Swiss Messerschmitts

[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.

[TRDG]

Now I got it, I thought the ones shipped there were right off the factory floor......... I see now that they WERE NOT!!!

Cheers, thanks guys for the little details that makes this an interesting thread to follow!!

Tom

[Geek44]

Well the stuff I paraphrased from my book is the only info I have on this event. It states that the 109s were all 'Gustav' variants. Now I could be wrong here but subsequent versions (K) were by no means sub-standard off the factory floor despite poor conditions and shortage. Just me thinking out loud as it were. It seems they ones the Swiss received were good enough to reverse engineer. As stated above they built their own that remained in service for quite some time.

[TRDG]

I see, but they still were not "factory fresh" so I get the main thrust, but some were probably better than others.

Cheers

Tom

[Geek44]

True. I was just making clear the fact that I'd paraphrased. Take my post as a guide rather than absolute fact. There may be more info to be found but if there is, I haven't found it.
Peace.

[TRDG]

Roger that sir.

Cheers, let me know if you find anything else please.

Tom

[Geek44]

No sweat!

[Whiterook]

Fascinating info on this! Regardless of the "newness", the fact that the Swiss reverse engineered them is very interesting to me. I had never heard any of this previously. Thanks mates!

[Geek44]

I suppose you know that the Russians appropriated a B-29 too. I'm unsure how they did it...but I think it was political machination. They reverse engineered that and sold the plans to the Chinese too. Ever see a 'B-29' with contra-rotating turbo props?

[Wolster]

Originally Posted by Geek44

I suppose you know that the Russians appropriated a B-29 too. I'm unsure how they did it...but I think it was political machination. They reverse engineered that and sold the plans to the Chinese too. Ever see a 'B-29' with contra-rotating turbo props?

A few B29's landed in Russia whilst bombing Japan as there were designated emergency strips in Russian territory. The story goes that Stalin ordered Tupelov to copy the design. Tupelov told Stalin he could design better bombers but Stalin insisted that the B29 be copied part for part. In disgust, Tupelov did just that, even copying patches where battle damage had been repaired. One interesting problem Tupelov had, the B29 was built in feet and inches and the Russians used millimeters and meters!!

The aircraft was designated the Tu-4 and was used in Soviet service until 1952.

I have a model of one in my 1/144 bomber collection.