Sonderkommando Elbe

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Sonderkommando "Elbe"
Balkenkreuz.svg
Active7 April 1945
CountryFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Role special attack interceptor
Size2,000 aircraft
2,000 volunteers
300 fighter pilots
Motto(s)"Treu, Tapfer, Gehorsam"
("loyal, valiant, obedient")
ColorsBlack and White
Engagements Air war/aerial ramming over Germany, 7 April 1945
Insignia
Roundel Balkenkreuz
Aircraft flown
Interceptor Messerschmitt Bf 109

Sonderkommando "Elbe" was the name of a World War II Luftwaffe task force assigned to bring down heavy bombers by ramming them in mid-air.

Contents

Its sole mission took place on 7 April 1945, when a force of 180 Bf 109s managed to ram 15 Allied bombers, downing eight of them. [1] [2] [3]

The task force was created to cause losses sufficient to halt or at least reduce the Western Allies' bombing of Germany. [4] The pilots were expected to parachute out either just before or after they had collided with their target.

History

A 1944 drawing by Helmuth Ellgaard illustrating "ramming" Ellgaard, Ich ramme 1944.jpg
A 1944 drawing by Helmuth Ellgaard illustrating "ramming"

Sonderkommando means "special command", and the Elbe is one of the main rivers in Germany.

The task force's aircraft were mostly later G-versions (Gustav) of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Stripped of most armor and armament, the planes had one synchronized machine gun (usually a single MG 131 in the upper engine cowling) instead of up to four automatic weapons (usually including a pair of 20mm or 30mm underwing-mount autocannon) on fully equipped Bf 109G interceptors, and were only allotted 60 rounds each, a normally insufficient amount for bomber-interception missions.

Sonderkommando Elbe pilots were trained to ram one of three sensitive areas on the bombers: the empennage with its relatively delicate control surfaces, the engine nacelles which were connected to the highly explosive fuel system, or the cockpit itself. One of the most famous reports of cockpit ramming was against a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber, nicknamed "Palace of Dallas", along with another bomber that the German plane careened into after slicing the cockpit of the Palace of Dallas. [5]

Order of battle

Successful missions

Rank / Name / Former Unit e/a Unit Status

Luftwaffe records claim at least 22–24 American aircraft fell victim to the Sonderkommando Elbe unit.

(WIA – wounded in action / KIA – killed in action)

See also

References

  1. "German Pilot Perspective". RootsWeb. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
  2. "B-17; 44-8744; lost at 7.4.45; Pilot Lt. Burich; 385BG / 550BS - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum". forum.12oclockhigh.net.
  3. in addition to the list above B-17 44-8744 385th BG/550th BS also reported lost by ramming 7 April 1945 forum.12oclockhigh.net
  4. Der Spiegel – Deutsche Kamikaze-Flieger; Himmelfahrtskommando für Hitler einestages.spiegel.de
    1. 44-49533 12 O'clock High Forum
  5. American Air Museum aircraft 15068 www.americanairmuseum.com
  6. American Air Museum aircraft 15069 www.americanairmuseum.com
  7. 12 O'clock High Forum post 110925
  8. [Either B-17 42-97105 or B-17 43-38869 both reported rammed "563rd BS' #43-38869 Paula Sue?". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2010. 388th BG Forum]
  9. American Air Museum aircraft 12874 www.americanairmuseum.com
  10. American Air Museum aircraft 10210 www.americanairmuseum.com
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 12 O'clock high Forum post 111282
  12. American Air Museum aircraft 12088 www.americanairmuseum.com
  13. B-17 43-39126 damaged Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Wentz account
  14. b-24 #42-94931 sacktimedamage 467th Bomb group, www.the467tharchive.org
  15. [B-17 42-97071 rammed. "2nd Lt. Arthur R. Calder". Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010. 100th Bomb Group]
  16. American Air Museum aircraft 12519 www.americanairmuseum.com
  17. EZ Goin b17flyingfortress.de
  18. 100th Bomb Group database 100thbg.co
  19. [B-17 380558 severely damaged]
  20. American Air Museum aircraft 5454 www.americanairmuseum.com
  21. American Air Museum aircraft 17842 www.americanairmuseum.com

Bibliography