1944 Aircraft: Spifire XIV, Tempest V, Me 262, Fw 190D-9

[funked]

A lot of B.S. is flying around on the other threads about these planes.  I thought some of us might enjoy a refreshing diversion in to the world of facts.

Me 262:
The first deployment of the Me 262 with an operational fighter unit was on July 20 1944, with Kommando Nowotny.  The unit had 15 aircraft of which 2 to 4 were operational at any time.  First kills were acheived against recon aircraft during August.

Tempest Mk. V:
The "Tempest Wing", with Nos 3 and 486 Sqns flying Tempests, was declared operational on 7 May, 1944.  However 56 Sqn did not recieve aircraft immediately, so the first combat (against Bf 109G) was delayed until 8 June 1944.

Fw 190D-9:
III./JG 54, under Hauptmann Robert "Bazi" Weiss, recieved the Fw 190D-9 in September 1944.  After learning their new mounts, the understrength Gruppe (only two Staffeln) was deployed in October at Achmer and Hespe, providing cover for Kommando Nowotny.

Spitfire XIV:
All I have on this bird is that it was delivered to operational Sqns starting in January 1944.  Somebody who knows Spitfires (I sure don't), please give us the date and unit of the Mk. XIV's entry into combat.

[Kieren]

...and please, can we keep it peaceful?  

[RAM]

LOL kieren  

Spits XIV deployed in January 44? I thought it was a tad later but not sure.

Still we have to agree on the V1 matter anyway   If we let V1s apart first combat missions by SpitXIVs were done over Normandy beaches...so June 1944 is the date you are searching for  

And yes, D9 was very late...more if we take in account that it could have been produced as soon as in late 1942...RLM was a really pissing off problem for Kurt Tank  


[This message has been edited by RAM (edited 06-27-2000).]

[funked]

So it looks like they all were in mass production and flying with REAL combat units (not training or development units) in 1944.  If anybody wants to argue about which plane was first or last, we know such an argument is only about a few months difference - a waste of breath IMHO.

RAM, if Tank had been given control of all fighter production... *shudders* ...8th AF would have lost a lot more than 26,000 men.



[This message has been edited by funked (edited 06-27-2000).]

[Pongo]

Those dates look right to me Funked.

[RAM]

 

Originally posted by funked:

RAM, if Tank had been given control of all fighter production... *shudders* ...8th AF would have lost a lot more than 26,000 men.

Yup...Fw190D9 in late 1942 and Ta152C maybe in mid'43 if DB603 behaved like it did in 1945  .

Thanks god for RLM ineptitude...War lasted much less because 8th's strategic bombing.

[Karnak]

610 Squadron "County of Chester" equipped with Spitfire MkXIVs on January 4th, 1944.
The info I've managed to find at work says that the Spit XIV was first used by 610 Squadron in the air campaign leading up to D-Day.  That would put its introduction to combat in April or May, but I don't have the exact date.

The first V-1s fall on Britain on 12 June 1944, so that would not have been its first use, regardless of whether or not we consider it combat.

Sisu
-Karnak

[funked]

Thanks Karnak.

[jmccaul]

Ok so which ones are we getting?

P.S. Any information on the Meteor III?

[Karnak]

I've heard rumors that we will eventually get the Spitfire MkXIV, the Fw190D-9, the Me262 and the Meteor MkIII but the rumor did not include any sort of timeframe, nor did it mention the Tempest.

Sisu
-Karnak

[danish]

Jets will ruin the arena.No fuss (and IMO ect ect), but jets in = I'm out.

danish

[Nath-BDP]

dbl


[This message has been edited by Nath-BDP (edited 06-27-2000).]

[Nath-BDP]

The first Meteor F.MK 1 squadron was No. 616 which was fully equipped by the end of July 1944 and scored its first kill, a V-1 in early August.

The Me 262 was superior to the Meteor Mk III in every respect though... 50 mph higher top speed, better armament, etc.

Kommado Nowotny was not the FIRST operational unit with the 262, that falls to Erprobungskommado 262 with Me 262A-0 aircraft, the first victories were 3 high-altitude photo-recon aircraft, a Mosquito and 2 F-5 Lightnings.

If Galland had been given control of the Luftwaffe alot more allied airmen would have lost their lives, imagine if the planned 'Der Grosse Schlag' had actually taken place, it was planned that 3,500 Luftwaffe aircraft would go in after Nowotny's 262 unit against allied bomber formations.  The 262s would break up the formation and cause havok with the escorts, while the conventional fighters would finish up, it was planned that they could destroy 500 allied bombers with the loss of 150 pilots and 300 aircraft.  However, Galland's plan was cut short with the wasteful efforts during Bodenplatte.


   

Josef Priller's D-9 of JG 26, January 45.


[This message has been edited by Nath-BDP (edited 06-30-2000).]

[funked]

Gorgeous pic Nath!  I know we already have one of Pips' aircraft in the game, but I wouldn't argue if HTC gave us that beauty.

I agree with you about Galland's ideas for defending the Reich.  Fortunately for the rest of the world, Hitler's cult kept men like him and Tank from being able to do their jobs properly.

I also agree that the 262 would be more than a match for the Meteor III.  It would be a lot like Spitfire V vs. Fw 190A-5 - a real challenge for the RAF pilot.

P.S. I said "operational fighter unit" not "service test unit."  My understanding (from the writings of Dr. Alfred Price) is that the kills of recon aircraft were achieved AFTER EKdo 262 had been renamed Kommando Nowotny.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 06-27-2000).]

[Pongo]

That is a beautifle artists conception(have the book too )
I have to say that I would take 4 fuse mounted hispanos over 4 mk108s anyday of the week.
What was the accelleration difference between the two?