Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Nick - I found the note on the Ultra Air Digests very interesting. What a shame these aren't amongst the freely downloadable DEFE3 material.

Whilst posting, I should just also say a word of thanks for everything you've posted up on your site over the years on the Ultra topic.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've just posted the following additions and updates to my website:

• A new article on trial He 111 torpedo operations in the summer of 1940.
• More about Hptm. Georg Seckel of Jagdgruppe 200 and a listing of seven more Bf 109s belonging to the Gruppe.
• New information about Bf 109 G-6 W.Nr. 15862 of Staffel Kaatsch and 5.(F)/123; more about the later careers of some of the Staffel's pilots; more about the service careers of Bf 109 W.Nr. 15862 and 412169.
• Some small addtions to the article on NAG 6 and the Me 262. including the reason why W.Nr. 111570 crashed.
• More about Bf 109s W.Nr. 161369, 710023 and 710091 of 3./NAG 13.
• A little more about Obltn. Kopf of Kommando Braunegg.
• A couple of additional graphics on the Using Ultra pages.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Great work as always Nick.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've just posted the following additions and updates to my website:

• The first instalment of an article about Geschwader Bongart and its war against the French Resistance, March–September 1944. (The plan is for the second part to cover July 1944; the third, August-September plus sources and appendix);
• II./NJG 6 in Italy: photograph of Fw. Bunje and his crew (thanks to Theo Boiten).
• A small addition to the Kampfflieger page on anti-guerilla operations in France.
• A small addition to the Staffel Kaatsch article about plans to return 2./NAG 13 to action and more about the death of Oblt. Theodor Spiess.
• A correction to a loss report on an Fw 190 A-6 of III./SG 4 and information about the machine's actual fate; also, a note about a Ju 52 which carried supplies for the Gruppe.
• Me 262 and NAG 6: a small addition re Obltn. Kopf's detachment from 5.(F)/123.
• A revision to the account of Jagdgruppe 200's action on 14 July and a small addition regarding the unit's bomb damage losses on 24 July 1944.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Great stuff Nick! THX!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Posted today to ghostbombers.com:

• The second instalment of the Geschwader Bongart article, covering July 1944, plus a map of bases and operations. Also, a link from the section about 22 June 1944 to a French website's animated map of operations on the Vercors Plateau.
• SG 4: last battles in Italy: an additional map and consequential rearrangement of two pages.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hello Nick,

As always your input and articles are most interesting and a joy to read. In your 'published sources' at the end of the article about the II./NJG 6 in Italy, you refer to the alleged 6 victories as said/written by Gebhard Aders.
For your understanding it is good to know that his famous work 'History of German nightfighting 1917-1945' contains claims of nightfighter crews, which find their origin in the Nonnenmacher/Ring lists. These are known as a cocktail of many true claims but many fictional claims as well, just added to see later who used their compilation without given permission. One notorious example are the alleged victories of Reinhold Knacke (1./NJG 1), five in one mission (!) on 16/17 September 1942. There is no single piece of documentary support for this spectacular nocturnal fight...

All the best and keep up the good work! Marcel

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Nick, Would you happen to have any information about Unit 11/NJG5 my Grandfather Otto Karl Tillack was in that unit. The plane he was on on April 11th, 1944 was shot down and i was wondering if you had any info on that crash or pictures, or if you may have any information on the Unit he was in and or any pictures of he and the other men in his unit. the Pilot on the day of the crash was Karl Kades, not my Grandfather that day.
You may reach me or my Father which is Axel Otto Tillack"Camp" the son of Otto Karl Tillack via here or via our emails. Mine is: charlotterookswrites72@hotmail.com
and my Father`s is: alexrrcamp@gmail.com
Thank you in advance,
Char and Axel

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've just posted the following additions and updates to my website:

• The third instalment of the Geschwader Bongart article, covering August–September 1944, plus an assessment of the unit's operations, a list of known aircraft, and sources and acknowledgements. I've also made various smaller additions to the earlier instalments.
• NAG 6 and the Me 262: information about the posting of 37 men from NAG 9 to Einsatzkommando Braunegg in Lechfeld.
• Jagdruppe 200: two new pages about Uffz. Walter Lang; more detail of sorties flown on 9 June 1944; more about Uffz. Walter Cöster's demise on 7 August 1944; brief additions covering anti-partisan operations on 15 June 5 July 1944.
• Addition to the Geschwader recognition bands article of an ULTRA message on security during a move by elements of JG 3.
• Staffel Kaatsch: Werk Nummer added for an aircraft damaged on a mission on 29 August 1944 and amendments to one appendix.
• Various minor corrections and layout changes.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick,

Thank you very much for the work you are doing.

Best regards, Franck.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks for your continuing hard work, Nick. You are one of the few people who appreciate the importance of ULTRA sources in the history of WWII.

Frankly, no one should write a story about anything in the ETO, without sourcing ULTRA. You've done that! :D

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

More material posted to Ghost Bombers today, as follows:

• Jagdgruppe 200: addition to 18 August 1944.
  
• Staffel Kaatsch: complete revision of the unit's formative days (18–25 August 1944) plus an expanded discussion of its aircraft inventory.
  
• Geschwader Bongart: extensive additions throughout the article about attacks on further locations (including Abondance, Thônes, Les Villards and Rieumes) by the unit itself and by II./KG 26 and III./KG 100; more about Westa 2's He 177s and more Bongart aircraft identified.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've just posted a series of updates to my web site, quite a lot of which seem to involve Bf 109s:

• A new article about aircraft lost in air raids: by III./JG 26 (Nancy, 25 May 1944); JG 27 (Angers/Soucelles, 26 June 1944); and E-Stelle Karlshagen (9 July 1944).
• Jagdgruppe 200: an addition to the events of 12 July 1944 and more about Bf 109 G-6 W.Nr. 163552.
• More about the Bf 109s of 3./NAG 13 (W.Nr. 710000 series) in Spring/Summer 1944.
• Staffel Kaatsch: more about the history of Bf 109 G-6 W.Nr. 163161.
• Geschwader Bongart: two "target flights" on 27 January 1944; a "new" Re. 2002 mission on 24 June; more about Ju 88 C-6 W.Nr. 750886 and 750952, He 111 W.Nr. 5113, Bf 109 G-5 W.Nr. 110395 and "Bf 109 G-12" WNr. 360930 (thanks to Ed North); an operation on 16 August (thanks to Philippe Cannone); another loss from 2./ZG 1 on 7 June 1944; more about III./KG 100's attack on the Forêt de Rieumes on 17 July; and a final(?) mention of the Geschwader on 15 December 1944.
• Minor corrections and editing.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Nick,
I referred to Ju 88 C-6 360390 (not 360930), then Ju 88´s mentioned 06.07.1944 (8207, 2383 & 6216) certainly were Ju 88 A-5 versions, and known surviours and mentioned in other Ultra messages earlier (maintance related).
Also Ju 88 C-6 "750886" falls into blank block (blank nummerical range), and is therefore most likely corrupt (therefore “not known here.” is correct from Technical Officer 14/15.07.44) but may relate to 750686 (this number is close enough for simple typo error), but Ju 88 C-6 750952 seems valid number, known 28.06.1944 with I NJG 2 - i.e. Ju 88 C-6 4R+GH, known on unit strength (SN2, 25A, Schráge, Doedel M2, autopilot u/s, 16:00 hrs Chaeaudun) 28.06.44 (TNA HW5 CX/MSS/T.234/14)
Ju 88 C-6 705686 on 14/15.06.44 is corrupt (number did not exist), likely C-6 750686 meant.

Adding Ju 88 A-5 0880504 PB+GB 11./Gesch. Bongart for one shot down 28.06.44 [Salonen / NVM]

Finally, I have enjoyed reading the updates on this very obscure unit. Thanks! -ed

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

THanks Ed, I'll correct that.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've just posted the last updates to the site for this year:

• More about JG 27 and II./JG 53 at Angers in June 1944 (with thanks to Pierre Babin for contributions from his own researches).
• More about US Navy pilots' claims over France on 19 and 21 August 1944 (with thanks to Ronnie Olsthoom).
• Additions to the Geschwader Bongart article about events on 21 and 24 July 1944 and about II./KG 26 operations against the Resistance.
• An addition to my "compete works" page.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

This link is broken


http://www.ghostbombers.com/updates.html

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

That isn't the full link (and it hasn't been since 2011). What you need is:

http://www.ghostbombers.com/updates/updates.html

This is the link given in all my recent posts on this thread (I hope).

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks for the updates Nick,

And thanks to Pierre too!!! This fellow start to be crazy when you're talking about LW losses in his area ... :)
Nice Guy.

Regards, Franck.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've posted 2014's first updates this evening:

• The first instalment of an article about Kommandos Götz, Sperling and Hecht, and
• 1.(F)/123.
  
• Additions to the Using Ultra pages about:
  — The HW 11 file series which contains several volumes of Air and Military Official Histories written by the Government Code & Cipher School; and
  — The code groups introduced into German signals late in the war to denote numbers, dates and times.
  
• A little more about I./LLG 1's withdrawal after the Vercors operation.
  
• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: impressions of the December 1943 raid on Bari from a German prisoner of war.
  
• A mission assigned to Kdo. Braunegg on 1 December 1944 and a comment on code letters assigned to their aircraft.
  
• Additional activity by 1.(F)/100 in April 1945.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks for your continuously expanded collection of original documents, Nick; it is highly appreciated...

Would it be an idea to look after the CEAR reports and have them on your site? That would be a real gem for pinning down dozens of wrecks seen on pics... well hopefully ;-)

Thanks again
Marc

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

(A) I don't actually have that many of these reports, and even if I did ...

(B) re-typing endless lists is not my idea of fun!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hello Nick,

Following the Nancy raid, I'm on Angers/Soucelles chapter.
Hum ...
What happened to 163148/Red 10 flown by Fadschild and to 163148/Yellow 2 flown by Sixl??? Clerk error? :)

At least we are sure they aren't Bf110 and/or Ju 88!

Regards, Franck.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

...
And WNr.15864/Red 3 crashed with 35% Damage.
Already crashed on 06-Mar-1944, Yellow for while in 9./JG 54, Uffz. Erwin Müller being the pilot (a Bf 109 G-5?) just damaged I have no %.

Sent to JG 27? really?..

BR, Franck.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

My error, Sixl's aircraft was W.Nr. 412509. Now corrected.

As for 15864, I think it's quite possible that a repaired aircraft could be allocated to a new unit. Thanks for the information on its previous history.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks Nick for the correction.

As for 15864; of course it's possible. I'm just surprise JG 27 received an already accidented machine. I would expect it in an Erg unit (Well Jgr. or JG 1xx) at that time of the conflict.

As you can see, I thank you for your site and I READ it! :)

Regards, Franck.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

There's now more stuff on ghostbombers.com than there was yesterday:

• The second instalment of the article about Kommandos Götz, Sperling and Hecht, and 1.(F)/123, covering November and December 1944.
• Extensive additions to the Geschwader Bongart story including aircraft loss data (thanks to Matti Salonen) and the unit's involvement in more anti-Maquis actions.
• Stab JG 77, addition of diary entry for 28 April 1944.
• Small additions and layout changes to the Einsatzkommando KG 51 article.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

New this morning on ghostbombers.com are:

• The third instalment of the article about Kommandos Götz, Sperling and Hecht, and 1.(F)/123, covering January and February 1945.
• He 111 torpedo operations: July–August 1940, new information on ships that were attacked.
• More details of the later careers of Bf 109s W.Nr. 15862 and 412169 of Staffel Kaatsch.
• Werk Nummern of two Bf 109s of II./EJG 1 attached to JG 7 for target presentation.
• A signal mentioning Oberst von dem Bongart in the last days of the war.
• 1./NAG 1: a new note about Me 262 A-4 aircraft at Lechfeld and a revised page layout.
• 1.(F)/100: a note about belated efforts to support the 6. SS Division around Bad Orb.
• Minor corrections.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hello, Nick

Thanks for all these updates.

In the Bongart chapter, in the April-May 1944, the loss dates of Ofw. Walter Hartnack and Hptm. Gottlieb Blank are missing. There is on the volksbund database an Ofw. Walter Hartnack who died on 5 May 1944 at Mons-en-Chausée, so this is very probably our guy, and it will put the death of Gottlieb Blank (no entry in the Volksbund database, may have been buried privately in Germany) on 16 May. Can you confirm it ?

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Yes, 5 and 16 May are the relevant dates. I'm not sure how I left that out!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Tonight's Ghost Bombers updates are:

• The fourth instalment of the article about Kommandos Götz, Sperling and Hecht, and 1.(F)/123, covering March 1945.
• Jagdgruppe 200: additions about the events of 14 July 1944 (including Uffz. Cöster's capture by the Resistance) and corrections to pilots' names.
• Geschwader Bongart: revised page layout to include new material about 6 and 29 June; 11–24 July; 2, 11, 13, 18, 19 and 22 August 1944. Changes to the Appendix on the unit's aircraft.
• More about the activities of Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen in October and November 1944.
• 1.(F)/100: addition of the unit's strength on the evening of 12 April 1945.
• Additions to the Ar 234 in Norway and Denmark article based on RAF Signals Intelligence reports; also changes to the page layout.
• More about Obltn. Gerhard Bahr, transferred to NAG 6 in February 1945.
• A small addition regarding the NAG 6 ground echelon's move to Herzogenaurach in August 1944.
• A little more about the history of three of the Bf 109s of II. and IV./EJG 1 attached to JG 7 in the target presentation role.
• Operation Dragoon: a link to research by Paul Mathevet identifying one of the He 111s shot down by Hellcats of VOF-1 on 19 August 1944.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Ghost Bombers updates for Midsummer's Day are:

• The final instalment of the article about Kommandos Götz, Sperling and Hecht, and
• 1.(F)/123, covering April–May 1945; more about the aircraft lost on 29 January 1945; new graphics; questions about the Werk Nummer of Hptm. Felde's 4U+DH.
• 1.(F)/100: strength and serviceability figures for 10 February 1945 added; more about efforts to locate 6. SS Division during April 1945.
• Markings and Camouflage: confirmation of the meaning of the Me 262 "S" marking.
• 2./NAG 6: a note about Kdo. Braunegg's relationship to Versuchsverband OKL (thanks to Tomáš Poruba).
• 1./NAG 1: new information added for 21 February and 8 and 9 April 1945. More about Oblt. Wilhelm Knoll. Duplicated text removed.
• Jagdgruppe 200: a note about the prisoners held by the Vercors Maquis; strength figures for 16 August 1944; addition regarding the death of Uffz. Hans Ludwig on 15 August; minor rewording; and restoration of a link.
• Markings and camouflage: paint for Fliegerzielgeschwader 1 (June 1944) and markings instructions for 4./Minensuchgruppe 1 (July 1944).
• Minor corrections throughout and some changes to layouts and file structure.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks Nick as usual for your terrific site ... and work!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Nick,

I want to agree with "ouidjat" regarding the great work you do on ghostbombers. It is truly appreciated.

Steve Sheflin

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Interesting data:

15 June 1944
CX/MSS/T221/70

From (Roman) I./KG 66, Abt. IT to Feldluftgau W. France, QM-QM 1 arms and equipment, (smudge) 4 on 15/6:

For repainting newly allocated a/c (13 Ju 88 S-3) the following is required:

100 kg. thinning, 7200.00

40 kg. a/c paint (black) 7160.22

30 kg. a/c paint (blue) 7160.24

For ops, immediate allocation (collection by receiving authority) requested.

NOTE: This appears to establish that (Roman) I./KG 66 is re-equipping on to Ju 88 S-3. Compare T220/131. T221/26 also mentioned Ju 188.

Thanks for all you do on your site, Nick.

Cheers,

D.B.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Excellent work as always Nick.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Excellent work Nick;-)

Junker

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Today's Ghost Bombers updates are:

• NSG 9: the results of attacks on Loreto on 5/6 July and Rimini on 30 September 1944 (with thanks to Enzo Lanconelli and Daniele Celli for the latter).
• Additions to the Raid damage reports article, including an attack on Stade on 31 December 1944.
• Geschwader Bongart: anti-partisan operations by 2./FAG 5 on 13 June and 4 July and by 4./KG 26 on 5 August 1944 (thanks to Georg Schlaug). Ex-FZG 2 Reggiane 2002 aircraft designated for scrapping in October 1944.
• An addition to the Kdo. Götz article on Kommando Falke delivering two Ar 234 to 1.(F)/123.
• The Ar 234 in Denmark & Norway, a number of small additions.
• 1./NAG 1 and the Me 262: more about Oblt. Wilhelm Knoll; a new page dealing with training Me 262 reconnaissance pilots at Lechfeld (with thanks to David E. Brown, Tomáš Poruba and Dave Wadman for their input to the latter).
• NAG 6 and the Me 262: loss of a Bf 110 on 1 February 1945.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Nick,

thank you for your recent updates, always an interesting reading...

One note from my side about Bf 110 G-4 730324 on 01.02.1945:

IMHO the correct unit is NJG 6 instead of NAGr. 6. Bf 110 G-4, 730 324 "2Z+EL" of Ofw. Paul Faden (2./NJG 6) was shot down in during the mission on 01. to 02.02.1945 in the area Mosheim - Waldmühlbach, very close to Roigheim. All of the crew survived, but two crewmembers were listed as WIA.

Regards,

Heuser

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick,
I sent you a mail concerning the Ar234 at Grove, I have contradicting primary sources.
bregds
SES