Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick ok thanks, at least im not losing my marbles just yet!

Best regs,
Steve.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

At long last, today I've posted some new stuff to the site:

• Several additions and corrections to the article about NAG 6 and the Me 262.
• One addition to the 1./NAG 1 article.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've just posted a fairly extensive new article, about Kampfgruppe 100, Ultra and the Coventry Blitz of November 1940.

My starting point was to find out what warning Ultra actually gave of the attack on Coventry. Lots has been written on the subject but I don't recall anyone actually quoting the message(s) themselves. These go a long way toward answering the questions of what they knew and when they knew it.

The rest of the files I used were located via a couple of word searches in the National Archives catalogue. These showed what the RAF did to try and forestall or disrupt the German attacks and what assumptions they made about the targets and timings and why.

I hope that it helps to fill out the picture that's been available hitherto.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Posted to Ghost Bombers today:

• A new article on 1.(F)/100 and the Arado 234: January–May 1945.
• Additions to Kommando Sommer regarding the events of 29 January–4 February 1945.
• Additions to the KGr. 100 article regarding an aircraft which force landed in France on 14 August 1940 and a strength return for the 15th.
• An addition to the Sonderstaffel Kaatsch article regarding Ltn. Kurt Bell's later career.
• Aditional material for NAG 6 and the Me 262 regarding operations in March 1945.
• Extensive corrections and layout changes.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Dear Nick,

thank you very much for new informations until now hidden in the ULTRA decrypts. Some new (F)100pilot names I never heard before of like Viergutz, Heibutzki, Franz, Schnabel, Haider, Puls, Beck.

You also mentioned Ofw Willi Windhövel (*02.12.13) : On 18th of April 1945 he took off with his Ar234 T5+?? from Lechfeld. He was shot down by LtCol Shafer, 339FG, 503FS, some 30 km south east of Regensburg, managed to bail out at a height of about 3000 ft only to die next day.

Best wishes, Karl

P.S.: I have the hope that you - some day - reveal some yet unknown details about JG7...

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks, it was interesting work to do.

Viergutz I think was with 1.(F)/123 but flew a "T5" aircraft at least once. He later appears in Ultra flying 4U+IH.

Thanks for the information about Windhövel. I did find that entry in the Volksbund für Kriegsgräberfürsorge database but I had no way to confirm it was the right man, apart from the quite rare name. The location was some distance from the combat area and (I apologise to say this) I thought that at 31 he seemed quite old to have been a pilot of Ofw. rank.

The JG 7 material in Ultra is quite limited, I think. I may work on it in future but no promises!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Is this ju87 one of Yours ghostbombers?

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-STUKA-Fl...65032725432491

Best,

Andrea

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Added to my website so far in 2012:

• Extensive additions to the article about 2./NAG 6.
• Additions to the 1./NAG 1 article about 4, 11 and 16 April 1945.
• 1.(F)/100: more on the effects of Allied attacks on Lechfeld and München-Riem on 9 and 16 April 1945.
• NSG 9: restoration of a link to a page on RAF combats with NSG 7 on 26 May 1944.*
• I./JG 2 in Italy: correction of one casualty report from 21 May 1944.
• 1.(F)/100: more on the arrival of unit's first two Ar 234s in Biblis; additional strength return for the evening of 31 January 1945; a possible mission on 8 February 1945; information from Allied photo-reconnaissance cover of Bavarian aerodromes on 25 April 1945; information on the pilot who crashed on 22 April 1945 (thanks to Ian Atheling).
• Information on the later use of two former aircraft of Staffel Kaatsch.
• Additions to Einsatzkommando KG 51 about events on 21 and 26 August 1944.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

A new article just added:
The Arado Ar 234 in Norway and Denmark 1945

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick, will there be any further extracts of KGr100 day to day activities during 1940?
These have been really interesting and detailed and i hope you can perhaps add more, time permitting?

Best regs,
Steve.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick.

Exellent piece of work. I will be back home from hospital in about 2 weeks. I wil then add some informations to this subject.

Greetings from Denmark
Junker

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Junker

We wish you a speedy recovery

Cheers
Brian

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Get well soon, Junker. At least you can still get on to TOCH from hospital!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Nick, from one "Mod" to another, thanks for all your excellant work on your website. Research as it should be done!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Posted to my website today:

• Additional details of missions by Staffel Kaatsch
• Additional material about Ar 234 operations from Norway

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hello Nick,

Re-reading your magnificent article about NJ-Staffel Finland/Norwegen alias 4./NJG 3, I suddenly realized that I had somewhere a transfer date of their He219: Hptm. Hüschgens was 29 June 1944 in Venlo to get the Rostock produced He219A-0 Wnr. 210901 (source reference will follow soon).

What puzzles me, is that the Flugzeugbestand- und Bewegungsmeldungen show this He219 not earlier than August 1944. This leaves room for speculation that this bird received some modifications in July 1944 before it became on strength of the NJ-Staffel.

All the best, Marcel

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick.

A little from BA/MA:


RL2 II/ 391


Nachtrag zum Abendmeldung West vom 04.04.45 Gen. D. Lw DK:
1 Ar 234 0728-09.52 LB Humbermündung und Hull
1 Ar 234 0800-09.47 LB Grath-Yarmouth-Lowestoft wegen Technisser Störung abgebrochen


06.04.45 Gen. dLw DK Eigener Einsatz:
1 Ar 234 1655-17.55 LB Ipswich-Harwich wegen technisser Störung abgebrochen.
1 Ar 234 1700-1850 Gr. Yarmouth und Lowestoft wegen Geschlossener Wolkendecke nicht Durchgeführt.
1 Ju 188 Sicherungsflug Deutsche Bucht
07.04. Gen DK 1 Ju 188 sicherungsaufklärung Deutsche Bucht.Nordsee bis Great Yarmouth
09.04 Gen DK.
1 Ar 234 LB Greath Yarmouth-Harwich.
12.04. Gen DK. 1 Ju 188 Sicherungsflug Seegebiet NW Jütland-S. Norwegen durchgeführt.
13.04 1 Ju 188 01.09-0426 Sicherungsaufklärung Westl. Skagerrak.

Regards
Junker

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Brilliant, thanks.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Today's updates and additions to ghostbombers.com are:

• Animation of the front page logo.
• An article on fighter operations by I./KG 51's Me 262s in late November–December 1944, plus other activites by the Geschwader during that period.
• Minor additions giving more details of operations by Jagdgruppe 200 in July 1944.
• Update to Using Ultra to reflect the availability of DEFE3 series files via download.
• Additional material about Ar 234 operations from Denmark in April 1945 (thanks to Jörn Junker)
• A small addition to the Staffel Kaatsch.article regarding the restoration of the landing area at Dijon prior ot the Staffel's arrival.
• Small addition to NAG 6 and the Me 262.
• Minor corrections.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

The latest additions (4 July 2012) to the site are:

• A new article, ULTRA and »Adlertag«: 13 August 1940.
• Information on the victory claim by I./KG 51's Fw. Schmidt on 5 December 1944.
• Additional information on Ltn. Entress of SG 4.
• Added to ULTRA and the Coventry Bilitz: the first deciphered message about plans to build Knickebein stations in France; a Bletchley Park note on German code names for targets.
• A minor addition and many layout corrections to 1./NAG 1 and the Me 262.
• Minor corrections.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Added to Ghost Bombers this afternoon:

• Added note about times in ULTRA reports from 1940 and consequential amendments to ULTRA and »Adlertag«: 13 August 1940.
  
• Additions to ULTRA and the Coventry Blitz about shelling of the ISAR beam station; casualties among German signals personnel in Cherbourg; KGr. 100 ordering the loading of three aircraft with incendiary canisters; and a German reconnaissance flight to Birmingham.
  
• A strength return for IV./EKG 1 on 4 April 1945, listing individual Me 262s and Fw 190s.
  
• Ar 234 in Norway and Denmark: corrections, more about 1.(F)/33 machines found at Grove and additions to the list of sources.
  
• Minor addition to the Staffel Kaatsch article (number of Bf 109s at Freiburg on 26 September).
  
• Minor corrections to layout and typography.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Outstanding work as always Nick.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've just posted the latest set of updates to my website:

• Information on two Fw 190s of SG 4 which force landed in Italy on 6 June 1944.
• A new graphic in the Ar 234 in Norway and Denmark article.
• A new graphic in the ULTRA and the Battle of Britain article.
• Addition to the 1.(F)/100 article regarding Ar 234s seen by Allied photo-reconnaissance at Lechfeld and München-Riem.
• Several additions to the Kommando Schenck article about the evacuation of Juvincourt, whether the Allies captured intact jet engines in France, and a postscript on Jan Horn's account of the unit's early days.
• An addition to the account of Jagdgruppe 200's origins; something about the Flak's contributionto the combats of 24 July 1944.
• Numerous additions and corrections to the Staffel Kaatsch article, including more details on aircraft used by the unit, a new appendix and the name of another pilot.
• Additional information on Bf 109 G-8 aircraft of 3./NAG 13.
• SG4: last battles in Italy: correction of a Bf 109 Werk Nummer from 2./NAG 11.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks Nick for your continued updates. They are much appreciated

Cheers
Marc

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Great Work Nick!

Did the the document specifically list the G-8s listed as MW50?

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Yes, it did.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Nick,

Many thanks for sharing this information with us - it is most appreciated.

A suggestion: Would you consider putting an "Updates" button on your main page? This would greatly facilitate finding and accessing your current and previous updates.

Many thanks,

David

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi David,
You mean you didn't find the one that's been there all along?
OK, the secrets of Ghostbombers navigation are:

1. The "metal plates" contain hyperlinks (except when used as page headers in articles).
2. Clicking on the "ghost" emblem at the top left of a page always takes you to the home page.
3. The "Made by ... Modified ..." plate at lower left on the home page: click on my name you get a list of everything I've had published, click on the date and you get this year's "updates" (once there, you can find links to all previous updates).
4. "Back/Top/Next" are self-explanatory, I hope.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks Nick. I appreciate the clarifications.

No, I never scrolled over the "Made by.." bar hence it didn't register as being live. I just relied on direct links.

As per my avatar: "D'oh"!

Cheers,

David

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

New material just posted:

• Extract from a prisoner interrogation report added to the Kommando Schenck article along with, a record of three sorties on 27 August 1944 and an addition to the postscript regarding the date of another of the unit's operations.
• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: an article on IX. Fliegerkorps' ebbing strength, its withdrawal from France and Belgium at the end of August 1944 and its bombers' operations over this period.
• More about the loss of Oblt. Spiess of Staffel Kaatsch and a new appendix with a calendar of operations.
• Rearrangement of the "ULTRA and the Battle of Britain" front page.
• More on the Lancaster shot down by Fw. Petersen of I./KG 51.
• The initial allocation of aircraft tactical codes to Nachtjagdstaffel Finnland.
• Minor corrections.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Dear Nick,

thank you for continuing the updates on ghostbombers.com. Relating to the sorties of Kommando Schenck on 27th of August 1944 here the entry from the logbook of Fw "Ronny" Lauer: 9K+GL, take off and landing: Juvincourt. 14.50-15.40 h. Remarks: Stadt Melun.

Best wishes, Karl

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Tonight's updates to my website are:

• Markings and camouflage section rebuilt and expanded, including a five-page article on Jagdgeschwader recognition bands.
• Added to the Kommando Schenck article: information on Ofw. Lauer's mission of 27 August 1944 (courtesy of TOCH member "Karl").

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick, thanks for the updates and your excellent site. I thought the requests from KG66 for black and blue paint for it's new Ju88's was very interesting. I'm afraid I took the liberty of putting a post about this on the LEMB as I was wondering whether anyone else found this fascinating message you had found during the course of your research as interesting as I do ?

Has anyone else got any thoughts on this ?

Regards, Sean.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Today is the eighth anniversary of www.ghostbombers.com going live, marked by these updates:

• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: organisation diagrams for KG 200, February 1944–January 1945.
• An addition to the list of my "complete works."
• Reorganisation of the homepage with six shorter articles now grouped as "Luftwaffe miscellany."
• More about IX. Fliegerkorps' attack on Soissons on the night of 30-31 August 1944.
• More detail of the shooting down and capture of Uffz. Helmut Breitweg of 1./JG 2.
• Operation Dragoon: more about one Me 410 of 1.(F)/33.
• Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen article: addition of the date when the unit's He 219 was collected from I./NJG 1 (courtesy of Marcel Hogenhuis) and a little more about a sortie on the night of 11/12 April 1945.
• A small addition to the article on Jagdgeschwader recognition bands, thanks to David E. Brown.
• Note added to the 1.(F)/100 article about a possible error in a report of one operation (courtesy of forum member Stefan Lahres).
• Minor corrections throughout.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick,
I always enjoy your up-dates and the valuable work you do on the less well covered facets and areas of operations of the Luftwaffe. I have a specific question to the Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen article, do you have the German expression for this:
Kristiansand-South (also the location of a “fighter area battle HQ”) ?
kind regards
SES

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I'm sorry but I don't. That is a problem with British intelligence material, you often have to try and guess what the original German words were.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick,
Understand what you mean. There is an excellent British post war intel report on the Luftwaffe Funkaufklärings Dienst. It took ages to read it, as I had to try and figure out what each operational, technical and unit term would be in German.
Well the background for my question was, that I am on the hunt for an Abschnitt Flugmelde Zentrale in the Kristiansand area, which had scramble authority and intercept control facilities, but even with tremendous help from Norwegian colleges it remains un-located.
For an in depth explanation please see:
http://www.gyges.dk/luftwaffe_ln%20norway.htm
bregds
SES

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

This probably goes all the way back to april 1940. In order not to mix up Kristiansund and Kristiansand, in Ultra, the first one was called -North and the other -South. So Kristiansand-south is just Kristiansand.

Junker

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Jørn,
I'm on the hunt for AFMZ Kristiansand, and Nicks latest up-date seems to confirm my suspission of it's function as a "mini-Jafü".
And BTW it would aslo be nice to be able to locate the Gef.Std.
bregds
SES

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Today's updates are:

• Several additions to the Markings and Camouflage pages including Jagdgeschwader recognition markings, Mediterranean theatre markings and miscellaneous markings (e.g. captured aircraft).
  
• Information on the later service of Uffz. Kuhlmann of Staffel Kaatsch and a little more about the Staffel's Bf 109 G-6 W.Nr. 412169.
  
• Added information on operations by Jagdgruppe 200 on 1 July 1944 and about belated measures to formalise the unit's establishment. Also a link to a photograph of wreckage from a 3./JGr. 200 aircraft lost on 12 August 1944.
  
• More on 1.(F)/100's tasks for 7 April 1945.
  
• A note on Ultra Air Digests.