Training pilots to fly mistels started in April 1944. During training both the tow craft and the glider were manned. These complex aircraft were said to have been very easy to fly, even though they were sluggish on the controls.
There were many planned missions, to take out key dams and bridges, but none of these ever came to fruition, until the allies invaded France.
The first combat units to receive mistels, was KG-101, with their first combat experience being one D-day, Juen 6th, 1944. When the fleet of Mistel bomber were ferried to St Dizier in France, along with pilots and ground crews. From there the pilots were of said to have used the mistels to attack the British “Mulberry” harbor at Courseulles. However, the boats that were attacked by mistels were ships that were already purposely sunk, making the mistel less effective, than if they were deployed against different targets.
Another planned operation for the Mistel would be for august 1944. This attack was to be launched against Scapa Flow, from Danish airfield, but due to British advances and bombing raids, the plan had never come to fruition.
After the British finished off the German battleship Tirpitz, many larger naval assets left the European cost, and head for the Pacific. This left the Mistels without any noteworthy targets.
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