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Bf 109G-10/U4, WNr. 613165, 101. Puma vadászrepülö osztály, Neubiberg, Germany, May 1945
Bf 109G-10/U4, II./JG 52, Brno, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, April 1945
In the end of May 1945, the remaining Hungarian
air units were concentrated on the Tulln airport
in Austria from where they flew the missions
over Wien and Brno areas. On April 5, when
the frontline approached Tulln, these units
transferred to the Raffelding airfield from
where they continued to fly sorties to support
the ground units around Wien. At the end of war
the Hungarian aviators, same as their German
colleagues, preferred to surrender to the US
Army, therefore, on May 8, 1945, 101. osztály pilots
flew the remaining aircraft over to the Bavarian
Neubiberg. The aircraft manufactured in the
Diana factory were camouflaged with the same
colors as the aircraft manufactured in Wiener
Neustadt. The photographs of black 16 show that
the Hungarian national insignias were spray-
painted directly on the camouflage, the German
markings were not applied at all.
In the final weeks of fighting in Austria and
Moravia in the spring of 1945, Luftwaffe fighter
units were also being disbanded in this part of
the European battlefield. First, II./JG 51 was
disbanded on April 12, and five days later, the
same fate afflicted I./JG 53. The aircraft marked
White 11 (produced in the Wiener Neustädter
Werke factory) was transferred to 7./JG 52,
commanded by Heinz Ewald. The Messerschmitt
had the inscription Rosemarie under the
cockpit and sported repainted insignia of
JG 53 and II./JG 51. Ofw. Richter flew White 11 into
American captivity at Neubiberg on May 8, 1945,
although he was not member of II./JG 52. Heinz
Ewald was released from American captivity
in Fürstenfeldbruck on June 22, 1945.
KITS 09/2024
INFO Eduard
39
September 2024