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apophenia:
--- Quote from: Litvyak on December 18, 2021, 01:33:26 AM ---I hope the Arrow Astres didn't rust out as quickly as the Pontiac product of the same name!
--- End quote ---
;D Fortunately, Arrow got it right ... aluminum body, steel engine ;)
Back in the day, the neighbour of a friend lucked out on a complete recall for their hated Chevy Vega. Flush with cash, said neighbour rushed out and bought a brand-new Pontiac Astre. Go figure!
Litvyak:
Oooof... ;D though I actually have liked the look of the Astre since I was a kid.
apophenia:
Spinning off from Greg's Jagdverband 44 (JV 44) escapes to Switzerland at end of WWII ...
-- https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=10156.msg192952#msg192952
By 02 May 1945, Heinz Bär was under extreme pressure from Luftwaffe brass to relocated Jagdverband 44 to Prague (where JV 44 was to be redesignated IV./JG 7 to continue the fight). But the collapse was nearly complete and Oberstleutnant Bär knew it. Bär was being loyal to the creator of JV 44, Generalleutnant Adolf Galland (who was even then attempting to negotiate his unit's surrender to the Americans from his hospital bed). During the evening, Bär made his decision - he would feign agreement with the move to Prague. But, in the morning, willing JV44 personnel would instead fly into exile in Switzerland.
In its last act as Jagdverband 44, almost all serviceable aircraft took off from Salzburg-Maxglan before the sun rose on 03 May. Forming up over western Austria, the pilots then wheeled westward. Just after dawn, wing-waggling JV 44 aircraft with undercarriages down and landing lights turned on began their approaches to Militärflugplatz Mollis, less than 50 km from the Reich's border. Swiss authorities were caught completely off guard. But it took Swiss air force planners at Dübendorf little time to realize that, with this technological windfall, their country was about to enter the jet age!
After disarming, inspecting, and refueling the Me 262s, these jet fighters were transferred to the longer airstrip at Militärflugplatz Emmen - 75 km to the west. There, 'Heino' Bär and his staff pledge the oaths of Swiss citizenship. Then, with the Swiss rank of Oberst, Bär oversaw the official formation of Fliegerkompanie 22 in early September 1945. Switzerland's first jet fighters were operational. But Swiss authorities were less certain as to what to do with these jets' former Platzschutzschwarm. The Swiss had decided that the former German unit should be separated by aircraft type to better maintain control.
To that end, the former JV 44 Focke Wulf Fw-190Ds remained at Militärflugplatz Mollis where they were assigned to Fliegerkompanie 20 (alongside D-3801 Moranes). The 'Dora Staffel' remained under the command of Heinz Sachsenberg (now raised to the Swiss rank of Major). Through the Summer of 1945, the Fw 190Ds were refurbished and stripped of their camouflage and German markings. In the Swiss scheme of all-over aluminized paint with black anti-glare panels, the restored 'Doras' entered full operational service with the Schweizer Luftwaffe on 01 September 1945.
(Top) Mjr Sachsenberg's J-913 of Fl Kp 20 at Mollis, November 1945. As shown, this 'Dora' briefly wore Sachsenberg's personal colours on its spinner (later repainted entirely in Swiss red). As C/O, Sachsenberg was entitled to wear the Fl Kp 20 badge on his aircraft's fin.
At this stage, Swiss underwing markings were squares not circles. Note that this aircraft also has a black panel along the fuselage to camouflage exhaust staining.
(Bottom) J-919 of Fl St 20 in late 1948. [1] The fighter is seen in exercise colours (red fuselage band) while visiting Militärflugplatz Emmen. National markings have now changes to circular roundels but bold ID flashes are worn on the starboard wings. Fl St 20 cowling and spinner colours (red and white) have also now been standardized.
This aircraft lost power on take-off from Militärflugplatz Mollis in February 1949, with no way to safely return to Mollis and no alternate landing ground, Hptm Klaus Faber ditched the stricken fighter in the Walensee. The wreckage of J-919 was recovered but, ultimately, would be broken up for spares.
____________________________________
[1] The Fliegerkompanies became Fliegerstaffels in 1948. Prior to the Focke Wulfs, Fl Kp 20 had flown D-3800 Moranes.
GTX_Admin:
:smiley:
ysi_maniac:
Me too!
:smiley: :smiley: :-* :-*
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