Does anyone have any information on the Mistle Composite aircraft groups and testpilot Horst Lux. I have some original photographs given to me by his widow of his unit, him, and the Mistle aircraft taken near the Mediteranean,or nearby. Also staged nearby are some JU87 Stukas, with photos of him in the Cockpit. In the photos are GFM Erhard Milch walking with Lux, several knights cross Luftwaffe pilots, etc. Any info would be beneficial.
Well, I don't know how much you know about the Mistle but it was two aircraft, usually a fighter and a medium bomber, where one was a radio guided bomb. The controller was located in a fighter on top of the bomber which was packed with explosives. The idea was to fly the Mistle to the target area and detach when target has been selected. The fighter would guide the bomber to its target. I believe KG200 was in charge of these aircraft. There were difficulties in flying the mistle and I believe it was used successfully 2 times but I will have to look that up. That is all I know at this time.
Funny you should mention that--I was at Barnes and Nobles last night and saw a nice book on them. As I didnt have much time before closing--I didnt pay attention on the title of the book or the authors name. I can check there tonight if you want the info--I think its a 6 part series, the other book I saw were on German Jets.
Knightsx : Have you checked www.classicpublications.com ? They have a book out on the Mistel units. Don't know if you are interested in this big book or not but it might be worth it in your library even if you're not that interested in Luftwaffe a/c. E
////////////////////////// Hi Your post is a little old, but if you’re still interested in the Mistel program, a couple of good websites are at URLs: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Village/4082/mistel/mistel.htm http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/mistral.html In regard to Horst Lux, in 1993 he and his wife were in the process of building a home a couple of doors down from where I was going through the same process. However, he passed away before the house was finished and I never met him. His widow moved into the house and I got to talk to her on various occasions about his career and her life in Germany as the wife of a test pilot/engineer during WW 2. Based on my interest, she gave me some old scrap books which contain materials from various stages of his career. Included is a short 1991 auto-bio about his early life and the evolution of the “piggy-back” concept. Also included are various photos which I have not seen anywhere else showing some of the results of the less successful outcomes of the two-aircraft configuration takeoffs/landings. If you’re interested, we can exchange info, either on or off forum. Vern D
I would like to see the pictures and I am sure Erich would to. You can post them here or to my own e-mail. I have a book on KG-200 but I have not read it in 20 years so I have forgotton most of it. PM me for the e- mail address and welcome to the forums.
Hi Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you but have been on road. Tried to post some of my materials at this site but they don't handle big attachments and I've scanned my stuff at a "hi res" to improve quality as best I can, and some of the info is on old yellowed paper with low contrast if done at "low res" (hard enough to read at "hi res"). Consequently have posted a "whet your whistle" set of a few I've already scanned at my Yahoo photo site which you (and anyone else who's interested) should be able to get into at URL: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/coloradogreengiant/album/576460762400976928 If you have any access problems, let me know. Will be adding more as I get them scanned. Regards Vern D
Weird. Worked when I "pre-flighted" it, but may be because site "recognized" my name/computer because I had previously loaded info. Tried below using different access name. "Mistel" is title of album of interest. http://new.photos.yahoo.com/coloradogreengiant/albums/ Vern D
It worked this time and they are some great pictures ! If they asked me to fly one of those death traps I would be thinking "Sweden here I come !" It really shows what a waste war is espcially if you are on the losing end.
I have letters from Horst Lux and am seeking photos and other material on his career after the war with Lockheed.
Hi Per prior traffic I had a collection of materials about Horst from pre WW2 through his career at Lockheed which were given to me by his widow who was a neighbor in Colorado. After posting to this site, I was contacted by a relative in Germany and began a direct exchange of info. I have copies of some of these exchanges which include scans of some of the materials. I subsequently sent the original materials to the relative since I was not related to Horst. If interested, I can try to provide the scans directly if you provide an e-mail address. In addition you may want to contact the relative at: cubs.forever@web.de Regards Vern D
I am having trouble contacting members privately but would welcome any material you might be able to send. cjmendosa12@yahoo.com
Dipl.Ing. Lux was at the Foggia airfield complex during the time Major Dietrich Peltz commanded the Formation Leader Training School, between March and July 1942. That unit became I/KG 60, flying Ju 88s in anti-shipping operations. Lux was working on dive-bombing tactics with Peltz, who supported the "Beethoven" Mistel concept early on. I would like to contact knightsx who may have photographs from this period.
