Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Can anyone point me to a source that describes Luftwaffe flights over England just prior to D-Day?



Thanks in advance,
Ed

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

There are sporadic reports in the ULTRA traffic from the spring of 1944, from NAG 13's Bf 109s, usually referring to cover of the Devon and Cornwall coasts.

In a PW interrogation, I've read that 1.(F)/121's Me 410s were over at night doing recon or damage assessment for the later Steinbock raids on the south coast ports.

IIRC JG 26 sent the odd pair of aircraft to check out the Straits of Dover as well.

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Accounts of the Ar 240/440 describe flights by Oberst(?) Goertz in March 1940, from Paris Orly. Photos of the aircraft are available in the Flugzeug profile on the type, and elsewhere.

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Thank you both. I'm wondering if the Germans had some idea of the troop buildup going on.




Ed

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Hi Ed,

The late Erich Sommer (Ar 234 pilot, VersVerb dLw) always claimed that it was not possible to fly over that zone and returen safely with photos with the Luftwaffe reccon a/c available (Ju 88 D/T, Ju 188F/D, Me 410 A/B) prior to the approach of the German reccon jet planes.
I wonder If that can be proved by evidence ...

Martin from Vienna
www.oefh.at

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Hi Martin,


Thank you for that information. I am wondering if the Germans were aware of American troop ships coming in.



Ed

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Just a quick footnote, as it were Ed, to your inquiry. Once the Invasion got under way efforts were made to photograph UK harbours and the kentish port of Ramsgate was covered by 5/123 (7th June 1944 Sortie F29/44, pilot Uffz Kallenberger, Height 750m; photos 753 and 754 used in report on the shipping there. Int Report Nr 3474 from from Stabia Luft 3). Copy in IWM.

There was another off Shoreham, same day, but I dont have the details in front of me now.....

Best.....

ChrisG

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Notes from a PRO file made some years ago on Enemy Air Avitivity Over the UK show 5th April Luftwaffe recon over the N.Sea and S/W Approaches, 6-4 evening recon over the English Channel , 19-4 single aircraft over IOW, 21-4 afternoon recon to Poole area. The E-Boot attack off Slapton Sands on 28th April has been reported as being the result of a Luftwaffe recon.
Between 3-9th May daily recon activity was reported and on May 20th there was recon to the Swanage and Dover areas.
Additionally on 7th march a Fw190 of Stab/NAG13 crashed in Guernsey following a recon to the S/W coast and on 28th. March a Bf109G of 5(F)/123 was shot down over France returning from a mission to London and the Thames Estuary.
No details of how well these missions went, there were also missions to Scotland.
Roman Gastager in the book Easter Bunnies refers to a couple of missions to Ireland and Southern England in a Ju88H1 in mid May.

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Hello.
Just to add something to Brian's post. On March 7th, 1944 two pilots of 610 Sqn. engaged three Fw190s approx 35 miles SE of Start Point at about 17.45hrs. Enemy aircraft broke and one was seen to be hit around the wing root area, panels flew off port mainplane. Enemy took little evasive action and aircraft was not seen to strike the ground/sea.
This puts the engagement very near to NW part of Guernsey. I believe 190 crashed at La Ponchez area of island.
RAF pilots were:P/O Hussey & F/Sgt Harding flying Spitfire Mk XIVs. Gun camera was used and e/a was dark grey/light in colour.
Hope this helps, Steve.

Re: Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day
 

Steve,

According to an enquiry to the Dienstelle the German pilot was Oblt. Gottfried Bitterlich b. 27-12-1915, they gave ths crash site as north of Flugplatzes Guernsey. I take it you have a copy of the 610 Sqd. combat report,

Regards

Brian Bines