The Würger-Staffel
Click on images |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Sachsenberg was a good pilot... We felt safer when his aircraft were in the air" Adolf Galland The Me 262 was most vulnerable during takeoff and landing, more so than piston aircraft due to the greater time and distance required for the process. Marauding Allied pilots knew this and lurked around the bases in hopes of an easy kill. Rather than depend on the High Command, Galland set about establishing his own Platzschutzstaffel (airfield defense squadron). For this he turned to the distinguished Eastern front ace, Leutnant Heinz Sachsenberg. The Platzschutzstaffel was equipped with the long nosed Dora variant of the Fw 190, both D-9s and one very rare D-11 were used. The aircraft were painted with bright red and white striped undersurfaces to aid in recognition by weary 262 pilots returning to base, and also the anxious ground flak units. The aircraft also had unusual markings including a personal inscription on the port fuselage side. Their mission was simple. Take off, climb to 1500 ft. Protect the jets. Land once the jets were safely away. They were forbidden to chase Allied planes. The JV44 Platzschutzstaffel has in recent times been referred to as the Papageien Staffel (Parrots). There is no evidence that this is based on historic fact and is lilely due to the colorfully painted aircraft. According to Walter Krupinski, this staffel did occasionally use the radio call sign "Pagagei" (much like an allied flight may be called "Red" or "Baker"). To the pilots and personnel of JV44, the unit was simply known as the Würger-Staffel, literally translated Butcher-Bird Squadron. Würger was the official name given to the Focke-Wulf 190, much like Lightning was given to the P-38. |
|
Known Pilots & Aircraft |
||
| Pilot | Aircraft | Inscription |
| Lt Heinz Sachsenberg | Fw 190D-9 'Rot 1' | Verkaaft's mei Gwand 'I foahr in himmel! (Sell my clothes I'm going to heaven) |
| Hptm. Waldemar Wübke | Fw 190D-9 'Rot 3' | Im Auftrage der Reichsbahn (By order of the State Railway)* |
| Unknown | Fw 190D-11 'Rot 4' Possibly former V58 |
Der nächste Herr dieselbe Dame! (The next man the same woman!) |
| Oblt Klaus Faber | Fw 190D-9 'Rot 13' W.Nr 213240 |
"Rein muß err" und wenn wir
beide weinen! (In he goes even though both of us will cry!) |
| Fw. Bodo Dirschauer | Unknown | Unknown |
| Lt. Karl-Heinz Hofmann | Unknown | Unknown |
| *A sarcastic comment
originating when Wübke was ordered to fly Jabo
missions during the Battle of Britain. The inscription was found
on the sides of boxcars carrying bombs. Wübke felt bombs should be
delivered by rail cars and bombers and not by fighters. Wübke used this inscription throughout the war. |
||
08.31.99
