World War II over Czech Territory books

Corrections of first edition

page 8, map scheme

Locations of KG(J) 27 air bases (south of Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren) are missing. Correct map is below.

page 74, column 1, paragraph 3, sentence 2

Wrong

Should the number indeed be W.Nr. 200461, then the plane was a Bf 109G-8/R5* manufactured by WNF plant in August 1944.

Correct

Should the number indeed be W.Nr. 201461, then the plane was a Bf 109G-8/R5* manufactured by WNF plant in August 1944.

page 112, localization of an image of Fw 190A-7 “Blue 17” of 4./EKG(J)

An observant reader of our book pointed out a mistake in the localization of an image of Fw 190A-7 “Blue 17” of 4./EKG(J). Our book stated that the aircraft was abandoned at Berlin-Tempelhof, while the airfield was actually Berlin-Gatow, as can be seen from the type and lay-out of hangars in the picture.

It is not quite clear, why “Blue 17” ended up at the airfield. The repair (engine replacement) referred to in the text, which would have been appropriate due to the presence of Fw 190 repair center at Tempelhof, seems unlikely, as there were no such establishments at Gatow. As a matter of fact, I./EKG(J) had no links to the location whatsoever.

On the other hand, once the unit was disbanded, its equipment was reassigned to other units and used for various purposes, including non-combat tasks. It is due to note, that Berlin-Gatow was the last operational airfield in Berlin, which was being used until 26th April 1945 at least. At night from 25th to 26th April, for instance, the last Luftwaffe commander, General Ritter von Greim, accompanied by Hana Reitsch landed at the base and then attempted to reach Hitler’s bunker in downtown Berlin in a Fi 156. In an interrogation after the war, Hana Reitsch recounted they had arrived at Gatow from Rechlin in a Fw 190.

We are not claiming that Fw 190A-7, “Blue 17” was the plane involved in this particular mission. Several Fw 190A, F, and D actually remained at the airfield together with a considerable number of other aircraft. On the other hand, the event provides an illustrative example of various purposes the airfield served at the end of the war.

Chapter correction:

“Errata and addenda to Messerschmitt Me 262s of KG and KG(J) units, II. Fighter umbrella over Me 262 airfields in Bohemia”, pages 146–156

Subsection:

“Bf 109K-4, “Red 7”, W.Nr. 331???; 10./JG 27, Prague-Kbely”, page 152

The subsection described a Bf 109K-4 of JG 27 left at Prague Kbely/Prag-Gbell (not at Prague Letnany/Prag-Letnian as incorrectly stated in the text). The following text is a corrected description of the aircraft based on additional information provided by our readers.

Based on personal talks with history fans interested in Prague-Kbely airbase who were fortunate to interview contemporary witnesses we can say that the actual marking of the aircraft was “Blue 7”. The blue colour of marking was characteristic of 12./JG 27. Therefore the correct title of the subsection is: “Bf 109K-4, “Blue 7”, W.Nr. 331???; 12./JG 27, Prague-Kbely”.

The contemporary witnesses were sure about only two more or less preserved “one-o-nines” at Kbely airfield in May 1945 – “Yellow 7” and “Blue 7”. “Yellow 7” was positively a Bf 109G-10/R6 of III./JG 300 (see “Messerschmitt Bf 109s of JG 52 in Deutsch Brod”, JaPo, page 52) – the drawing is attached.

“Blue 7” was abandoned at the southern edge of the airfield opposite to hangars and a water tower. Based on our current knowledge of camouflage of early Bf 109Ks we presume upper surfaces were covered with RLM 74/75. As RLM 83 was a dark blue paint applied on navy aircraft it couldn’t be used for day fighters. RLM 83 “Dunkelgrün” did not exist; the actual paint was most likely earlier RLM 74 “Grün-Grau”.

The changes above are captured in a new drawing of the aircraft.

We would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Miloslav Hrabáň from Kbely for providing recollections of the witnesses and for bringing discrepancies in our text to our attention.