KITS 11/2022

Hptm. Wilhelm Johnen, 7./NJG 6, Neubiberg, Germany, 1945

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 coded 2Z+FR from 7./NJG

6 was one of the aircraft the Allies found at the

Neubiberg airport in the spring of 1945. Even though

according its codes it belonged to 7. Staffel it was

actually a personal aircraft of Wilhelm Johnen,

III./NJG 6 commander. This airplane is much less

known as the another Johnen’s aircraft coded C9+EN

in which he performed an emergency landing due

to the damaged engine at night April 27-28, 1944.

2Z+FR was his last aircraft from the later production,

equipped with the FuG 220 SN-2D antenna system

with dipoles fixed at 45 degrees, Eberspächer type

exhausts and Schräge Musik cannons. The camouflage was painted in RLM 76 on the lower and side

surfaces and RLM 75 on the upper surfaces. Those

were lightened by spraying the irregular „snakes“

in RLM 76 quite densely so only small patches

of darker color were visible.

WNr. 5427, Oblt. Ernst-Georg Drünkler, 2./NJG 5, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, June 1943

In October 1942 Oblt. Ernst-Georg Drünkler was

transferred to 1./NJG 1 and later to NJG 5. Bf 110G-4

coded C9+AK from 2./NJG 5 was equipped with FuG

202 antenna system and Eberspächer type exhausts.

The camouflage was painted in RLM 76 on the lowere and side surfaces, RLM 74 and RLM 75 on the

upper surfaces. During the night of June 12-13, 1943

the RAF Bomber Command dispatched 501 aircraft to

Bochum in the continued Battle of Rhurland, 323 of

the bombers were Avro Lancasters and 167 Handley

Page Halifaxes plus eleven Mosquitos. On that night

Oblt. Ernst-Georg Drünkler claimed his first two

aerial victories. During this mission on early morning

his Bf 110G-4 (serial number 5427) was damaged

by the bombers‘ defense fire resulting in the forced landing in the water canal at Bergervaart near

Bergen op Zoom. The airplane was destroyed.

WNr. 5547, Ofw. Helmut Treynogga & Uffz. Heinz Schwarz, 6./NJG 6, Stuttgart-Echterdingen, Germany, March 1944

On the night of March 15-16, 1944, after an unsuccessful attempt at intercepting the British bombers raiding Munich, Ofw. Helmut Treynogga lost the

orientation and due to the shortage of fuel landed at Dübendorf airport in Switzerland. Together

with his radio-operator Uffz. Heinz Schwarz he was

interned for five weeks during which time the

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INFO Eduard

aircraft equipped with FuG 202 radar was intensively

tested. After the return to Germany Ofw. Treynogga

was re-assigned to the night fighter unit. On the

night of June 4-5, 1944 he again lost the orientation over the Italian city of Graziano. He bailed out

but was found dead. Bf 110G-4 coded 2Z+OP which

Ofw. Treynogga landed in Switzerland was camouf-

laged in RLM 74 and RLM 75 on the upper and side

surfaces, the lower surfaces were sprayed in RLM

76 except of the lower starboard wing which was

painted black. The aircraft lacked two MG 151/20

cannons typically mounted on the lower fuselage.

November 2022