10 January 1945

Strength return from 1./NAG 1 at Herzogenaurach:

Bf 109 G-5

2 (1)

Bf 109 G-6

6 (6)

Bf 109 G-8

1 (1)

Ar 96 B-7

1 (1)

Crews: 3 (1), none of them operational.

Note: Stab and 2./NAG 6 also filed reports from Herzogenaurach on this date. The former had one me 262 amongst its complement of aircraft.

22 January 1945

Gen. d. A. notes that Hauptmann Werner Wilke is being transferred from commanding NAG 12 in Yugoslavia to take over as Kommandeur of NAG 1.

18 February 1945

Stab NAG 1 ordered to transfer to Hennef near Bonn.

23 February 1945

The day’s entry in the War Diary of the General der Auklärungsflieger notes that Oblt. Knoll, Staffelapitän of 1./NAG 1 has been killed in a crash near Lechfeld.

Conversely, the General Quartiermeister 6. Abteilung recorded this crash as taking place on 21 February, Knoll’s rank as Leutnant and the unit as 2./NAG 6. The aircraft as WNr. 110565.

2 March 1945

Gen. d. A. notes Stab NAG 1’s destination as Hennef-Sieg.

4 March 1945

Gen. d. A. records a change of destination for Staffeln re-equipping [presumably with the Me 262]: Stab NAG 1 is to go to Lippe.

9 March 1945

Gen. d. A. notes that 1./NAG 1 is to be brought up to Rhein-Main.

14 March 1945

Gen. d. A. diary entry: 1./NAG 1 is to transfer from Herzogenaurach to Rhein-Main.

15 March 1945

Luftflotte Reich signals that that ground elements of 1./NAG 1 are being transferred from Herzogenaurach to Rhein-Main. On arrival, the Staffel is to be subordinated in all respects, to Luftwaffenkommando West. Flying elements will be brought up later after conclusion of their training and allocation of their Me 262s.

Reading this signal, Allied Intelligence noted that 1./NAG 1 had apparently not been operational since its was renamed from 1.(F)/121 in November 1944 and that this was the first reference they had seen to its impending equipment with Me 262.

20 March 1945

Gen. d. A. records that 1./NAG 1’s destination is now Fritzlar-Nord.

23 March 1945

Gen. d. A. notes that Stab NAG 1 and 1./NAG 13 are to be re-equipped with the Me 262 in Lechfeld and that the Chief of Supply will be asked to make the first allocation of equipment.

25 March 1945

Gen. d. A. notes that 1./NAG 1 is expected to transfer to its new operational base at Fritzlar-Nord today.

3 April 1945

Hauptmann Dünkel of 1./NAG 1 in Lechfeld signals his Gruppenkommandeur Maj. Wilke at Zerbst that the unit will transfer to Jüterbog-Waldlager since Zerbst is unserviceable. However, the “Re-training Company for NA [Nahaufklärer] at Lechfeld is told on the same day by Zerbst’s base command that all NAG 1’s serviceable Me 262s are to be ferried there.

5 April 1945

Major Wilke signals that 1./NAG 1 will be ready for operations the following day in Zerbst, with seven reconnaissance Me 262s on strength. He sees the Me 262 as the only aircraft which can bring back information on enemy activity in the Horbach – Giessen – Frankfurt area (entailing a round trip of about 700 km.)

Wilke goes on to request that more Me 262s should be allocated to 1./NAG 1 so that this new capability may be maintained “in the event of several aircraft being lost.” Looking ahead, he notes that the reconnaissance model is unarmed and proposes that each of these machines should operate in a Rotte with a fighter Me 262, “since an attack by a few Me 262s on enemy fighters and reconnaissance aircraft would cause the enemy extreme uneasiness and uncertainty whereby with luck some respite can be obtained for employing orthodox reconnaissance aircraft.” Accordingly he requests the urgent allocation of three or four jet fighters for 1./NAG 1.

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