Italian defense of Corfu island
 

hallo to everybody,

I wonder if there are losses reports concerning the German air attacks on Corfu island in late september, 1943. Italian sources speak about 10 or even 20 downed German aircraft during the defense of the island. Which units where employed by the Luftwaffe? And from which airfields? Agrinion, Megara, Paramythia?
Thanks a lot,

Andrea

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Yeah Me too! An Axis plane crashed on My Family's home island of Paxos/Paxi 30 km south of Corfu; at some point I hope to find out MORE about the unit involved...

NM

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Dear Nick,
Is the crashed plane in in any way connected with the propeller from an Italian machine displayed in the harbor of Paxos?
May be, more infos are available on German operations against Kephalonia in the same late-September 1943 period...

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Thanks for the reply!
A crashed Italian plane's prop in Paxos harbor? I have never seen that!! I have spent a LOT of time there due to my family & all. Was it in Gayos or Lakka? Either way I have not seen or heard of this. The only thing My folks told me was that it crashed on the Island 'sometime during the occupation' & they used it's aluminum to make plates.

NM

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Dear Nick,

I have been in Paxos (indeed a wonderful place) more than five years ago, but I clearly remember an Italian three paddles propeller with parts of an engine connected to it. It was lying against a wall on the seafront, a few hundred meters to the right of the place where boats land the tourists.

Best,

Andrea

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Thanks for the info;

You remember what port Town in Paxos you saw it?

NM

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Unfortunately Nick (the Greek?) I do not remember the name of the harbour. I do not think however it should be difficult to find the propeller: it is veery big and in a densely populated area.

Best,

Andrea

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

In the Gen. Qu. loss list of 18 september 1943 I read that on 13 september 1943 Ju.52 of Fl. Komp. Ln. Rgt. 40 wr. nr 3273 TH+UE had to make an emergency landing at Corfu because of italian anti aircraft fire : the aircraft was lost and the four crewmembers were seized by the italian.

Best regards

Gianandrea

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Hi Gianandrea,

I think that plane belonged to Flieger-Trsp.Kp. X. Fl.K.

FF. Fw. Werner Öhme, (TH+UE, W.Nr. 3273) 100% m. BF. Fw. Martin Posemeuer, BM. Ofw. Eugen Pfeifer, BS. Uffz. Kurt Palm, alle (v.) Notlandung infolge ital. Flakbeschusses, Besatzung (KG.) 13.09.43 Korfu,


regarding attacks against Korfu and Kefalonia i`ll give you some loses



I. St.G. 3


In der Zeit von 13.09 bis 23.09 Teile in Araxos, Feindflüge Kefalonia und Korfu, ab 27.09.43 von Paramythia zurück nach Megara;




FF. Ltn. Lothar Walter, Ju 87 D4 (W.Nr. 1198) 100% m. BF. Ogfr. Gerhard Link, Absturz südl. Dilianata, Insel Kefalonia, beide (vw.) 22.09.43,



16.09.43 Ju 87 D3 W.Nr.1217) 100% Absturz infolge Motorstörung westl. Kephalonia, Besatzung gerettet,



FF. Fw. Karl Fischer, Ju 87 D4 (S7+GH, W.Nr. 1127) 100% m. BF. Uffz. Otto Pietsch, nach Notlandung verbrannt, beide (vw.) 21.09.43 Kefalonia,


II./St.G. 3 Einsatz der Gruppe 09.43 von Agrinion aus gegen die Italiener auf Kefalonia;


FF. Oblt. Edmund Pflugmacher, Ju 87 D3 (W.Nr. 1479) 100% m. BF. Uffz. Ewald Bartelt,beide (+) bei Notlandung Motorbrand, 22.09.43 Kefalonia,

4./St.G. 3

FF. Fw. Walter Grünert, Ju 87 D3 (S7+EM, W.Nr. 110287) 100% m. Bf. Ogfr. Franz Vaculka, beide (v.) Absturz infolge Motorstörung 21.09.43 Davgata Kefalonia,

6./St.G. 3

FF. Oblt. Herbert Stry, Ju 87 D3 (S7+CP, W.Nr. 110285) 100% m. BF. Uffz. Fritz Strassburger, beide (+) durch Bombenexplosion in der Luft, 21.09.43 Davgata Insel Kefalonia,


1/Aufkl.Gru. 126



FF. Ofw. Willi Gerwins (+), Ar 196 A3 (D1+IH, W.Nr. 0298) 100% m. BO. Ofw. Theodor Harings (+), abgeschossen von italienischer Schiffsflak 19.09.43 im Hafen Korfu,


regards
byron

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Dear Gianandrea and Byron,

Thank you very much for the precious informations! Any idea about the airfields these aircraft were flying from?

Best,

Andrea

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Note that Herbert Stry was a recipient of the RK.

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Hello Pelagonia,

The main airfield of "Gruppe I" was Megara, of "Gruppe II" Argos.
As i mentioned, they used Araxos, Agrinion and Paramythia during 13. and 28. September 1943.
They had some loses on theese airfields, for example in Agrinion

FF. Fw. Ernst Breitenfelder, Ju 87D3 (W.Nr. 100943) 100% m. BF. Uffz. Gottfried Müller, beide (+), Absturz nach Start und Aufschlagbrand, 26.09.43 Fl.Pl. Agrinion


This crew belonged to Stab II, unfortunatly i don`t know the Staffel

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Thank You very much 're Byron!

Your huge archive of knowledge is as always invaluable...

Andrea

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Hello,

This is my first post on this forum.
I recenty bought a soldbuch of Walther Grünert who was a FF in II/St.G.3. He was highly awarded.

- 1. Oktober 1939: Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit "Prager Burg" Spange
- 1. September 1941: Kriegsverdienstkreuz II Klasse mit Schwertern
- 4. Oktober 1943: Eisernes Kreuz II Klasse
- 26. November 1943: Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Bronze
- 25. Februar 1944: Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Silber
- 27. März 1944: Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold
- 27. März 1944: Eisernes Kreuz I Klasse
- 26. Juni 1944: Ehrenpokal für Besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg

I saw his name in this thread and I was wondering if anyone has some more information on this man or his unit II/St.G.3

Thanks

Henry

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

If you can find a copy in the online used book market, A full history of II./St.G. 3 can be found here, pages 97-112:

de Zeng, Henry L. IV and Douglas G. Stankey. Dive-Bomber and Ground-Attack Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945: A Reference Source. Volume 1. Hersham/Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd, November 2009. ISBN: (13) 978 1 903223 87 1. Hb. Dj. 208p. Profusely illustrated. Copious source notes. Color art work. Glossary/Abbreviations. Index.

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Hi Andrea,

as i wrote

I. St.G. 3

In der Zeit von 13.09 bis 23.09 Teile in Araxos, Feindflüge Kefalonia und Korfu, ab 27.09.43 von Paramythia zurück nach Megara;
II./St.G. 3 Einsatz der Gruppe 09.43 von Agrinion aus gegen die Italiener auf Kefalonia;

Byron

Re: Italian defense of Corfu island
 

Thank you guys.
Does anyone have some info about the man?