That morning a signal went from 1.(F)/123 to Obltn. Sommer describing the “new set-up”:

Götz was taking over as Staffelkapitän of 1./(F)123.

Sommer was to take over as Staffelführer of the 1. Staffel [Versuchsverband OKL] and “after the aircraft have been handed over" [to 1.(F)/100?] was to go with the remainder of the equipment and personnel to Kaltenkirchen.

Oblt. Werner Muffey would take Ar 234 “HH” to Lechfeld and thence to Osoppo, as leader of Kdo. Süd [South].

RAF Bomber Command made its one Main Force attack on Worms, with 349 aircraft.

Witnessing the raid from his quarters in nearby Biblis, Erich Sommer set off on a motorcycle to offer what help he could. While doing this he broke a finger which was set in a plaster cast and reset twice more after he dislocated it while flying.

The 1./Staffel Versuchsverband OKL signalled to Obltn. Sommer to ask when his arrival in Kaltenkirchen could be expected for an urgent conference "regarding handing-over."

Horst Götz was posted to 1.(F)/123 as Staffelkapitän, according to Gen.d.A.'s War Diary.

Capitano Mario Bellagambi of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana wrote in his diary (left):

"Rest. Training flights. The Doctor goes to Pordenone.

A Turbin Jäger [jet fighter] has arrived."

Cap. Bellagambi commanded the Bf 109-equipped 5ª Sq. of IIº Gruppo Caccia, which was based in Osoppo at this time. His is the earliest mention of a jet aircraft reaching an Italian airfield.

The Luftwaffe's disposition map for this date notes:

"Sd. Kdo. Götz (Ar 234) i.Z."

In other words: "Special Detachment Götz (Ar 234) being brought in."

The aerodrome at Burg radioed to Erich Sommer that a take-off (presumably Gniesmer’s but see below) had been delayed by bad weather but that he would be informed as soon as ferrying conditions for Biblis were good.

This casts some doubt Sommer’s own recollection that he first learned on the 28th that he would be taking over the Italian-based Kommando. If he was not yet involved, why was he already receiving bulletins on the new unit’s progress? Whichever date is correct, the plan to send Werner Muffey to Osoppo lasted only a week at the outside and it is not clear why it was changed. Indeed the news that he was to have taken command in Italy was never communicated to Muffey, as he confirmed in a letter to the author.

Gen. d. A’s war diary noted Kdo. Götz’s report that the first Ar 234 had arrived in Osoppo on the 24th. This was repeated in file note of the 26th along with the information that two Ar 234s were ready to take off in Oranienburg and would leave as soon as the weather and the air situation allowed.

According to a post-war British translation of an OKL document, as of this date:

An Ar 234 of Götz reconnaissance unit now in transit to Italy has already arrived at its destination, while another Ar 234 of Einsatzkommando 1.(F)/5 has arrived at Stavanger. Thus, modern jet reconnaissance aircraft are available in Italy and Norway.

The rest of the evidence points to these reports of an Ar 234 in Osoppo being premature. Equally, if the two machines ready in Oranienburg were those of Stabsfw. Arnold (see below) and Gniesmer, that information was a few days old.

Sommer was notified of Gniesmer and Arnold’s arrival on the Bavarian airfields and that they would carry on to their destination airfield, which had a 1500 metre runway, when the weather improved.

A message at 14.40 hrs. advised that Oblt. Sommer was to depart tomorrow [from Biblis?].

Replying to a signal from Sommer that day, Gniesmer advised that he had arrived “here” — almost certainly Osoppo — and that everything was prepared. He went on to ask when the Kommando would arrive. What is not certain is whether Gniesmer's report was made on the day of his arrival or with some delay.

An intercepted message whose author was not identified advised that Sommer was to depart on 1 March. This would appear to refer to his journey from Biblis to Kaltenkirchen. It is not clear when Arnold flew south over the Alps.

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QUESTIONS

Which HH was Oblt. Muffey to use? Potentially there were three Ar 234s in the West with this code: T9+HH (the most likely choice, a Versuchsverband machine which Muffey had flown operationally on 14 February); 4U+HH (belonging to the unit which sent the signal about Muffey's proposed transfer); or T5+HH of 1.(F)/100 (which was in Biblis with Sommer).

Just when did the first Ar 234 arrive in Italy and who was flying it? The sources contradict one another and they cannot all be right; were people reporting events promptly?

When did Stabsfelwebel Arnold fly from Riem to Italy? Neither his departure nor arrival is recorded in the signals traffic and his Flugbuch cannot be relied upon.