Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Hi guys

After the success of my enquiries into PQ17 and 18, may I ask the experts for details of Luftwaffe losses (and claims) during these earlier convoys, please?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Is there any definite info. on which convoys were subject to air attack which would help with this. Wikipedia indicates air attacks on :

PQ10 around 12-4-42 while on the return voyage

PQ13 air attack on 28-3-42

PQ14 air attacks between 15th to 18-4-42

PQ15 attacked by 6 Ju88 on 1-5-42 one aircraft lost and on 3-5-42 by
I/KG26 who lost 3 aircraft (first torpedo attack?)

PQ16 between 25th to 30-5-42 subject to air attacks sinking 6 ships.

Probaly some recon. aircraft lost on earlier convoys but GQM would not indicate a specific convoy mission,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Hello Brian,

Here are a few books that may help. I do not own them.

http://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-CONVOYS.../dp/1844156117

http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Sacr...ref=pd_sim_b_2


If anything, they should be able to fix some or most dates for air attacks.




Usual disclaimer,
Ed

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Thanks Ed

I have ARTIC CONVOYS but not the other title.

I'm confident we'll be successful with this quest, also!

Cheers
Brian

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Hi Brian,
only have some Ju 88´s vs PQ./QP. convoys, not much indentified, and nothing on date 01.05.1942. I have not checked when first Ju 88 A-4 LT were employed from Norway, mostly He 111´s but yes, some from ex-KG 28 (and old KG 26 book likely has details on this, do not have it now).

(0880)797 Ju 88 A-5 F [DE+SS] Luftwaffe
- Ju 88 C-4 [DE+SS] Luftwaffe
Converted to Áfflebach-Zerstörer at JFM Dessau in late 1941, flown there 01.1942 and 02.1942, BAL Abnahme at Dessau 13.02.1942 [post by Peter Achs to author on TOCH forum 07.2006]
- Ju 88 C-4 [4D+HA] Erp.St./KG 30 (Luftflotte 5) OPS (F) damaged by AA fire [in attack on Convoy PQ.13 at sea off North-Norway] was force landed (70%) on mountain side near Sandfjord, at Nordkyn, Kinnarodden, Norway 28.03.1942 (Staffelkapitän F Hptm. Cuno Gotthardt badly inj, B Oblt. Helmut Lütgens badly inj. and BF Uffz. Willi Hillebrecht slightly inj.)
[rep Ju 88 A5 797 in LWFLV losses; W.Nr. 0797 was painted on lower tip of tail, this is now in the Gamvik museum, Norway; reported in error as He 111 and 4D+HA down at sea in POS 7109N/2740E in TNA: HW13/98 SALU 431 P.5; W.Nr. 0880797 had C-4 Zerstörer type nosecap and nose guns; code from SIG Luftwaffe Norway homepage]
Sold by Norwegian Government to locals after war ended (1945) - Wreck was recovered in separate operations by RNoAF Museum to local storage site in Northern Norway in 1999 and 2000 - Then moved by ship transport to the RNoAF Museum at Bodö in 2001 - Stored in Bodö [2004]

(0880)688 Ju 88 A-5 [GM+ZM] Luftwaffe
[mfd 12.40; Likely mounted in January 1940]
- Ju 88 A-5 [GM+ZM] 1.(F)/124 (Luftwaffe)
Known ´Umschúlung´ at Aalborg, Denmark 23.02.41 [F Erwin Bauer was converting from Do 215 to new type (doing 12 flights on GM+ZM that day).]
- Ju 88 A-5 F [G2+AH] 1.(F)/124 (Luftflotte 5 East)
OPS (F) mis (100%) unk location (Nordmeer) [downed by ships AA fire from Allied Convoy PQ.9 in the Arctic Ocean/the Barentssea, off Norway] 31.03.1942 (F Fw. Georg Schuchardt, BM Uffz. August Brünnighof, B Uffz. Willi Schirmer and BF Uffz. Walter Wieser mis)
[rep A5 688 in LWFLV losses; names rep in amd f/09.04.42; causes and loc. fm other sources]

(0880)140171 Ju 88 A-4 [4D+AC] Stab.II/KG 30 (Luftflotte 5 East)
OPS (F) damaged (08%) by <enemy> AA fire (PLQ 37öst/62..) [attack on Allied Convoy PQ.15 (that sailed from Oban in Scotland 10.04.42) West of Norway] 11.04.1942 (Gruppenkommandeur F Hptm. Sigmund-Ulrich Freiherr von Gravenreuth injured)
[rep A4 0171 in LWFLV losses 119v16.04.42 (rep not damaged later!) - code in ARS website KLPA listings (Gravenreuth)]
- Ju 88 A-4 5./KG 30 (Ob.Befh.Sud)
OPS (F) downed by fighter fire (100%) at Louk El Arba 12.01.1943 (F Oblt. Hans-Joachim Kost, B Ofw. Bruno Lehmann and BF Fw. Hans Dietzig killed)
(rep A4 140171 in losses)

cheers,
ed

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Great stuff, Ed

That's a fine start.

Perhaps Brian Bines has details of the KG26 losses for 2 May 1942?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Hi Brian,
neither Luftwaffe SIG Norway or Nordik Aviation in WW2 sites show KG26 losing aircraft on 2/5/42 only as below on 3/5/42 :-

03-05-1942 Heinkel He 111 H-6 Lufttorpedostaffel ?./I./KG 26 Bardufoss 5A WNr. 0004 950 unk British S/f unk
100% Uffz. Paul Hofalski (+) 4-0-0-0 Norweg. Sea Cra/s near convoy PQ15, (Pl.Qu.17-Ost-9481)

03-05-1942 Heinkel He 111 H-6 Lufttorpedostaffel ?./I./KG 26 Bardufoss 5A WNr. unk unk British S/f unk ?%
Ltn. Arnold Harman (w) 0-0-2-2 NORWAY Lan/Sda/ on airfield Bardufoss

Bruce Lander

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Hi Bruce

My slip up - Brian Bines wrote 3 May!

Cheers
Brian

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Brian,

I was looking them up but Bruce beat me, the crew of 4950 lost to AA fire was Ff Uffz.Paul Hofalski, B Oblt.Kurt Jauer St.Kap, Bf Uffz.Karl Wagner and Bs Uffz.Gustav v.Rambow all missing (from KG 26 book which is clearer than GQM),

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Brian,

Just to add to Bruce's second loss report GQM has Enemy Fire Pl.Qu. 9481/17 FF Ltn Arnold Harman and Bs Ogef Wilhelm Arnold wounded, no aircraft details.
GQM reports between 27-5-42 to 4-6-42 has a number of KG30 losses which are likely to link to Convoy Attacks Iwill post these later unless my slow typing gets beaten,

Brian Bines

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Possible PQ 16 Hunters:-

25-5-42 III/KG30 Polar See Unknown Ju88 A-4 140138 4D+IT
FF Fw Martin Irrgang m
B Ogef. Hans Recha m
Bf Ogef Hans Muller m
Bs Gef Heinrich Jungeland m

25-5-42 III/KG30 Polar See possibly due to AA Ju 88A-4 1456 4D+CR
FF Ltn Arther Schbert m
B Ogef Rudolf Geppert m
Bf Ogef Karl Weber m
Bs Uffz Franz Allweiler m

26-5-42 I/KG26 'H' Fl.PL. Banak crashed and burnt out He111 H-6 4817
Ff Uffz Helmut Walter +
B Uffz Martin Barmutz +
Bs Uffz Wilhelm Baugmann +
Bf Uffz Georg Harger +

27-5-42 I/KG30 NordMeer ditched following AA fire Ju88 A-4 2061 4D+DH
Ff Uffz Max Puryre m-+
B Uffz Kurt Heuer m-+
Bf Uffz Paul Zeschke m-+
Bs Uffz Ftefan Kuvanzs m-+

27-5-42 I/KG30 Fl.Pl.Banak crash following AA fire Ju88 A-4 142073
Ff Oblt Friedich-August v.Starck +
B Uffz Mathias Zilk +
Bf Uffz Rikelaus Deindl +
Bs Uffz Albert Beselt +
Crew buried Botn-Rognan one site gives this as probaly own Flak

27-5-42 III/KG30 ditched following engine failure Ju88 A-4 1226 4D+ER
Ff Ltn Horst Midke m
B Uffz Heinrich Ludwig m
Bf Ogef Alfred Stein m
Bs Gef Konrad Rudigale m

27-5-43 I/Kg40 Jan Majen Island Enemy Fire
Bf Ofw Friedrich Findeuisen +

28-5-42 1/KFGr.106 Crash by Kistrand on start He115C 3250
Ff Hptm Walter Staack +
B Ltn Peter Kruse +
Bf Fw Friedrich Ossenkopp +
crew buried Botn-Rognan

30-5-42 I/KG30 Fl.Pl. Banak crashed on start Ju88 A-4 2068
Ff Ofw Fritz Muller + buried Botn-Rognan
B Uffz Walter Bachmeister inj
Bs Gef Karl Maier inj

30-5-42 II/KG30 Eismeer believed fell to fighters Ju88 A-4 4D+CM 1760
Ff Oblt. Siegfried Scharff m
B Fw Herbert Wendt m
Bf Gef Georg Tischler m
Bs Obfahn Alfred Eromin m

Source GQM and 'Deutsche Flieger unter dem Nordlicht'

Regards

Brian Bines

NB another possibility on 25-5-42 is Fw200C 0080 of 3/KG40 crashed on T/O Varnes on combat mission Ff Ofw Wilhelm Lohmann and Bm Fw Erich Seifert killed plus 4 inj.

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Great stuff, Brian

Much to examine in some detail.

There was more aerial action that I realised.

Cheers
Brian

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

"Possible PQ 16 Hunters:-

25-5-42 III/KG30 Polar See Unknown Ju88 A-4 140138 4D+IT
FF Fw Martin Irrgang m
B Ogef. Hans Recha m
Bf Ogef Hans Muller m
Bs Gef Heinrich Jungeland m"

Not possible. The 140138 is known accepted 5 August 42, as built in July !
(I have put this as possibly W.Nr. 1238, and all 1380 to 1389 are known)

- Ju 88 A-4 4D+IT III/KG 30 (Luftflotte 5)
OPS (F) mis (100%) unk location (Polarmeer) [is belived shot down by RAF Hurricat of MSFU (F/O. Kendall) flying from british CAM ship ss EMPIRE HORN in the Barents Sea Arctic Ocean] 25.05.1942 (F Fw. Martin Irrgang, B Obgefr. Hans Bache, BF Obgefr. Hans Müller and BS Gefr. Heinrich Jungelaus missing) (rep A4 138 4D+IT in LWFLV losses; poss. 1238 ???)

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

(Other by B. Bines I agree on, no offence meant ;-) )
I have notes of one was possibly downed by "Hurricat" (catapult Hurricane) of CAM ship Empire Lawrence, possibly the 2061 (i.e. 0880142061 4D+DH) and one by Soviet Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

(088)1760 Ju 88 A-4 4D+CM 4./KG 30 (Luftflotte 5 West)
OPS (F) belived downed by <enemy> fighter fire (Nordmeer) [over Arctic Ocean/Barentssea near Allied Convoy PQ.16: was downed by Soviet Air Force Curtiss P-40 Warhawk´s] 30.05.1942 (F Oblt. Sigfried Schapp <Sharprff>, B Fw. Herbert Wendt, BF Gefr. Georg Tischler and BS Sdfhr. Alfred Eromin missing)

Best regards
Ed

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Excellent, Ed

Many thanks ideed, we're making real progress now!

Any ideas of identity/unit of the Russian P-40 pilot?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Addition. WASt has 1238 against GQM A-4 "138" on 25.05.1942

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Here's a book about PQ8:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1848840519?...2Ftitle%2F2365



Usual disclaimer,
Ed

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

One more (turned up in another file):
(0880)142075 Ju 88 A-4 4D+XT III/KG 30 (Luftflotte 5 East)
OPS (F) missing (100%) unk location (Nordmeer) [Arctic Ocean] 01.05.1942 (F Oblt. Reinhard Heise, Staffelkaptein B Hptm. Hans Hanke, BF Fw. Wilhelm Haffki and BS Obgfr. Alfred Jankowski missing) (rep A4 2075 in LWFLV losses)

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

edNorth, thanks for corrections always appreciated. A few more from GQM for consideration :-

1-5-42 I/KG26 'F' Fi.Pl.Bardufoss emergency landing Bremstoffmangel He
111 H-6 4952 15%

2-5-42 KFGr.906 Pl.Qu.1558/16west enemy fire Bf Ogef.Gunther Weise w.

4-5-42 III/KG30 Ju88A-4 Fl.Pl Bardufoss engine trouble 100% crew safe,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

B.Bines, I know, but usually very hard to "prove" (the errors), the case here seems simple, if one has the right info!
re III/ KG 30 Ju 88 here...

(088)1020 Ju 88 A-4 III/KG 30 (Luftflotte 5)
OPS (F) engine failures and crashed (100%) at Bardufoss Airfield [Norway] 04.05.1942 (crew uninjured)

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

One about PQ13.


http://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Fury-Mu.../dp/1451201567




Usual disclaimer,
Ed

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Thanks Brian & Ed

Wow! The info is coming in thick and fast. Excellent!

Two more books to buy (wife permitting!). I'll soon need a larger office/library! Perhaps the garden shed for me!

Cheers
Brian

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Please spare a thought (and a penny) ....

I've just ordered another six PQ-convoy related books (don't tell 'er indoors!)

Cheers
Brian

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Brian.

EKII for courage in the face of your wife,

Regards and hope you don't end up in the garden shed,

Brian Bines

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Hi Brian,

by any chance - do you have list of claims for PQ 16? In Polish sources it is claimed that on 25 V 1940 destroyer GARLAND downed one enemy bomber which would fit one of the losses which was provided. However I presume there were also some other claims...


Cheers,
Andrzej

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Here is more about the GARLAND on the Polish Navy site:

http://www.polishnavy.pl/PMW/ships/d...erational.html




Ed

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

All

Apologies for ressurecting an older thread, but does anyone have a manifest for the SS Steel Worker sunk on 1st June 1942 (PQ 16)? All I have found is 'General Cargo' I want to confirm (or not) if any aircraft were aboard?

TIA
Dave

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Hello,
As the ship was sunk as a result of mine while in the Russian port it is possible that any aircraft aboard or some of them may have been off loaded before the mine went off.

Here is a link that to me suggests that the ship had no aircraft aboard.

http://www.isthmianlines.com/ships/sa_steel_worker.htm

Alex

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Hello,
Re SS. Steel Worker.
Left Halifax - Convoy SC79 - 11 April 42
Arrived Liverpool 27 April 42.
To Convoy UR23
Left Loch EWE - 8 May 42.
Arrived Reykjavik, Iceland - 12 May 42.
To Convoy PQ16
Left Reykjavik, 21 May 42.
Arrived Murmansk - 30 May 42.
Sunk Murmansk - 3 June 42.

Have a look at the other convoy lists she was with, there just might be some link to the ships manifests ?

Also she was an American ship so there must be records over there of her cargo loaded at Philadelphia before she went to Halifax to join the first convoy, or even after Halifax when in the UK ??

Good hunting
Alex

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Thanks Alex, doesn't seem so.

cheers
Dave

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Relating to the SS Steel Worker, there is an interview here with the 3rd Officer. In the full interview at starting about the 9 minute mark he talks about the sinking. He mentions that the ship had carried explosives which were unloaded first. As the ship was being moved to a new location to unload the rest of the cargo, the ship struck a mine. He mentions that Russian Divers later salvaged some? of the cargo. No mention of airplanes.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp-sto...8182/#vhp:clip

William Chambers died in 2014.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/was...?pid=170471948

The interview was done in 2004 by his daughter Kathryn Chambers (Joseph) Torpey of Alexandria, VA. It appears he had extensive written notes that he was using for the interview (his own diary perhaps). Maybe the daughter has those.

This link gives the location of the sinking and mentions that the ship was carrying foodstuffs (again no mention of airplanes).

http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?215401

Re: Convoys PQ1 to PQ16 Luftwaffe losses
 

Thanks. Yes some salvage has been carried out, interestingly a Sherman tank and 'airplane' wing was seen. Not sure if on just the one ship or not.

I guess the only way to know for sure is find the ship's manifest