Messerschmitt Me 410 flown by 3./ZG 26, June /July 1944

 

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Markings:
 
Messerschmitt Me 410, 3./ZG 26, 3U+KL, Reichsverteidigung June / July 1944

Additional informations:
 
Starting in the fall of 1943, the Messerschmitt Me 410 "Zerstörer" was used against incoming US bomber units in the Berlin area. They were far outgunned by the U.S. fighter escorts and considerable losses resulted. In March 1944, the I./ZG 26 converted from Bf 110 to Me 410. Presumably for better camouflage on the ground, in June / July 1944, the standard RLM 74/75/76 paint scheme was given additional meanders in RLM 82 dark green, which were pulled far down the sides of the fuselage. Contrary to the usual marking, the squadron identification "3U" was applied behind the fuselage cross, and the aircraft letter and squadron letter in front of the fuselage cross. The engine letter "K" was in the squadron color yellow and the spinner was provided with a spiral.

 

Acknowledgments:

The base drawing was made by Otterkins2. Thank you for the kind permission to use your drawings.

 

References / profiles:

 

This colour profile was published in the book

 

Luftwaffe im Focus

Edition 31 - 2021

Axel Urbanke

Luftfahrtverlag Start

ISBN 978-3-941437-48-7

 

 

A big "Thank you" to Axel Urbanke, for the possibility to publish my artwork within his great publication series. The text published here is a short summary of the article in the magazine. The accompanying photos and more information can be found in the article.

Heinkel He 162 M6, W.Nr. 200006, VI+IF, Schwechat-Heidfeld, January 1945

 

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Markings:

Heinkel He 162 M6, W.Nr. 200006, VI+IF, Schwechat-Heidfeld, January 1945

Additional informations:
 
On January 17, 1945, the fuselage of the He 162 M6, manufactured at the Languste plant, arrived at Schwechat-Heidfeld. The first flight took place on January 23, 1945, under the command of Dipl.-Ing. Schuck. During further flights by Director Fancke, Fliegerstabsingenieur Bader, First Lieutenant Wedemeyer, and pilots Seling and Pawolka, the main complaint was that the play in the controls was much too large. Stronger spring bodies were subsequently installed and flight operations resumed on Jan. 27, 1945. Testing with extended rudder and aileron began at the end of the month. As a result, the aircraft pulled sharply to the left. Springs placed in the center position were to remedy the situation. On February 2, the aircraft with Gerhard Full crashed on landing. After about 100 meters of taxiing, the nose wheel retracted on its own and damaged the nose wheel flap and the wooden nose cone. After repairs were completed, First Lieutenant Georg Wedemeyer crashed on February 4, 1945 as a result of an engine failure and was killed. The He 162 M6 was completely painted in RLM 02 colors. The Balkenkreuze were applied in a very minimalistic manner and did not meet the specifications of the time. The color profile shows the aircraft at the beginning of its testing without the conversion measures. There was no nationality insignia on the vertical stabilizer at this time.   

References / profiles:

Heinkel Strahlflugzeug
He 162 "Volksjäger"
Entwicklung, Produktion und Einsatz
Manfred Griehl

Stedinger Verlag Lemwerder

ISBN 978-3-927 697-50-8

 

Acknowledgments:

My special thanks go to Miroslav Bily and Michal Bradac for the kind permission to use their drawings as base for my work. They were taken from Miroslav Balous and Miroslav Bily's publication:

Heinkel He 162 Spatz (Volksjäger)
MBI Publications
ISBN 80-86524-06-X