Quote:
Originally Posted by Geek44
Oblt. Wilhelm Johnen who was Satffelkapitän of 6./NJG 5 landed his Bf 110 G-4 C9+EN W.Nr 740055 at Dübendorf on the night of 27/28 April 1944. German authorities feared the he and his Bordfunker (radar operator) and observer had defected and their families were immediately arrested. (Johnen was a night fighter ace by this stage with 19 victories). He had merely experienced engine trouble on the port side and 'blinded by searchlights' landed at the nearest available airfield which happened to be in Switzerland. At the time, his aircraft was brand new and contained cutting edge radar equipment which consisted of SN-2b airborne intercept radar and C-1 Lichtenstein. It also included the rather revolutionary Schräge Musik armament. In an attempt to keep their secrets, the Germans offered the Swiss government a number of Bf 109 Gs at a cut price in return for the destruction of the aircraft and repatriation of its crew. However neither government had been honest. The Swiss closely examined and recorded details of the 110 before its destruction and the Germans sold the Swiss a number of very battle-weary 109s that had been destined for the scrap yard. Post war, both Messerschmitt and Daimler-Benz were obliged to pay compensation to the Swiss government. The 110 crew was repatriated BTW.
Info from; 'Nachtjäger' Volume 2 by David P. Williams. ISBN 978 1 90323 54 3.
Peace.
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Very good summary. The same information is in Ader's "Geschichte der deutschen Nachtflieger".