Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Hello,

In trying to do my profile layouts for the Ju88 units for the EOE Project, I'm having trouble pinpointing exactly when these long range recon units first began operational use of the Ju88. Order of Battle records for May 10, 1940, indicate that most, if not all of these units, were operating the Ju88 by that date, usually with other a/c types.

Can anyone provide the specific dates that the Ju88s began operational use with each of these units during 1940? I have all of the actual losses to these units, but dates of these don't necessarily relate to when the Ju88 actually went into service with the unit.

1.(F)/Ob.d.L
1.(F)/121
2.(F)/121 May not have had Ju88s before 31.12.40
3.(F)/121
4.(F)/121
1.(F)/122
2.(F)/122
3.(F)/122
4.(F)/122
5.(F)/122
1.(F)/123
2.(F)/123
3.(F)/123

As always, thanks for your help.

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Larry,

possibly this may shed a small spot at what what You are after

http://www.ww2.dk/air/recon/aufkl121.htm

The a/c inventories of 1., 3. and 4. are linked to at the end of this page.

Hopefully this may help a little.

y/f
Norbert

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Norbert,

These monthly inventories are exactly what I need, but for the years 1939-40. Do such things exist for those years?

Regards,

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Larry,

i am still trying to reach a shore by swimming in heavy mist as well as You do :)

http://weltkrieg2.de/Geschichte/Krie...ember-1942.htm

Looks like that (F)121 had been equipped with a few Ju 88 at late Sept. 1939...

(Dinner for One): "Well, Miss Sophie, i'll do my very best!"

Norbert

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Hi Larry,

before my father joined I./JG26 he was observer in 1.(F)122. He told me that he started to flew in that order : Do17 > He111 > Ju88

Now I´ve checked this page http://www.luftwaffedata.co.uk/wiki/...._122_Apr_1940

there it starts at 30 Apr 1940 with Ju88.

Also I got this info for you (unfortunately without date) :
1.(F)/22 - Sola-Stavanger JU88D1
2.(F)/22 - Vaernes, Norway Do17P

Cheers - Rainer

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Norbert,

Great document, but it turns out to be 10 Sept. 1942, although the title further down says 20 Sept. 1939. Clearly this is 1942, however. It will be a great help to me, not only for the Aufklarer units but all the Luftwaffe units that I'm working with to have these order of battle lists, but for 1939-40. What is out there?

JohnnyB: great material on AufklarGr122 on this internet site. Are there sites like this for all the AGr units? I'm always leery of accepting website posts like this at face value, but I'd certainly like to know about them. I know that there are websites for many other Luft units, but I'd never tried to look up the AGr. Thanx.

Regards,

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Hmm, there´s smth like an overview on this page. Take a look at this please :

http://www.wiki.luftwaffedata.co.uk/...y:Unit_History

@edit
I would say that this page is very trustworthy because as you can see - someone really has done a lot of effort.

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Larry/Rainer,

You will see that the indicators on the site regarding the early use of the by 122 relate to losses.

Rainer - many thanks for the comments regarding the 122 site.

However, I'm always on the look out for additional material on 122 or other Luftwaffe units. So, Rainer, you mentioned that your father flew as an observer with 1(F)./122, do you have any information that could be added to the site?

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Andy - you got PM.

Rainer

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Larry,
Neutral Ireland had a visit from a Ju88 on 29 December 1940 and photographed the Irish Air Corps base at Baldonnel and a disused former RFC/RAF Base at Cookstown possibly from (F)/123.(I would welcome any information as to its identity.)
Tony K

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Hi Tony,

it was from 2.(F)/ObdL. The reconnaissance photos revealed nothing special.

Regards

Robert

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Thank you very much Robert.
Tony K

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Hello,

It looks like I need to add 2.(F)/ObdL. to my list of recon units that had assigned Ju88s before the end of 1940.

Did I miss any other in my list that started off this post?

Regards,

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

This is probably not too much help, but the documents in my hands indicate that no Fernaufklaren Ju 88s were produced until January 1940,and only 3 in that month.
Best Regards,
Artie Bob

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/data:i...AASUVORK5CYII=Hello Larry,

this information is from the weekly GQM reports "Einsatzbereitschaft der fliegenden Verbände". Format is

Unit - Date of report (for preceding week) - number of Ju 88 on hand

St.(F)/Ob.d.L***40-02-03***1
1.(F)/Ob.d.L*** 40-05-11*** 1
2.(F)/Ob.d.L *** 40-10-12*** 1
3.(F)/Ob.d.L *** 40-11-09*** 1
4.(F)/Ob.d.L *** 40-12-28*** 2
7./(F) LG 2 *** 40-11-16*** 3
1.(F)/121 *** 40-04-06*** 2
2.(F)/121 *** 39-10-24 redesignated 4.(F)/ObdL
3.(F)/121 *** 40-03-30*** 2
4.(F)/121*** 40-02-10*** 3
1.(F)/122 *** 40-04-06*** 2
2.(F)/122 *** 40-04-06*** 3
3.(F)/122 *** 40-03-30*** 3
4.(F)/122 *** 40-03-30*** 3
5.(F)/122 *** 40-08-03*** 3
1.(F)/123 *** 40-01-06*** 3
2.(F)/123 *** 40-08-17*** 2
3.(F)/123 *** 40-02-03*** 3

This list shows the date of the first report of a Ju 88 available at the unit and the number of a/c. It seems, that the regular establishment was 9 Do 17 and 3 Ju 88 at one staffel in 1940.

HTH

Carl

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/data:i...AASUVORK5CYII=

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Artie Bob,

Thanks for the info on the Fern version of the Ju88. It is important that we get this version of the Ju88A-1 correct for the fern units that flew them. Much appreciated.

Regards,

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Carl,

This is exactly what I needed to finish the Ju88 profile production layout for the units flying the recon variation on the Ju88A-1. This tallies with the info from Artie Bob. We still have to find photos to support the research packages for these profiles, but now we know what we're looking for.

Would it be possible to get this same info for each of the Luftwaffe Night fighter units that had Ju88s assigned during 1940? I think that there were only a few.

Regards,

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Hello,

It appears that I didn't cast my net wide enough for the Ju88 in service with recon units:

I've located two losses to 1.(F)/120:

"November 4, 1940: 1.(F)/120 Junkers Ju88A-5 (0475). Aborted sortie to northern Scotland due to engine failure and crashed in the North Sea 50 miles off Yorkshire coast during return flight 11.07 a.m. FF Fw Helmut Hörning, BO Oberlt Horst Hesse, BS Gefr Johann Wülbeck, and BF Uffz Werner Kriegel all missing. Aircraft 100% write-off."

"November 12, 1940: 1.(F)/120 Junkers Ju88A-5 (0391). Crashed on landing at Stavanger-Sola following domestic flight due to undercarriage failure. No crew casualties. Aircraft 50% damaged but repairable."

In addition, I've found these two losses with another unit that I failed to ask about:

3.(F)/22

December 25, 1940:

3.(F)/22 Junkers Ju88A. Returned damaged in attack by F/O B.J.G. Carbury of No.603 Squadron 12 miles north-east of St Abbs Head during shipping-reconnaissance sortie over the Firth of Forth 1.40 p.m. FF Fw [ ] Haspel, BO Lt [ ] Vogel, BF Uffz [ ] Hausmann, and gunner all unhurt. Aircraft damage state not recorded.

3.(F)/22 Junkers Ju88A-5 (0535). Both engines damaged in attacks by Martlets of No.804 (FAA) Squadron (Lt L.V. Carver and Sub-Lt T.R.U. Parke) during shipping-reconnaissance sortie to Scapa Flow and belly-landed near Sandwick, north-east of Loch of Skaill, Orkney Islands, 2.05 p.m. FF Lt Karl Schipp, BO Fw Heinrich Schreiber, and BF Uffz Johann Spörl captured unhurt, BS Obergefr Karl Rotter captured badly wounded. Aircraft 4N+AL 100% write-off. (3 photos in the EOE DB)

I don't know if any other units from I.(F)/22 also had Ju88s assigned by the end of December, 1940.

So, I need dates for initial assignment and quantities for the Ju88 to these long range recon units, by individual squadron.

(F)/22

and

(F)/120

Can anyone help? Carl?

Regards,

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Hello Larry,

I found this information concerning Ju 88 in 1940. Format is same as my earlier posting:

1./(F)120 *** 40-09-07 ***3
2./(F)22 *** 40-11-09 ***1
3./(F)22 *** 40-11-09 ***2

II/NJG 1 *** 40-07-20 ***8
established by renaming Z.St. KG 30, Ju 88 probably were ex KG 30.
The report is somewhat unclear, but its seems, that 1st and 3rd Staffeln were Ju 88 "Z" and 2nd Staffel Do 17 Kauz. As my knowledge on NJG and on Ju 88 is somewhat lacking, we will need the help of some experts to clear this.

I/NJG 2 = II/NJG 1 renamed *** 40-09-14***9
"new" II/NJG 1 had Bf 110s

4./NJG 2 (ex 1./ZG 2) *** 40-11-09***2
for some onknown reason this Staffel did report its subtypes on
40-12-21 as 2 x Ju 88 A-1, 2 x Ju 88 C-4.

Greetings from rainy and cold Munich

Carl

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Thanks Carl,

Can you or anyone else break down the assignment of the 9 Ju88s within the components of I./NJG2 on 14.09.40, and if the Stab and all three Squadrons immediately each got some of the Ju88s? What dates and in what quantities were they first assigned to the Stab, 1, 2 and 3 Staffel of NJG2?

Regards,

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Hello Andy,

very well done

best regards
byron

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Little bit delayed, but hopefully of some interest as additional, i've found the following in the book "Deckname 'Briefwaage'" on pages 38/39:

1. Picture of a Ju 88 of 1./(F) 123, crash-landed on 9th May 1940 at Azy (France) and blown up by own crew.
2. Picture of a Ju 88 of (F) 123 with call-sign 4U+GH.
3. Picture of a Ju 88 of (F) 123 with call-sign 4U+EH, crash-landed April 1940 due to undercarriage failure.

2. and 3. are taken at Langendiebach. Keeping in mind that the crews had to be trained/type-rated on a new a/c it is pretty much reasonable that (F) 123 was equipped with the Ju 88 some remarkable weeks before joining active service in the unit.

Cheers
Norbert

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Larry,

Your pm-box is full - so message in this way for You.
Scans may take a few days because i am not finished already with my removal at this time.
I'll drop You a line before e-mailing the requested material.

Cheers
Norbert

Re: Entry into service with Recon Squadrons of the Ju88
 

Norbert,

Thanx for your cooperation. Looking forward to receiving the scans.

Regards,