World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
17 Nov 2009 12:47:19 PM

Natter on display, the swastika, is not
authentic.

2.  Bill says:
11 Nov 2014 03:28:30 PM

After WWII two Ba 349 Natters were shipped to the United States. Later inspected at Freeman field,
Indiana. One Natter is in storage at the National Air & Space Museum, Wash. D.C. What happened to the other Ba 349 remains unknown, Could it have been destroyed in the great post war scrapping frenzy? no record of what happened to it has been found.

File Photo of T2-1011 at Freeman Field, Indiana
swastika with red band on right wing, were never carried on the Ba 349. This vehicle received one
completely non-regulation paint scheme.
The Ba 349 was powered by the same rocket fuel C-Stoff and T-Stoff as the Messerschmitt Me 163 rocket fighter.
The Ba 349 made its first and only manned launch on March 1, 1945 killing pilot Lother Sieber in operational service, the Ba 349 would have been armed with 24 R4M rockets.

Another Natter Ba 349 along with its Schmidding 533 rocket boosters, is on display today at the
Deutsches Museum, Munich Germany

3.  Bill says:
17 May 2015 06:14:23 PM

NOT SO WOODEN WONDER:

File photograph shows a Bachem Ba349 captured
by the allies, a/c is missing its solid fuel rocket boosters (two) strapped on each side of the fuselage side. Swastika markings on wings are
erroneous meaning: (incorrect or in error).

The Luftwaffe felt that the Bachem Ba349 was an expendable aircraft, with no need for standard markings. No operational natters had any type of group or fuselage crosses or any swastika tail markings.

The Natter was built from wooded bulkheads and stringers covered with plywood held together with special glue and screws, with limited metal components and took about 600 man hours to build.
Armament the natter carried 32 R4M or 23 F6hn
air-to-air rockets, pilots were also instructed after firing their rockets, to ran the bombers.
Later versions were to be armed with 2 x 30mm cannons w/30 rounds per gun a/c were never built.

WAR PRIZE: NOT SO FRIENDLY ALLIES

After WWII the Allies captured vast amounts of blueprints, technical material and scientific data
along with scientists, engineers and technicians
The USA, USSR, France and UK searched and salvaged German technical throughout Europe
to continue their own post war weapons program development.
The United States captured (4) Natters, UK (1), USSR (1) the French captured a number of Natters that were dumped into Lake Waldsee along with other components and shipped back to France.

I thank the editor/ww2db for allowing me to continue our study of the Bacham Ba349

4.  Bill says:
22 Oct 2016 07:14:36 PM

TO THE VICTOR, GO THE MARKINGS:

Swastika marking on wings are erroneous. File photo of Bachem Ba 349 Natter in USA being prepared for storage. NA&SM received the Natter on May 1, 1949 this is one of the Natters captured by US troops at St. Leonhard im Pitztal, Austria May 1945

POINT-DEFENSE INTERCEPTOR:

The Ba 349 was armed with
nose mounted (23) electrically fired 73mm Folm spin-stabilized unguided air-to-air rockets, or (33) R4M 55mm rockets.
Projected armament 2 x 30mm MK 108 cannons w/30 Rds per gun or (32) R40 air-to-air missiles, Rheinmetall SG 119 this weapon consisted of six-clusters each each cluster had (7) MK 108 barrels grouped together in a cylinder, with the clusters arranged about the Natters nose, much like a revolver...

BACHEM Ba. 349 REPO'S:

Two reproduction Ba.349's are on display today at Planes of Fame Chino, California USA and Fantasy of Flight Polk City, Florida USA.