Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

Hello,

On 8 May 1945, the Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 sent several of their aircraft to the Courland Pocket to fly out German personnel from the approaching Soviets to surrender to the British or Americans.

'Luftwaffe im Focus Spezial No. 2' indicates the following:

Crashed:
- Ju 88 (Schmidt, Grosser), Vaernes, Norway (at take-off)

Surviving:
- Ju 88 4N+RH (Hasenmüller), landed at Eschwege, Germany (actually made a belly landing and should be considered crashed)
- Ju 88 4N+CH (Deutschbein), landed at Kalmar, Sweden
- Ju 188 4N+E(or F)H, Grossenbrode, Germany


Rune Rautio listed a few more (http://www.ahs.no/forumv3/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=144):

Crashed:
- Ju 88 Sturzacker
- Ju 88 Vaernes airfield
- Ju 88 4N+RH Kella airfield, Eschwege
- Ju 88 Kurland
- Ju 88 1231 Hoeggia, Tynset
- Ju 88 4N+RH (damaged by AA-fire over Germany)
- Ju 88 Vaernes airfield (damaged)
- Ju 88 430307 4N+KH Norway - Hage (landed only on 9 May)

Survived:
- Ju 88 1285 4N+CH Kalmar airfield (F 12)
- Ju 88 G2+QH Hage airfield, 6 km from Norden
- He 111 Wittmundhafen airfield
- Ju 88 (NK) airfield
- Ju 88D-1 430722 Vaernes airfield

I am struggling to understand which of those were sent to the Courland Pocket. Is Rune's list the latest status or have new aircraft been found since he prepared this list (2006)?

Also, in the explanation how the Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 was created, he mentioned that the 1.(F)/22 was sent to Italy in spring 1944, but according to http://ww2.dk/air/recon/aufklg22.html they stayed in Norway?

Regards,

Roger

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

In the "Einsatzbereitschaft für den 10. Mai 1945" the Oberquartiermeister of the Komm. General der Deutsche Luftwaffe in Norwegen, reported the following strength of the recce units in Norway at that time:

1.(F)/120 Teilkommando Vaernes: 1 x Ju 88D-1 (W.Nr. 430722), 2 x He 111H-6 W.Nr. 160575, 110275 (the latter were located at Gardermoen airfield).

1.(F)/120 at Sola-Land: 2 x Ju 188D-2 (both gone by 9. May), 1 x Ju 88D-1 (W.Nr. 430459), 1 x Ju 88D-5 (gone by 9. May), 1 Fi 156C-3.


1.(F)/124 at Bodoe airfield: 1 x Ju 188F-1 W.Nr. 280221, 2 x Ju 188D-2 W.Nr. 230431, 230452, 2 x Ju 88D-1 W.Nr. 430358, 430784, 1 x He 111H-6 W.Nr. 7391, 1 x Fi 156C-3 W.Nr. 5759 + 1 Ju 188D-2 at Gardermoen(gone by 9. May).


In addition the following recce aircraft had landed in Norway on 5. May 1945:
3.(F)/22 at Gardermoen: 1 x Ju 188S-1 W.Nr. 280041, 3 x Ju 188D.-2 W.Nr. 230133, 230755 and 230453.


3.(F)/22 at Kjevik airfield: 2 x Ju 88D-1 W.Nr. 430332, 430709, 2 x Ju 188D-2 W.Nr. 260414, 230458, 1 x Ju 188F-1 W.Nr. 281927.


2.(F)/22 at Lister airfield: 1 x Me 410A-1 W.Nr. 410098, 2 x Me 410B-2 W.Nr. 410209, 420483, 6 x Si 204D-1 W.Nr. 251502, 252039, 321904, 321554, 252040, 321933, 1 x He 111H-6 W.Nr. 7760.


2.(F)/22 at Sola-Land: 1 x Me 410A-1 W.Nr. 420635.


1.(F)/123 at Sola-Land: Ar 234B-2 W.Nr. 140141, 140581.


1.(F)/22 disbanded at the end of December 1944 when the unit was based at Kjevik airfield under Fliegerführer 4. Its aircraft consisted of 5 x Ju 88D-1 and 1 x Ju 88D-5. All five Ju 88D-1's were handed over to 1.(F)/120.

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

Thank you very much for the comprehensive list of reconnaissance aircraft in Norway on 18 May 1945.

Ju 88 4N+RH left Norway from on 8 May and flew via the Courland Pocket to Eschwege. I assume this aircraft did not appear anymore in the above listing. It's W.Nr. is still unknown as far as I am aware.

According to rlm.at, 4N was the unit code of Aufkl.Gr. 22, Westa 3 with squadron letter "H" (I don't know if that is confirmed / correct), which would mean 1.(F)/22 as the Staffel letter H was used by 1. Staffel.

If 1.(F)/22 was disbanded at the end of Dec 1944, 4N+RH must have retained its old code and operated under 1.(F)/120. Or was it Teikommando 1.(F)/120?. As far as I understand 1.(F)/120 and the Teilkommando 1.(F)/120 were completely different units under different leadership.

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

According to notes I took long ago from the Imperial War Museum's "RAF Air Historical Branch 6" microfilms (Reel 2) the reconnaissance position on 18 May 1945 was:

Stavanger: Eins. Kdo. FAG 1; Teilkdo. 3.(F)/Seeaufkl.Gr. 130; Teilkdo. 1.(F)/Seeaufkl.Gr. 130; Teile 2.(F)/22

Trondheim: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120; 1.(F)/Seeaufkl.Gr. 130; Wekusta 3

Narvik: 1./NAGr. 32; 3.(F)/Seeaufkl.Gr. 130.

From BA-MA RL2 III/67: on 19.02.45, 1. Halbstaffel/120 had 9 Ju 88 and the 2./Halbstaffel had 5 Ju 188. 1.(F)/124 had 7 Ju 188 and 6 Ju 88.

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

3.(F)/22 all flown in from Kastrup Denmark.
2.(F)/22 all flown in from Værløse Denmark.

Junker

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

May I ask what was 2./ Halbstaffel?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

Whew! I thought I was the only one who didn't know.

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

The other half of the Staffel? I have no idea, I just wrote it down back in June 1989 because it looked interesting.

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

I initially thought so too, but looking at Rune Rautio's description of 1. Halbstaffel it was not with regard to aircraft it was named half but due to its lack of complete support equipment. At least that is how I read it....

Now, was there Halbstaffel 2.(F)/120 (looks odd writing it that way, so should it be 2. Halbstaffel (F)/120?? :) )?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 on 8 May 1945
 

If you follow the "german logic" for terminology, Halbstaffel 1./(F)120 does not necessaryly mean there is a second half at all. It is just a Staffel at 50% strength.
If you took the term 2./ Halbstaffel literarly you are/ would be referring referring to a Halbstaffel of 2./(F)120. For/ to me that is/ would be a different unit. I don't know, if that unit (Halbstaffel 2./(F)120) existed.