St Kap 1(F)/120
 

The St Kap for this unit appear to be a bit mysterious. Maj Andreas Schub was the St Kap 1939-40 but who came after him-Hptm Hugo Loehr, Hptm Helmut Orlowski, Hptm Heinrich Suter?

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Helmut Orlowski, St.Kap. 1.(F)/120 (as of late 41-27May42)
Hugo Löhr, St.Kap. 1.(F)/120 (as of 24Apr43-12Jul43)-14Jul43?

I don't know the exact dates that the above individuals commanded 1.(F)/120 but they were in charge between the dates in brackets

No info on Heinrich Suter

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Andy: Should have said thanks. In a number of photos given to me by Weixelbaum's widow are a number of the St Kap either awarding him the DKiG or returning from the 1000th mission 7 Nov 43 (so Weixelbaum could not have been with 2/123 until then). By the way, the 1000th banner says 52500 BRT sunk, 44500 damaged

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi Chris,

I'm a bit confused (I'm only a simple Brummie). Are you saying he flew the 1000th mission of 2.(F)/123 on the 07Nov43. As you know he rx'd the DKiG 08Sep42 with 1.(F)/120 and I believe left the unit sometime in 1942 and became St.Kap. 2.(F)/123 on 01Jan44. I've no idea what units he was with in between these dates so any additional info would be much appreciated.

52500 BRT sunk, 44500 damaged isn't too bad a tally for a recce unit!

Cheers

Andy Fletcher

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

The banner is 1000th for 1/120 (with the antlers in the middle of it). If he had left 1/120 in 1942, he was back in Nov 43 and then with 2/123 in Jan 44

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi Chris;

Here is part of the units history as I have it:
(I met Hugo Löhr here in Reykjavik in about 1990)

Commanding officer was Oblt. Hugo Löhr from December 1942 to July 1943. The unit flew its 2,000 operational flight on 05.05.1943. Then it had flown 7.000 hrs, 2.700.000 km or 68 trips around the world. It had made 71 attacks on land targets while on Armed Recce missions. It had claimed destroyed 27 ships of around 65.000 BRT, including three warships. It had claimed damaged 16 ships of around 29.000 BRT, including two warships. It had dropped 500 tons of bombs by then.

cheers
ed

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

From the info provided by Ed if 1.(F)/120 flew it's 2000th sortie on 05May43 it must have flown it's 1000th on 07Nov42 (as opposed to 07Nov43). The tonnage totals also tie in with this (07Nov42) being the correct date.

Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi;

I think the 1.000th for 1.(F)/120 was about July 1942 or even earlier but do not have confirmation.

cheers
ed

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

I have the following commanders of the unit:

- Hptm. Hugo Löhr (to 14.07.43)
- Hptm Kurt Behnke (from 14.07.43)
- Hptm Friedric Heidenreich (KIA 30.05.44)

Mission No 1000 took place in October 1941, crew Hptm. Hartwig.

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Most interesting. Hartwig was a Beobachter with 1/120 but at the end of Nov 41 was still an Oblt. The photos for the 1000th Feindflug is definitely 2 or 7.11.4-- (2 or 3) but not 1941

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Thank you for the correction Chris. Then Hartwig was the Beobachter on mission No 1000 as he is a part of that crew, shown on a series of photos.

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Rune

Have you seen these photos as I cannot match the dates you have and I have on this photo. My interest, Helmut Weixelbaum, flew with Hartwig 22 Nov 41 but am seeking more information on other missions

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Regarding the date of mission No 1000, I am really confused. I have a series of PK-photos showing the crew after arrival to Sola, showing the sign "1000 . Englandflug" and Oblt. Siegfried Fidorra as one of the gathering officers. Fidorra was killed in an accident 03.04.42....

Also, I have a xerox copy from of a German wartime magazine (I think it is "Luftflotte Nord") showing a series of photos from the celebration of the 2000th sortie with 1.(F)/120. During correspondance with late Hugo Löhr many years ago, he wrote on that page: "5./7. Mai 1943".

The same correspondance also give som more informatioon about the Stakas of the unit. According to Löhr, there were total 7 Staffelkapitäne.

Hptm Heinz Orlowski commanded the unit 7 months, but he spent 4 of these months being retrained for Ju 88 in Germany, and in December 1942 he went to the Mediterainian. Löhr was his z.b.V. more than 14 months until he took over the command in December 1942.

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

PM has been sent to you

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi Rune,

I thought you might be able to shed some light on the problem, hence my posting on Andreas' Aviation History Society Norway Forum

I'd be interested in knowing the 7 Staffelkapitäne and the dates they served in the position if you have the data and are willing to share.

Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi Andy,

Unfortunately, the correspondence with Hugo Löhr do not identify all the Stakas, and that is actually my fault cause at that time I did not pay so much attention to 1.(F)/120 as I was basically researching 1.(F)/124. So, I did not follow that tread as I today wish I had. But I will hopefully return to the subject with more information, as I just talked with a friend of mine in Germany who was with the Fernaufklärnern. He know some still living veterans of 1.(F)/120, that he is going to phone and write to. Hopefully that will complete the list with the three missing names.

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

..but we now have 5-Schub, Orlowski, Lohr, Behnke, Heidenreich

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi Rune,

Hopefully your contact will be able to find out the missing names. Look forward to hearing what you find out, but as Chris says five out of seven isn't bad going.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hei,

I just found Staka No 6: Major Schmidt. I have him on a group photo of the officers of 1.(F)/120 shot 23.08.44 and his signature on a greeting card from the Staffel for New Year 1945.

Now I need his first name, and then just one more Staka...

Also, from an other photo it is clear that Hptm. Heidenreich was in command as early as 19.02.44 (the Staffel's 2500 Feindflug).

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Great stuff Rune.

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

On the 06. of march 1945 Truppenoffizier Hptm. Schmitt was Staffelkapitän! He did have a pilotlicense and a observerlicense! Sadly his first name is not qouted. Source:
List of units with commanders under Gen. d. Aufklärungsflieger Jüterborg-Damm 06.03.1945.

Junker

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi Jörn,

This is most interesting! I have also found some additional information identifying his as Werner Schmidt (not Schmitt). He obviously took over command after Heidereich as I have him on a photo from July 1944 as well.

Interesting to notice that he was Hauptmann in July, but 23.08.44 and 31.12.44 his rank is seen as Major (personal signatures with that rank), while on my last photo of him, after the surrender in May 1945, he is again having rank Hauptmann.

Looks like he lost a rank somewhere but still kept command of the Staffel... Would that be common?

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi Rune.

There is something that does'nt add up here. The name on my list is spelled Schmitt. If you lose rank, as an officer, you will normally also lose command and transfer to another unit! I would say that it is two different persons. But the problem is your pictures? So we might have a small mystery on hand here. Does he wear a DKiG on your pictures?

Jörn

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Hi Jörn,

This is very interesting. I also thought that it would not be likely to loose a rank and still keep the command.

I think Hptm Schmitt/Schmidt and Major Schmidt must be two different commanders, and that actually gives us the names off all the 7 Stakas with 1.(F)/120. Unusual with two commanders in row with similar family name, but on the other hand they are both very common.

On my photo of Major Schmidt he has no DK, but he has Spanienkreuz mit Schwerten. I belive it is in silver. He also has EK I, EK II and Gemeinsames Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen and an other abzeichen I can not identify cause of distance. But he has no Frontflug-Spange.

By comparing the photo I have showing Hptm. Schmidt/Schmitt in May 1945, I could not say for sure if it is same person as the one of Major Schmidt as it is shot in a poor angle. But I can see a part of his uniform (left side), and there he has EK II, Front-Flugspange and Gemeinsames Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen. But not the other abzeichen and no EK I.

Hptm. Werner Schmidt/Schmitt seem to have arrived to 1.(F)/120 early summer 1944, as he is not on any previous photos of the officers of the unit. And he seem to have obtained command sometime during early winter 1945. For Major Schmidt I have no further information, as to say if he really took command as early as when Heidenreich was killed - or if we also have a z.b.V. acting in the meantime. Such z.b.V. could in fact have been Hptm. Werner Schmidt as well, as he seem to have been having highest rank at that time.

Would be nice to get some more light on this matter.

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

In a list of Luftwaffe unit commanders in Norway dated May 1, 1945, the Sta.ka. of 1.(F)/120 was Hptm. Schmidt (unfortunately no given name listed). The commander of the units detachment at Vaernes airfield was a Oblt. Lindhorst.

From an interrogation report ADI (K) No. 127/1944 (PRO AIR 40/2416) regarding the Ju 88D-1 A6+BH shot down off Lerwick, Shetlands on March 5, 1944. The following is told about the units commanders:

"The Gruppenkommandeur of (F) 120 is stated to be Oberstleutnant von Zezschwitz, who has his headquarters in Stavanger town.
Hauptmann Löhr, previously reported as Staffelkaitän of 1.(F)/120, went sick in October 1943 and was replaced by Hauptmann Behnke, who was Staffelkapitän of 1.(F)/124. Towards the end of February 1944, however, Behnke left the unit and was replaced by no other than our old friend Hauptmann Friedrich Heidenreich who had been Staffelkapitän in 1941.

Heidenreich gained the Ritterkreuz in June 1941 and shortly afterwards was seriously injured in a crash after being shot up by fighters. He was subsequently put in a spell at a training school and this is thopught to be his first reappearance in operations."

In a similar report ADI (K) No. 29/1945 regarding the loss of Ju 188 A6+FH on December 28, 1944:

"The Staffelkapitän of 1.(F)/120 is Major Schmidt, a pilot who fflew between 20 and 30 operational sorties in 1940/1941 for which he received the E.K. 1. Since then he has sucessfully avoided flying on operations and his present activities are confined to lecturing his Staffel on the glories of National Socialism etc. Needless to say he is neither respected nor popular and in practice the Staffel was led by Oberleutnant Neugebauer, the observer of A6+FH dealt with in this report, who also carried out the duties of Technical Officer."

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Thank you for that confirmation! Interesting that Heidenreich commanded the Staffel during two periods. I think we have all the Stakas now, and we seem to miss only the first name of Major Schmidt - and more accurate information about the time (date to date) they served as Stakas.

I notice that the interrogation of the crew Oblt Cardaun states that Löhr went sick in October 1943 and was replaced by Behnke. Fact is that Löhr and Behnke switched command 15.07.43 - Löhr from 1.(F)/120 to 1.(F)/124 and Behnke the other way.

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

[quote=Seaplanes;31645]
"The Gruppenkommandeur of (F) 120 is stated to be Oberstleutnant von Zezschwitz, who has his headquarters in Stavanger town.

[quote]

This is probably Wolfgang von Zeschwitz who was Gr.Kdr. SAGr. 131 (based at Stavanger-Sola) at the time.

As (F)/120 had no Stab perhaps 1.(F)/120 was sub-ordinate to SAGr. 131, at least for administrative purposes.

Reference 1.(F)/120 Staffelkapitäne, great research guys.

Best regards

Andy Fletcher

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Based on the posts above and after receiving information from two veterans of 1.(F)/120, we seem to have the complete picture:

Stakas 1.(F)/120:

1. Major Anton Schub (??-08.40)
2. Oblt. Friedrich Heidenreich (08.40-04.41)
3. Hptm. Helmut Orlowski (05.41-11.42)
4. Hptm. Hugo Löhr (11.42-07.43)
5. Hptm. Kurt Behnke (07.43-02.44)
6. Hptm. Friedrich Heidenreich (02.44-05.44)
7. Major Schmidt (06.44-?.45)
8. Hptm. Werner Schmitt (?.45-5.45)

Rune

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Seeing this old thread, I was inspired to investigate further. The obvious thing was to review our officer personnel database and attempt to create a commanders list from scratch.

The following list of commanders of 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 120 was gleaned from our files and is presented with unrationalized dates ("as is") although I have added two comments.

Maj. Anton Schub (? - 01.09.39 - 13.08.40 - ?)
Oblt. Friedrich Heidenreich (c.08.40 - 04.41). - I suspect that this appointment was either in an acting capacity or simply wrong.
Hptm./Maj. Ernst Domnick (10.08.40 - 14.04.41)
Hptm. Helmut Orlowski (DKG) (05.41 - 11.42)
Maj. Hugo Löhr (DKG) (12.42 - 14.07.43)
Hptm. Kurt Behnke (DKG) (14.07.43 - 02.44)
Hptm. Friedrich Heidenreich (02.44 - 30.05.44).
Hptm./Maj. Karl-Gustav Schmidt (06.44 - 08.05.45)
Hptm.Werner Schmidt (R) (? - 02.45 - ?) - I suspect that this was in an acting capacity

So, there you have it. Not perfect, but not bad.

We hope that this is helpful.

HLdZ
DGS

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

Oh it's very helpfull. But a small problem is that I have a copy of a letter from Off zbv 1(F) 120 from february 1942 were it's stated that StKptn. was Hptm. Hartwig?

Junker

Re: St Kap 1(F)/120
 

We have 8 Hartwig's in our files but only two are recon guys:

HARTWIG, ? . 11.41 Oblt. and Beobachter in Aufkl.St. 1.(F)/120.

HARTWIG, Kurt von. (DOB: 30.03.16). 1940 in 2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 13 (Do 17 M Kette). Last rank: Oblt.

And they may be the same person!

Thus we can neither affirm nor refute your claim about a Hptm. Hartwig. We shall note him in our files. Any further details about this fellow? Every bit helps.

HLdZ
DGS