Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Quite a lot of what I have seen could be explained by liaison between the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine. Given the geography of Norway, I guess that very few flights would take place that would completely avoid the sea.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Today's additions and updates to Ghost Bombers are:

• A new article: ULTRA and Unternehmen »PAULA«: 3 June 1940.
• Kommando Götz: details of a mission flown on 1 March 1945 (thanks to Chris Going).
• Staffel Kaatsch: the homeward flight of a damaged aircraft on 28 August 1944 (thanks to “Xerumbe” of the 12 o’clock high forum).
• Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen: a British Intelligence appreciation of October 1944; identification of a shot down Lancaster (thanks to Theo Boiten).
• Jagdgeschwader Recognition Bands: more about the general notification to commands that German fighters would carry coloured bands (thanks to “Seaplanes” of the 12 o’clock high forum).
• Kommando Olga: activity by two aircraft of 6.(F)/123 on the night of 22/23 August 1944.
• Kommando Rastedter: addition of a strength return for 4./FAGr. 5 on 6 July 1944.
• Geschwader Bongart: something about I./LLG 1's departure from France plus some small additions regarding Bongart's operations on 5, 6 , 8 and 9 July 1944 (thanks to Jochen Prien); an additional note about 13 July; and a comment from a Maquis veteran about an action on 20 July.
• Kampfflieger Vol. IV: an addition about II./KG 6's part in the attack on Soissons on 30/31 August 1944.
• Adlertag: added an operation by I./KG 27 against airfields in England on the night of 6/7 June 1940.
• 1940 loss reports: six additional reports for the month of May and one for 11 June.
• A clarification about Kommando Schenck's target on 28 August 1944.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

"On the 25th, Uffz. Heinrich Semmelrogge (pilot), Uffz. Werner Dörries (radio operator), Uffz. Rudolf Lang (Bordwart) died in a crash attributed to pilot error (Ju 88 G-6, W.Nr. 621284, B4+NA). Petrick places this crash 20 km south west of Gardermoen aerodrome. Another G-6 was 30% damaged in a crash the following day but this time none of the crew was injured."

The location of this crash is correct, it went down about 1000 m from the house where I live now, in Gjerdrum. There are still people remembering the crash, they did however say that it was no doubt engine malfunction coming in. This day the plane had a completly different sound, and then it went down.

The germans cleaned up the wreck, so there is only metal parts showing up these days.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks very much for that information, I'll include it the next time I update the site.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

For the record (Unternehmen Paula etc update)
10 17 is Biggin Hill; 10 118 is Kenley; 10 99 is Hawkinge; 10 136 is Lympne
and finally 10 281 is Detling.

ATB

ChrisG

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks, Chris.

Quite a lot of these target numbers appear in the messages and the British gradually understood more of them as time went on, I suppose because they could compare them with what had actually been bombed.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Updates for Bastille Day are:

• Addition to my "Complete Works": 4./FAGr. 5, chapter 12 of Robert Forsyth: Shadow over the Atlantic (Osprey, 2017) ISBN 978 1 4728 2045 7.
• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: three new pages on the Bristol raid of 14–15 May 1944.
• Listening and Jamming: a new, illustrated page on the »Kettenhund« airborne jammer; also directives about the use of »Düppel« chaff, June–July 1944.
• Geschwader Bongart: actions at Saint-Amand-Montrond on 8 June 1944 (thanks to Philippe Cannone) and additional details of Re 2002 operations on 12 July 1944.
• Jagdgruppe 200: accident to an Fw 190 of Jagdgruppe Süd at Avignon on 10 June (thanks to Philippe Cannone) and a few more words about events on 23 June 1944.
• Invasion Watch: addition of RAF comments on German aircrew morale, 30 May 1944.
• Staffel Kaatsch: a new suggested location of Ltn. Bell's victory claimed on 3 September 1944 (thanks to Jochen Prien).
• Ghost Bombers the Moonlight War of NSG 9: new information from October 1942 about German proposals to use the CR. 42 by night and a Ju 87 night harassment operation in North Africa.

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité à tous!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick,

Thanks for all the effort you put into your excellent website and I know that you are busy but I was hoping you would be able to help please ?

I can't seem to access pages 2 and 3 of the latest update for Kampfflieger Vol.4 about the Bristol raid of 14-15 May 1944.

It's probably me but I've tried on several different computers at work and my tablet at home but nothing happens when I hit the "next" icon at the bottom of page one of the update.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

Sean.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks for pointing that out. It definitely wasn't you but on the other hand I don't know what it was. The links on page 1 were present in the page design app but when you tried to "preview in browser" they'd gone — even though those on pages 2 and 3 did work.

I went for the brute force option, deleted the old links and put in new ones which seem to be OK in Safari and Firefox.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks, Nick.

Regards,

Sean.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

More added just now to ghostbombers.com, bringing the site up to 589 pages:

• Kommando Sommer: five new pages, taking the account to its conclusion.
• Ghost Bombers … NSG 9: information on the last posting of Oberstltn. Karl Vehmeyer; a new page with two frames from a film taken at Vicenza by the US War Department's Bureau of Public Relations.
• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: information about an He 111 transferring to the Hungarian air force; correction to the tactical markings of Obltn. Valet's Me 262 A-2.
• Jagdgruppe 200: more about the pilot taken prisoner by the Resistance on 14 July 1944; information about bomb damage at Avignon on 7 August 1944.
• Geschwader Bongart: correction to the Werk Nummer of a ZG 1 Ju 88 lost on 7 June 1944; possible identification of Fhr. Johann Kössler who crashed on 8 June 1944; more about the actions at Morgins, Égletons and Abondance in August 1944.
• Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen: information from Rod McKenzie about incidents in which aircraft of the unit were damaged; a reconnaissance sighting of an He 219 at Kastrup on 4 May 1945
• Markings and Camouflage: information from 1942 on the markings of a Ju 86 and a captured Hurricane.
• Invasion Watch: statement by a captured German airman on 27 April 1944.
• NAGr. 6: correction regarding operations on 28 February 1945.
• Kommando Götz: RAF reconnaissance sightings of an Ar 234 by the runway at Rheine; correction regarding operations on 28 February 1945.
• 1.(F)/100: information from Andrew Arthy about two of the unit's pilots: Fw. Heider and Obltn. Heinz Schelbert.
• The Ar 234 in Denmark and Norway: RAF reconnaissance sightings of Arados at Schleswig and Leck.

Right, time to get on with the next batch …

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

More added this morning to ghostbombers.com:

• Geschwader Bongart: expanded account of the actions on the Glières plateau (March 1944); an air attack on Tarbes (10 June); "friendly fire" incident at Saint-May (22 June); more about the bombing of Les Ollières (29 June); an action at Col de la Fayolle (5 July); more about bomb damage at Oyonnax (12 July); Monestier (13 July); German assessment of Allied supply drops (14 July); Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors (27 July); more about the bombing of Morgins (6 August); l'Alpe d'Huez (10 August); l'eau d'Olle (12 August); Cirque de St. Même and Le Poursollet (13 August); St. Remèze (16 August); St. Marcellin (22 August); extracts from the Vichy, Swiss, and clandestine French press.
• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: an addition about Fl.Kps. VIII's activitiies on 5 July 1943, on the Army Group Centre front; additions to the account of the 14/15 May 1944 raid on Bristol.
• Jagdgruppe 200: a small addition about Resistance forces taking a pilot prisoner on 14 July 1944 and a quotation about Free French involvement in the combat of 8 August; more about II./JG 77's action at St. Remèze on 16 August.
• Kommando Sommer: revised to take account of information about attacks on Campoformido-Udine by the US 79th FG on 20 March1945 and with additions for1, 9 and 12 April.
• The Ar 234 in Norway and Denmark: information from the Japanese miltary attaché, 26 February 1945.
• 1.(F)/123: information from Allied photo-recoonniassance of Marx in February 1945; more about the unit's transfer to Lübeck-Blankensee, 6 April 1945.
• Operation Dragoon: information on wreckage of two additional aircraft from 1.(F)/33.
• NSG 9: more about the use of exhaust flame dampers on Ju 87s in Africa in 1942.
• Invasion Watch: small additions regarding 18 and 20 April 1944.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

This year's first updates to ghostbombers.com are:

• New article of 10,000 words-plus: Kommando Koch, July 1942–May 1943
• Numerous additions to Listening and Jamming: June 1943–August 1944,
• 1.(F)/123: information from Allied photo-reconniassance of Hohn on 25 April 1945.
• Geschwader Bongart: a link to images of Re. 2002, W.Nr. 1222 (discovered by Marc-André Haldimann)
• He 111 Torpedo Operations: July–August 1940: some additions and corrections.
• Various minor corrections to typing, links and page layouts.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks Mister Nick Beale !

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thank again for a very interesting new article on Kdo Koch. I had never thought before that aircrew could be asked to shot down enemy flares. Would be interesting to see what are in the RAF crew reports about all this activity (jamming and flare shooting).

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thank you — I can't write articles as fast as you can read them!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick,

I was reading your article on the Coventry raids. After Stab.I./Kg 28, III./KG 26 and Kgr.100 were transferred to Luftflotte 2 in July 1941, I was wondering if you knew who took over flying missions against Britain using the X and Y Gerat ?

Regards
oquaig

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I haven't researched 1941 at all. According to Ken Wakefield's book, after the bomber force went to Russia, there was no pathfinder unit in the west until the winter of 1941, when some crews of III./KG 2 took on the role.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick,

It may be that III./KG 2 took over the X Gerat from Kgr. 100 when the instruments were removed from their aircraft before going east. Apparently III./KG 26 simply exchanged their He 111 H5s for He 111 H6s before going east as well. Who got those machines is one of the unknowns.

Thanks
oquaig

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Ju 88C-6 WNr 705686 is most likely WNr 750686, StKz PL+CC

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

"705686" was a typo of mine, which I thought I'd corrected long ago. Thanks for reminding me (and for the St.Kz.).

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Regarding the Kdo. Koch article: for the 2-Sep-42 loss of Ltn. Rische & crew. The WNr. is reported as WNr. 7583, 'TM+KP' by Balke with the same WNr. in Gen.Qu.6.Abt. losses. Which WNr. is correct? No opinion here as to which - just pointing out the WNr. discrepancy. I have no other conflict for WNr. 7583, while WNr. 7586 is missing in my db. (Note that I have He 111H-6 WNr. 7589 from KG 55 reported specifically as 'TM+KV' in another document I have [may have been inferred by author-I don't know]. I did see that Nick mentions WNr. 7583 from other intercepts later in his article.)

He 111H-6, 7583, Rische, Ltn. Johannes, , II., , KG 100 (S.Kdo. Koch), , TM+KP, TM+KP, , 02-Sep-42, Crew killed in crash at sea., , Ob.Bhf.Süd/Mittelmeer, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #7)-Vol.11; Balke, KG 100, p.376, 444, , bei Fl.Pl. Kalamaki/Athen, 100%, F, B Ltn. Helmut Otto, Bf Uffz. Helmut Brohammer, Bs Ogefr. Roland Joscht & 2.Bf Fu. Bruno Adrian, ,

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

In which particular article is Ju 88C-6 WNr. 705686/750686 mentioned? Definitely would have agreed with Roland's assessment, and with Nick's confirmation, but I can't seem to find it!! And just saying, Nick, your articles from these Ultra intercepts are an amazing contribution/resource to all of us. Thank you!!

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

It's here if you look hard enough! (Near the bottom of the page): http://www.ghostbombers.com/Bongart/GB_14.html

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Found it. Thanks Nick.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

I've uploaded a long list of updates and additions to the site this morning:

• 1940 losses: three new pages of ULTRA loss and damage reports from Norway in April and May 1940.
• A new article about Kommando Kunkel, November 1943–July 1944.
• Extensive additions to Listening and Jamming: June 1943–August 1944, including two pages on intelligence from RAF airmen captured by a U-boat crew and two on the short-lived Biscay invasion scare of January 1944.
• KGr. 100 and the Coventry Blitz: an addition about a possible warning whose meaning was not understood, along with some information about Winston Churchill's interest in the circulation of ULTRA material (including a letter to the Chief of MI6).
• NSG 9: more about Ju 87 aircraft of I./SG 151 with markings in the "6Q+A_" series.
• Sonderstaffel Kaatsch: addition regarding Lw.Kdo. West's shortage of suitable reconnaissance Bf 109s in late September 1944.
• Additions to the page on 10./ZG 1.
• Geschwader Bongart: corrected Ju 88 C-6 Werk Nummer (pointed out by members of the forum); revised note about Corme-Écluse airfield.
• JGr. 200: an addition about Bf 109 G-6 W.Nr. 441134; a small addition about the USAAF raid on Avignon, 7 August 1944.
• Kommando Sommer: images appearing to show the unit's destroyed vehicles after their train was shot up on 14 February 1945.
• Kommando Olga: added a precise location for the crash of Ju 188 A3+QD
• Numerous corrections to typing, links and page layouts.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick.

Great work;-)

Jörn

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Jim?

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

14 May 1940: The He111 with the belly landing in Vaernes - I'd guess - was the 1H+BM. They had an "Notlandung" after an "Feindflug" there at 08.45 am (source: flight log Helmut Jaeger).

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Sorry Nick. Has been corrected.

Regards
Jörn Junker

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Today's updates to my website are:

• Kriegstagebuch of Stab JG 77: addition of two ULTRA messages about the unit on 2 and 3 December 1943.
• Invasion Watch: quote from a pilot of 3./NAG 14 about the problems caused by installing cameras in the Bf 109.
• Kommando Götz: information about a sortie flown on 31 March 1945.
• Geschwader Bongart: action at Dun-le-Poëllier on 11 June, a newspaper quote for 24 July and an account of a Resistance ambush on 30 July 1944 (this last item entirely thanks to Greg Skaggs).
• Kommando Koch: quote from a prisoner about jamming of radars during raids on Malta; Italian report of German aircraft using radar to locate a submarine.
• Kommando Kunkel: several small additions.
• Kettenhund radar jammer: additional quote from a British report on the equipment.
• Kommando Olga: addition about Ltn. Ernst Suchy (thanks to the latest updating of deZeng and Stankey's invaluable work on Luftwaffe officers' career summaries).
• 1.(F)/100: additions to the appendix on pilots and aircraft.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Nick.

Great work.
Hptm. Hermann Holert is the correct spelling, not Hollert.

Junker

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks Junker. How did you find which was the correct spelling?

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

BAMA RL 4 146 GdA Stellungsbezetzungen Verbände 06-03-1945.

Cheers
Junker

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi Laurent,

I'm currently working on the RAF's experiences of German ground and airborne jamming over the Mediterranean: the Kdo. Koch article will get a lot bigger eventually.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Thanks Nick, more that I was asking for.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

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

• Kommando Koch: article extensively rewritten and doubled in size with additional material particularly about the effects of jamming on the RAF's radars and communications, and the measures it took in response.
• Geschwader Bongart: a quote from a resistance newspaper about the Glières Plateau operation.
• Markings and Camouflage: a reprimand from September 1942 about failure to apply the correct markings to aircraft on the Eastern Front.
• Kommando Kunkel: additions about the Naxos homer and the possibility of intercepting aircraft with anti-shipping radar.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Always very interesting about Bongart unit ! Thank you !

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Hi,

Thank you Nick for your constant and tenacious work.
Always a pleasure to read your pages

Best regards,
Franck.

Re: Ghostbombers updates
 

Nick thank you, grateful for all you do.