(continued)

6 April 1945

At 09.00 hours, 1./NAG 1 reports its strength as only 5 (3) aircraft. Also today, II./KG 51 reports that of the aircraft which have left its strength since 28 March no fewer than 12 have been ferried to Zerbst and that five more have gone missing en route. (KG 51 had recently been withdrawn from operations and subordinated to 7. Jagdddivision for transfer and further employment).

7 April 1945

The 1./NAG 1 puts up three sorties between 08.00 and 09.00 hrs. GMT, all of which are aborted with technical failures. A fourth aircraft is in the air from 08.05–08.56 hrs.on a photo-reconnaissance in the Mühlhausen – Langensazla – Gotha area.

Returning pilots report that Langensalza airfield is not destroyed and is occupied by 14 Bf 110, 8 Ju 188 and six wrecked aircraft; at Gotha were 7 Bf 110, all intact; while there is a lone four-engined aircraft on a landing strip south east of Mühlhausen. The road and rail bridge in the eastern part of this last town is destroyed but bridges around Langensalza appear undamaged.

8 April 1945

At 01.30 hrs. GMT the Staffel’s strength is reported as 4 (2) aircraft and 6 pilots (4 operational)

The 1./NAG 1 puts up four Me 262 photo-reconnaissance sorties during the day:

06.16–07.14 hrs.

area Korbach – Hallenberg – Bromskirchen

11.50–12.32 hrs.

area Höxter – Wanfried – Mühlhausen

14.04–14.47 hrs.

area south of Eschwege – Gotha – Erfurt

15.55–16.45 hrs.

area Mühlhausen – Gotha – Erfurt

From Branch Station Lechfeld, Maj. Kröchel reports to Luftflotte Reich the “Re-equipping Detachment Close Recce” is presently training at 8 pilots of 1./NAG 1 on an Me 262 borrowed from III./EJG 2.

It is reported that 1./NAG 1 is to share Altengrabow (about midway between Magdeburg and Potsdam) with the Gruppe’s 3. Staffel.

At 19.45 hrs. the 1. Staffel reports its strength as 7 pilots (5 operational) and 6 (4) Me 262 A-4. Two new aircraft have been added to its strength, WNr. 111100 [an unusual Werk Nummer if correct] and 500102 while the two unserviceable machines are WNr. 500540 and 500017.

9 April 1945

A signal at 23.00 hrs. announces that the Stab is to transfer to Zerbst and 2./NAG 1 will move to Körbelitz (around 12 km north east of Magdeburg).

Signals sent by the Staffel during the day refer to Hptm. Dünkel and Oblt. Krichrat; another sent three days later named Oblt. Lüchtrath as a pilot with the unit.

Query: is “Krichrat” perhaps an error for Lüchtrath?

10 April 1945

15. Fliegerdivision’s reconnaissance aircraft are charged with keeping a watch on the movement of enemy forces from the rear area to the front and the assembly of tank spearheads in the Göttingen – Mühlhausen – Gotha area. One Me 262 aborts its sortie because of bad weather while three more carry out visual and photo-reconnaissance as ordered.

Further missions operations are precluded by a heavy bomber attack on Zerbst at 14.00 hrs. and the last Me 262 to take off is forced to divert to Nürnberg for a landing. At 23.00 hrs. it is estimated that the damage will keep the airfield unserviceable for at least 48 hours.

12 April 1945

The threat from advancing American troops leads 1.NAG/1 to blow up “white 2” (Me 262 A-4, WNr. 500257) at Bernburg where it has been unserviceable for some days.

Note: the wreck of this machine is depicted (but not identified) in J.R. Smith & E.J. Creek "Jet Planes of the Third Reich": upper photo on page 141.

13 April 1945

Luftflotte Reich sets out the objectives for the following day’s reconnaissance:

Strength of spearhead of armoured wedge attacking towards the East between Magdeburg and Zwickau not completely ascertained. Bringing up of [Allied] reinforcements from rearward part of area west of the line Eschwege – Eisenach still possible. Supplementary bringing up from assembly areas, especially of artillery and infantry forces has begun with forming of Schwerpunkte not yet established.

Me 262s are to:

(1) fly battle reconnaissance mission to secure photographic coverage of a strip along the line Magdeburg – Schöneback – Bernburg – Halle – Leinpzig –Borna – Altenburg – Glauchau. The aim is to locate enemy forces moving up into the areas behind the main battlefield.

(2) undertake a tactical photo-reconnaissance of all main roads leading from the line Göttingen – Heiligenstadt – Eschwege – Eisenach – Ilmenau toward the North and East, to “locate all attempts of enemy to bring up reinforcements.”

(3) compile a photo-mosiac of the Elbe from Tangermünde to Dresden, to locate all bridges over the river.

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