nightfighter doing recce?
 

hi,

on 27./28.9.1944 10./njg 3 lost two ju 88 g-1 (d5+fv and d5+pv). both were flying recce. does anybody know what they were looking for?

all the best
jim

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

Security recce over the North Sea, i.e. looking for Allied shipping that might be carrying a landing force.

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

Interesting Nick

But why night fighters and not regular recce 88s? Nothing available?

Did the German High Command fear another Western European front at this stage?

Cheers
Stig

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

Hi Jim
Where do you have that information from ??
Carsten

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

I don’t have my references to hand but reconnaissance Ju 88s also carried out the job: it seems to have depended on who had any fuel. Fear of seaborne landing persisted to the last (ditto in Italy).

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

Thanks Nick

Cheers
Stig

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

hi,

thanks for you replies. i´ve heard, that some of the nightfighters should also look after der v-1. could that be true?

@ carsten: the lossreport says sea-recce for the crew of d5+fv. but i didn´t heard of it before. i thought this would the job of regular recce-units...

all the best
jim

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

It was quite common for a squadron to search for their own airplanes that went missing over the sea. Besides that, I have nightfighters from NJG 3 that took part in weather recce over the North Sea in the winter of 1944/45. Normally pre-recce before bigger allied penetration of German air space, but to get an idea of the weather over the North Sea. It was normally very experienced crews that participated in these tasks.

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

hi carsten,
yes, i have heard about the rescue-missions for own unit-members. what about the v-1? is it possible, that nightfighters hat to take a look after these missles?
all the best
jim

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

Like Nick, I don't have the references on hand but IV./NJG3 carried out shipping recce over the North Sea circa August - September 1944 because the German High Command believed the Allies may mount a seaborne invasion along the northern coast. In any event, the Allied offensive was around Arnhem...

I know the task is covered in ULTRA decrypts from the period.

Cheers

Rod

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

I doubt nightfighters would be looking after the V-1. It was launched during the day. The difficulties the Allies had in taking out the French launching sites meant that sufficient security and sufficient antiaircraft guns were in place.

An early V-1 trailed a radio antenna to get a better fix on the target area. Nothing was left to chance.

Ed

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

hi,
and what about the v-1 launched from he 111? this was done not during the day...

@rod: thanks and it qould be interesting if there appear some ultra-messages!

all the best
jim

Re: nightfighter doing recce?
 

The launch from the He 111 was more complicated.