In 1941, a test pilot from Junkers, names Siegfried Holzbauer proposed the idea of having a mistel in the combination of a fighter and an unmanned bomber, with the bomber aircraft being filled with explosives. This weapon was designed to attack larger targets, like allied ships. When the idea was first introduced, it was dismissed and put on the back burner. But as the war drew on, the Germans became much more desperate resulting in them revisiting the idea, especially their luck with the DF 230 glider mistel. Requiring six mechanics, two armourers, and a four-ton capacity crane, and one full day to attach the device.
The official name for this was “Beethoven Gerät” or Beethoven Device, but it would later be remembered as “Mistel” or Mistletoe. Which was first test using Ju 88s Danish island of Moen, which proved successful.
However instead of using the slow Ju 88, the Luftwaffe decided to use more modern Messerschmidt Me 109s and Focke-Wulf Fw 190s as upper components. These modern planes would also carry a smaller 50kg bomb as well, not just for weaponry, but also to act as a ballast. Even cement bombs were used in test and training.
In early 1943, test were carried out with a Bf-109 towing a Ju 88 bomber filled with explosives, in the mistel piggyback formation. The weapon worked well and was viewed as something that could hit heavily armored targets well.
Some operations were carried out with these; four of which were against naval ships, while others were used to destroy large structures including bridges.
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