Records for Jagdgeschwader 400

Yakoyakdiddy · Feb 9, 2025

Does anyone know where I could find records (particularly combat reports) for JG 400, who operated the Komet?
Even if it's only partial, and assuming it still exists, where might I be able to look?

I appreciate this might be a tall order, but anything that helps with leading to the right direction would be much appreciated.

Much obliged!

Yak

CHen10 · Feb 19, 2025

Do you want some victory claims? I don't have combat reports so unfortunately I can't show them to you, but let me know if you need the victory claims.

Snautzer01 · Feb 19, 2025

BAMA?

Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv (BA-MA)

Yakoyakdiddy · Mar 5, 2025

CHen10 said:
Do you want some victory claims? I don't have combat reports so unfortunately I can't show them to you, but let me know if you need the victory claims.

Apologies for the late response. Specifically, I would like to view Fritz Kelb's record for the 10th of April 1945. At least one Halifax, and one Lancaster were brought down that day, albeit from what I recall, they were officially brought down by flak. Kelb would not have known this, but an aircraft he attacked, Lancaster ME315/LQ-K of 405 Squadron, had its rear turret blown off in his attack, and he presumably assumed he destroyed it. Unbeknownst to him, it was actually able to return home, albeit with great difficulty, and the loss of the rear gunner.

There seems to be conflicting data because of the descriptions given "According to one witness a Me 163 destroyed a Halifax, which "blew up right in front of me"".
I would like to know definitively which aircraft was destroyed, if any. It could be that flak genuinely brought down two aircraft, and the aircraft which "blew up" was ME315.

CHen10 · Mar 11, 2025

Yakoyakdiddy said:
Apologies for the late response. Specifically, I would like to view Fritz Kelb's record for the 10th of April 1945. At least one Halifax, and one Lancaster were brought down that day, albeit from what I recall, they were officially brought down by flak. Kelb would not have known this, but an aircraft he attacked, Lancaster ME315/LQ-K of 405 Squadron, had its rear turret blown off in his attack, and he presumably assumed he destroyed it. Unbeknownst to him, it was actually able to return home, albeit with great difficulty, and the loss of the rear gunner.

There seems to be conflicting data because of the descriptions given "According to one witness a Me 163 destroyed a Halifax, which "blew up right in front of me"".
I would like to know definitively which aircraft was destroyed, if any. It could be that flak genuinely brought down two aircraft, and the aircraft which "blew up" was ME315.

I think you have solved it already. Sometimes pilots were mistaken about what shot them down. If they were attacked from behind in a brief sneak attack for example, it could be interpreted as an attack by flak.

Daggerr · Mar 12, 2025

Yakoyakdiddy said:
I would like to know definitively which aircraft was destroyed, if any. It could be that flak genuinely brought down two aircraft, and the aircraft which "blew up" was ME315.

ME315 did not blow op. It landed damaged and there is a photo of that:

Kelb's Me 163 was equipped with SG500 Jägerfaust and flew under the Lancaster firing 8 grenades simultaneously almost vertical upward, hitting the tail, killing the tail gunner, hitting also the H2S radar, and wounding the mid turret gunner above it. Mustangs chased the Me 163 away which landed safely at base. The landed Me 163 had many holes in it from metal pieces from the exploded grenades and Lancaster, and maybe from some Mustang bullets.

According to the book "THE R.C.A.F. OVERSEAS, THE SIXTH. YEAR" there were two bombers lost (one Lancaster and one Halifax) and only one combat with enemy fighters. The mentioned crew members from the downed bombers may help you in identifying these aircraft:

MikeMeech · Mar 12, 2025

Daggerr said:
ME315 did not blow op. It landed damaged and there is a photo of that:

View attachment 821039

Kelb's Me 163 was equipped with SG500 Jägerfaust and flew under the Lancaster firing 8 grenades simultaneously almost vertical upward, hitting the tail, killing the tail gunner, hitting also the H2S radar, and wounding the mid turret gunner above it. Mustangs chased the Me 163 away which landed safely at base. The landed Me 163 had many holes in it from metal pieces from the exploded grenades and Lancaster, and maybe from some Mustang bullets.

According to the book "THE R.C.A.F. OVERSEAS, THE SIXTH. YEAR" there were two bombers lost (one Lancaster and one Halifax) and only one combat with enemy fighters. The mentioned crew members from the downed bombers may help you in identifying these aircraft:

View attachment 821040

Hi
According to 'Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War. 1945' by W R Chorley, page 159, the Halifax III would have been NA185 6U-B of No. 415 Sqn. and Lancaster I PB903 BM-F of No. 433 Sqn.
There is a description of the Lancaster's loss: "Hit by predicted flak just short of aiming point. A fire was seen to break out in the starboard inner engine, though the flames were soon quelled. Height was lost, followed by a small explosion which turned the Lancaster onto its back. Diving steeply, the bomber hit the ground and exploded."

There is no description of the Halifax loss, so that is a possibility, but not a confirmation, that it was shot down by a fighter.

Mike

Yakoyakdiddy · May 21, 2025

Daggerr said:
ME315 did not blow op. It landed damaged and there is a photo of that:

View attachment 821039

Kelb's Me 163 was equipped with SG500 Jägerfaust and flew under the Lancaster firing 8 grenades simultaneously almost vertical upward, hitting the tail, killing the tail gunner, hitting also the H2S radar, and wounding the mid turret gunner above it. Mustangs chased the Me 163 away which landed safely at base. The landed Me 163 had many holes in it from metal pieces from the exploded grenades and Lancaster, and maybe from some Mustang bullets.

According to the book "THE R.C.A.F. OVERSEAS, THE SIXTH. YEAR" there were two bombers lost (one Lancaster and one Halifax) and only one combat with enemy fighters. The mentioned crew members from the downed bombers may help you in identifying these aircraft:

View attachment 821040

Apologies for the late response. Spending an inordinate amount of time cross referencing Operational Record Books, combat logs, and various books detailing the incident, I am pleased to say that we've uploaded a video on the Jägerfaust on our "Fired Up!" channel. I've also had the pleasure of corresponding with two people who have written on the subject and adjacent topics.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIwZeT-V4Ec&ab_channel=FiredUp%21

Records for Jagdgeschwader 400

More options

Yakoyakdiddy

Recruit

CHen10

Senior Airman

Snautzer01

Marshal

Yakoyakdiddy

Recruit

CHen10

Senior Airman

Daggerr

Airman 1st Class

MikeMeech

Senior Airman

Yakoyakdiddy

Recruit

Users who are viewing this thread

Similar threads