials were common, this should not come as a surprise. However, for the second half of the war, Messerschmitt turned almost entirely to jet-powered designs, producing the world's first operational jet fighter, the Me 262 Schwalbe ("Swallow"). With LeMay escaping over the Alps, the Schweinfurt force would be left to face the full fury of the Luftwaffe on its return to England. For example on the 16th March, an Me 163 managed to damage another Mosquito on a reconnaissance mission. In its inventory, there were some 12 fully operational Me 163 available. The production of Me 163 was initially allocated to the Messerschmitt Regensburg factory. 27 Jun 1944. 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