A question for veteran B-17 Sam

Sam :

Can you share with us if you and your crew ever encountered Me 262's during the 1945 operations over Germany ?

thank you

Erich

 

Just for interest before Sam replies, at the Thorpe Abbotts 100th BG reunion last summer I spoke to Richard Long, waist gunner of B-17 43-38963, piloted by Lawrence Bazin on a raid to Burg-Bei-Magdeburg on 10th April, 1945.

The target was apparently 'a jet airfield' but as the 100th aapproached the target their formation was attacked by 'seven Me262s'.

The Bazin 'plane was hit by fire from two Me262s causing the right wing with engines three and four to burst into flames.

Mr Long vividly described how he suddenly found himself falling from the sky - the B17 had literally broken up around him. He was lucky - four of the crew, including Bazin, didn't escape from the stricken Fortress.

A nice touch - as I proferred my copy of 'Century Bombers' for signing, Mr Long winked and said, slowly, 'You'll find me on page 197'.

And, sure enough.....

 

Wow, what a special story Martin ! and you will be interested to note that the Burg Flügplatz was in operation by none other than 10./NJG 11 which lost most of their Me 262's both single seat and the twin seat/radar equipped birds. One of the vets we know and have extensively interviewed just waited for it all to happen. He watched the B-17's get closer and closer and the alarm really came to late for the a/c but everyone was able to get into make-shift dugouts. Nearly all his personal possessions were evaporated during the bombing.....

 

Erich - Perhaps you should read by post under Luftwaffe Aces before you read this.
Sorry to disappoint you but fortunately I saw few 262's as I finished my tour over Berlin on 3Feb45. Prior to that I did see 262's out of range from time to time, but they did not attack our Group. Some of the guys claimed they saw some on 26Nov44 when we were hit on our way to Altenbeken, but all I saw was a shithousefull of Focke-Wulfs.

 

Thanks for the reply Sam.....

E

 

Erich congrats to your 3,001st posting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!