Cheers Brian
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At dusk on the evening of 16 April 1945,
Flugplatz Ruggell received an unexpected visitor. As the light faded, a Messerschmitt fighter approached the airfield with its undercarriage down and landing lights on. Somewhat embarassingly for the '
Flabtruppen', the low-flying Luftwaffe aircraft wasn't even noticed until it was on final approach. After landing, the German pilot taxiied over to where the
Habichte were parked, switched off, and immediately requested asylum in the Principality of Liechtenstein.
The alien aircraft - a Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2, seemingly employed by the Luftwaffe as a fighter-trainer - was quickly pushed into the cover of the barn used by the AFL-LFB for
Habicht maintenance at Ruggell. That may have been unnecessary. Apparently, German authorities had no idea what had become of their fighter-trainer. It may have crashed somewhere in the Austrian Alps, it may have been shot down by the Allied fighters plaguing Austrian skies, or the pilot may have deserted and flown to Switzerland. An informal Luftwaffe query was sent to Switzerland but it never seems to have occurred to German officialdom that the Messerschmiirtt might have landed safely in Liechtenstein.
The identity and origin of the Bf 109G-2 pilot has never been revealed but he is believed to have been an instructor at a Luftwaffe training base in Austria. Likewise, no details were revealed for two further Luftwaffe pilots interned in Liechtenstein. These two landed a pair of Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6s at
Flugplatz Schaan in quick succession on the morning of 02 May 1945. Again, the German fighters were quickly hidden and no German enquiries were ever made to Liechtensteinische authorities. By then, all was in chaos for the Germans and the collapse of the Third Reich imminent.
The 'gift' of these German fighters was well-timed for the AFL-LFB. The
Habichte fleet was on its last legs and plans were quickly put into place to restore the Messerschmitts to take over the
Flugplatz Ruggell detachment. This would free up the
Habichte airframes in poorest condition for desperately-needed cannibalization. With the war in Europe at an end, work on the Messerschmitts could proceed more openly. Sources of spares proved tricky. The Swiss had supply problems for their own Messerschmitt fighters and could be of no assistance. [1] The ALF-LFB would have to look further afield.
Frustratingly, the ALF-LFB had no access to the vasts stocks of idle Bf 109s and their parts now scattered across the former wartime airfields of central Europe. As it happened, the region of Austria bordering Liechtenstein was to become the French-occupied zone. It was time for diplomatic manoeuvring. First it was acknowledged that the Fürstentum Liechtenstein was in possession of former French fighter aircraft. The Principality now offered to return those ex-Armée de l'Air Curtiss H75A fighters to their rightful owners. Vaduz was thanked for its offer but Paris saw no need for the
Hawk fighters to be returned. The next missive from Vaduz enquired as to whether the French would be willing to sell surplus aircraft parts to Liechtenstein.
The French reply was that no Curtiss components were available in the
Métropole - all H75As had been sent to North Africa early in WW2. [2] On the other hand, Paris was more than happy to supply ex-Luftwaffe aircraft and parts from the French-occupied zones of Germany or Austria. This resulted in the sale of two more Bf 109G-6 fighters, six Arado Ar 96B armed as attack aircraft, [3] two Fieseler Fi 156 observation aircraft, and stocks of spares for all three types. It had now been concluded that a pair of
Habichte could be kept airworthy by sacrificing the rest of the fleet. [4] So, the post-war ALF-LFB fleet would consist of three Messerschmitts (with one held in reserve), two H75As, four Ar 96Bs (with two in reserve), and a pair of
Storchs.
Top The ALF-LFB's sole Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 in Liechtenstein's postwar markings. The Prince's crest - a patronage symbol for JSt4 - is worn on the cowling. Note that this fighter is missing its reflector DF loop.
Bottom Curtiss H75A-1
Habicht (3810) fighter-trainer of ALF-LFB
Jäger-Schule. This aircraft wears postwar roundels but retains its wartime rudder stripes. Note that 3810 is missing its Baille-Lemairie gun sight (although ring-and-bead sights are mounted).
Under local political pressure,
Flugplatz Ruggell was closed in October 1945.
Flugplatz Schaan was going to become a busy place. From late 1945, basic pilot training was performed at private flying schools in Switzerland. The
Habichte were struck off in early 1947 and the surviving four Ar 96Bs moved to an advanced training role. The attack role was transferred to the Messerschmitts of JSt2 but these fighters rarely had bomb racks mounted. By 1950, the combat fleet had dwindled to two airworthy Bf 109s - the 'G-2 and a 'G-6 - three Ar 96Bs, and two Fi 156s (one a replacement bought in Austria). After another fatal Ar 96B crash in March 1951, the Arados were phased out.
To remain effective, the ALF-LFB required a fleet-wide replacement programme. But, five years after the end of the European war, many in neutral Liechtenstein were questioning whether their nation really needed an air force. The tensions building along the Iron Curtain seemed a long distance away from little Liechtenstein. In September 1951, the Landtag put the question to a vote. With a three-quarter majority, it was decided to disband the ALF-LFB at the end of 1951. By November, all operational flying had ceased. All aircraft were disposed of for scrap except for the two Fieselers - these were refurbished in civil markings, operating as air ambulances until finally being replaced by SE 313
Alouette helicopters in the Summer of 1960.
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[1] Now that the war in Europe was over, the Swiss were also anxious to end their agreement to train ALF-LFB pilots and erks.
[2] This explanation made sense but French reasons for refusing to export 7.5 mm Mle 38 machine guns was harder to fathom.
[3] The Arados filled the gap left when the last Fokker C.V-E had to be retired in late 1943.
[4] By this stage, the FN-Browning Mle 38 guns had been rebuilt to fire the same 7.92 mm rounds as the Bf 109G-2.