The stippled nose of Ju 290A-3 Wk-Nr 0162 9V+EK of 2./FAGr 5 photographed close to the Autobahn at Salzburg, where it was rendered unserviceable by US forces at the end of the war. (EN Archive)
The Messerschmitt Me 264 was envisaged as a possible replacement for the Ju 290 for long-range maritime operations for U-boats. With a range of 17,500 km, the so-called Amerikabomber would have been able to reach the US East Coast and conduct both offensive and reconnaissance operations. Only one complete prototype was built, the Me 264 V1 RE+EN, as seen here at Augsburg or Lechfeld in 1943. The following year, officers of FAGr 5 were assigned to Sonderkommando Nebel with a view to lending tactical and technical expertise to the manufacturing process, but the plan was thwarted by the destruction of the prototype and two other partially completed airframes in Allied bombing raids. (Author’s collection)
An Arado Ar 234B-2b jet, similar to the type flown by the Einsatzkommando 1./FAGr 1 at Stavanger in Norway from February 1945. The Kommando had its origins in FAGr 5, its personnel being drawn from that Gruppe, but it took delivery of only three Ar 234s, one of which was badly damaged in a landing accident at Stavanger. Nevertheless, the Ar 234 represented cutting-edge jet technology. The example seen here probably belonged to 1.(F)/33. (EN Archive)
Ju 290A-2 Wk-Nr 290110158 9V+AH of 1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 5, Achmer, autumn 1943.
Ju 290A-3 Wk-Nr 290110161 9V+DK of 2./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 5, Achmer, autumn 1943.
Ju 290A-5 Wk-Nr 290110180 KR+LK (9V+KH) of 1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 5, Mont de Marsan, autumn 1943.
Ju 290A-7 Wk-Nr 290110186 KR+LQ (9V+FH) of 1./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 5, Mont de Marsan, spring 1944.
Emblem of 1./FAGr 5
The ‘Fliegender Holländer’ (Flying Dutchman) depicted in full sail, carrying the emblem of the Deutschritterorden (the knightly Teutonic Order) on its sails, set against a golden yellow shield.
Emblem of 2./FAGr 5
The ‘Fliegender Holländer’(Flying Dutchman) depicted in full sail, carrying the Odins Raben (Odin’s Ravens – Huginn and Muninn) emblem of 3.(F)/Ob.d.L., later 3.(F)/100, on its sails, set against a golden yellow shield.
It is worth noting that sources differ on the exact colour of the shields for the two squadron emblems. According to some, both shields were golden yellow, whereas others state that the shield for 1./FAGr 5 was actually white. In the absence of colour photographs of the aircraft emblem available for clarification, the author has chosen for both emblems to be depicted in golden yellow here.
First published in Great Britain in 2017 by Osprey Publishing,
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© 2017 Robert Forsyth
Chapter Twelve: 4./FAGr 5 © 2017 Nick Beale
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ISBN: 978-1-4728-2045-7 (HB)
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Front cover: An in-flight view of Ju 290A-5 Wk-Nr 0170 KR+LA (EN Archive) (also on Title page); below, an Allied shipping vessel is attacked by a German U-boat. (Topfoto.co.uk)
The following images within the plate section were kindly supplied by the Hetz family:
Officers of 3.(F)/Aufkl.Gr.10; Hptm Fischer, Maj Augustin, Oblt Schmidt; Officers and NCOs of 1.Staffel; Senior NCOs of FAGr 5, Villa in Mont de Marsan; Lt Wessel, Officers of the Gruppenstab; Officers and NCOs of the Stabskompanie; NCOs of 1./FAGr 5; Hptm Nather, Hptm Bergen and Oblt Heindorff; Hptm Eckl; Hptm Fischer and Oblt Abel; Officers of 1./FAGr 5, Gruppe football team; Camouflaged vehicles; Vehicle of FAGr 5 with MG 151; FAGr 5 trailer, Three officers of FAGr 5.
Shadow over the Atlantic Page 39