Sonderkommando "Elbe"
Active7 April 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Rolespecial attack interceptor
Size2,000 aircraft
2,000 volunteers
300 fighter pilots
Motto(s)"Treu, Tapfer, Gehorsam"
("loyal, valiant, obedient")
ColorsBlack and White
EngagementsAir war/aerial ramming over Germany, 7 April 1945
Insignia
RoundelBalkenkreuz
Aircraft flown
InterceptorMesserschmitt 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.

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"

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".
  3. ^ in addition to the list above B-17 44-8744 385th BG/550th BS also reported lost by ramming 7 April 1945
  4. ^ Der Spiegel – Deutsche Kamikaze-Flieger; Himmelfahrtskommando für Hitler
  5. ^ #44-49533 12 O'clock High Forum
  6. ^ American Air Museum
  7. ^ American Air Museum
  8. ^ 12 O'clock High Forum
  9. ^ [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]
  10. ^ American Air Museum
  11. ^ American Air Museum
  12. ^ 12 O'clock high Forum
  13. ^ 12 O'clock high Forum
  14. ^ 12 O'clock high Forum
  15. ^ 12 O'clock high Forum
  16. ^ 12 O'clock high Forum
  17. ^ American Air Museum
  18. ^ [B-17 43-39126 damaged http://home.earthlink.net/~tom.mccrary/TargetParchim-RammedOverGermany.htm Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Wentz account]
  19. ^ [b-24 #42-94931 http://www.the467tharchive.org/sacktimedamage.html 467th Bomb group]
  20. ^ [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]
  21. ^ American Air Museum
  22. ^ EZ Gonin
  23. ^ 100th Bomb Group database
  24. ^ [B-17 380558 severely damaged]
  25. ^ American Air Museum
  26. ^ American Air Museum

Bibliography

External links

Categories