During 1943 Hptm. 'Ted' Rosarius was tasked with forming a Versuchsstaffel of captured enemy aircraft that would serve to familiarise pilots of the Reichsverteidigung (German air defence) with the strengths and weaknesses of Allied fighter aircraft. Designated 2./Versuchsverband Ob.d.L and dubbed the Zirkus the unit demonstrated the latest captured Allied fighters in mock combat programmes that were an important aid during a period when German fighter pilot training programmes were under increasing pressure....the following is extracted from Walther Dahl's memoir and describes a visit by the Zirkus to JG 300...

 "...despite the successes we had enjoyed over the course of our recent sorties, a number of gaps had started to appear in our ranks. Seasoned Staffelkapitäne, experienced Schwarmführer, Leutnante, Feldwebeln and Unteroffiziere - pilots who were the backbone of our unit - had all been posted missing in action . Men such as Oblt. Hirschfeld of 6./JG 300 who was lost in combat on 28 July 1944 and posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross. There were plenty of new young replacements, all volunteering to fly with the Sturmgruppe but virtually none with any front-line experience. Despite the constraints on time, fuel and aircraft availability, it was down to us to complete the training of these youngsters,   to " fly them in " under operational conditions as it were. Fortunately our great fears of an on-going all-out offensive by the American bomber formations proved groundless. They had more than enough on their hands in Normandy. We flew few combat sorties during this period. A spell of bad weather also set in.  

"..it was during this period of enforced inactivity on a gray overcast day that the "Zirkus" flew into Wörishofen. Evidently this was not the kind of circus that featured exotic animals and other attractions; the 'star performers ' here were a collection of captured enemy aircraft displayed by a Sonderkommando under Major Rosarius tasked with touring the bases of those units deployed in the west against the bomber formations. Formation leaders (Verbandsführer) were given the possibility of flying these machines in mock combat and thus becoming more closely acquainted with their characteristics, a factor that was not to be under-estimated in air combat with our opponents. Following this session, flight leaders would hold a series of training lectures with their men and were able to pass on recommendations from their own observations and experience at the controls of these aircraft. This was why one morning enemy fighters such as P-51s, P-47s, Lightnings along with the heavy bomber types, could be seen peacefully arrayed alongside our own machines, when their appearance over the field would normally have provoked anything but a friendly reaction.. ."

"..The next morning I was able to take a closer look at the aircraft. I was particularly interested in the Mustang, a type that was causing us fighter pilots some headaches. Despite the poor weather I flew a number of circuits around the field and over the surrounding countryside, always maintaining good ground visibility. After landing at around 11 o'clock I received a phone call from Lechfeld, informing me that Oberst Priller, Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26 was en route to Wörishofen to pay a visit.. .

(to be continued..)