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for a profile maker is that constantly new photos is popping up, enabeling me to make new profiles, A melancholic fact is that sometimes a new photo is emerge of a machine made in the past, like of this Bf 109 K-4 Chevron 1 from JG 52, of Stab II.JG 52 surrendered at Neubiberg. This new photo the emerged a month ago, is much cleared with additional details, compered to the one I used in the past, a blurred distant overexposed photo. So please compere my 2022 version published in profile Book No 13 to my new December 2024 version. Hauptmann Wilhelm "Willi" Batz, the Kommandeur of II./JG 52, was able to extricate his Gruppe from Hungary and to return to the Reich, more specifically Austria. The Western Allies were closing in and entered Austria in early April of 1945, with the 11th US Armor Division advancing from the north and from the east armies of the Soviet 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Front. With the hard-pressed German defenders staring down the barrel, II./JG 52, now based at Wien-Aspen, found themselves right in the path of the Soviets. Here they flew fighter sweeps and escort missions for Ju 87 Stukas and Hs 129s. The enemy aircraft often appeared in large numbers of up to 30 machines resulting in fewer claims and higher losses though most of the latter were due to accidents. Indeed, Wien-Aspen's concrete landing-strip was unfamiliar to the Eastern Front flyers of JG 52 accustomed to grass fields thus resulting in 13 damaged machines. As the Soviets approached Vienna, the Gruppe was forced to move to Seyring and a few days later to Fels am Wagram. Here II./JG 52 was based for over a week, flying an increasing number of missions, mostly fighter sweeps and escorts for Schlachtgruppen Fw 190s but also conducting its own strafing sorties. After a move to Brünn, the unit was soon back in Fels am Wagram. Then they were called to the north where US forces were advancing and on 17 April were based at Hörsching, 12 km southwest of Linz. Here the pilots conducted the same type of missions as before, although in some instances their Bf 109s were loaded with up with four 50 kg bombs to attack tanks and trucks. The Gruppe's last claim was filed on 24 April, when Lt. Düttmann destroyed a Sherman tank 5 km southwest of Chan. This victory was to be filed as Düttman's 151st, included in the 3,530 total Abschüsse for II./JG 52. Thereafter the Gruppe relocated another three times finally ending up in Zeltweg where JG 52's personnel learned of the Wehrmacht's unconditional surrender. To avoid falling into Soviet hands the order was given to fly all available aircraft over to US-held territory. The remainder of the unit was to travel by road in an effort to surrender to the "right" enemy. The remnants of the Gruppe finally landed at Neubiberg air base just south of München. By making this last flight Major Batz and his Gruppe including the pilot of this aircraft Lt. Willy van de Kamp were thus able to elude Soviet captivity and were the only unit within JG 52 to do so. Willi van de Kamp was a long serving member of JG 52, arriving in May of 1943 as a Leutnant and posted to the 5. Staffel. Here he would score his first and victory on 5 September 1943, a VVS Yak-1. Thereafter he was posted to JG 54 only to be transferred back to JG 52 as the Adjutant of II./JG 52 on 9 May 1944. Arriving back to his old unit with only one confirmed victory under his belt he was considered as one of the less successful pilot in the Gruppe. His remedy was to o "rename" Staffelvictories to his own person. However this was eventually discovered by his Gruppen Kommandeur Barkhorn who put an end to his "little game". And then on 26 June he was injured crashing his Bf 109 G-6 on landing at Mamaia in Romania. Then in on 2 August 1944, Lt. van de Kamp was injured once more when he was forced to make a belly-landing in his Bf 109 G-6 "Chevron 1" 2 km southeast of Mizil. Following a lengthy hospital stay, he was back in February of 1945, with the II. Gruppe's Stab taking up his position as Adjutant. Lt. van de Kamp's K-4's
camouflage was similar to another II. Gruppe Stab aircraft, "Chevron
2", flown out this day by Uffz. Anton Kellmeier. Photos
of "Black Chevron 1" reveal its "offensive scheme"
camouflage consisted of a RLM 74/75 combination. Common with
other JG 52 machines was the yellow Luftflotte 4 recognition
marking on the rudder and front part of the engine cowling, a
remnant from the battles over Hungary. |
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