During the last 20 years Ing. Kurt Steiner had been restoring a Bf 109 to complete condition. It represents the aircraft flown by Unteroffizier Herbert Maxis, who was killed by U.S. troops after he had to make a forced landing during the operation "Bodenplatte" January 1945.
On 1 January 1945, during operation "Bodenplatte", the German Luftwaffe launched a surprising blow against Allied ground targets. Fighter Group JG 53 had orders to attack the airport at Frescaty near Metz. Before reaching the target NCO Herbert Maxis (born 1920) from Friedrichshütte in Upper Silesia of Group IV got in trouble and emergency landed near Oberfelsberg. He has been MIA since then.
Responsible for this crash was American soldier Flenory Griggs of 455th AAA AW (M) Bn., 'A' Battery which was stationed at Düren to protect American field artillery. He hit Maxis' Messerschmitt plane with machine gun fire and forced him down only 200 yards from his position. Hints given by members of this American unit indicate that Maxis was shot when he wanted to leave his plane by approaching artillery men who mistakenly believed he was going to pull a pistol though he actually just wanted to press his hand against a body wound.
If you ever come near Vienna, you could visit the Aviaticum in Wiener Neustadt (60km from Vienna at the airodrome Wiener Neustadt Ost).
Pics: ( text in German; Adler help!!! )
Luftfahrtforum Österreich :: Thema anzeigen - Me 109 im Aviaticum Wr. Neustadt
On 1 January 1945, during operation "Bodenplatte", the German Luftwaffe launched a surprising blow against Allied ground targets. Fighter Group JG 53 had orders to attack the airport at Frescaty near Metz. Before reaching the target NCO Herbert Maxis (born 1920) from Friedrichshütte in Upper Silesia of Group IV got in trouble and emergency landed near Oberfelsberg. He has been MIA since then.
Responsible for this crash was American soldier Flenory Griggs of 455th AAA AW (M) Bn., 'A' Battery which was stationed at Düren to protect American field artillery. He hit Maxis' Messerschmitt plane with machine gun fire and forced him down only 200 yards from his position. Hints given by members of this American unit indicate that Maxis was shot when he wanted to leave his plane by approaching artillery men who mistakenly believed he was going to pull a pistol though he actually just wanted to press his hand against a body wound.
If you ever come near Vienna, you could visit the Aviaticum in Wiener Neustadt (60km from Vienna at the airodrome Wiener Neustadt Ost).
Pics: ( text in German; Adler help!!! )
Luftfahrtforum Österreich :: Thema anzeigen - Me 109 im Aviaticum Wr. Neustadt