Wekusta 1 Operations
 

All

Does anyone have any details of bases /operations by Ju 88s of Wekusta 1 around, and particularly south of, the Pskov area during early January 1943? Pointers to information and if possible photos would be appreciated.

TIA
Dave

Re: Wekusta 1 Operations
 

Westa 1/Lfl. 1 lost a Ju 88 D-1 (B7+AA) to a fighter over Velikiye Luki on 8 January 1943. The Staffel had been based at Dno since July 1942. It flew L-R weather recce. There appears to be no information about it for the next 5 months, although it was still based at Dno. No photos for that period in the source noted below.

Kingston, John A. and Franz Selinger. Wekusta: Luftwaffe Meteorological Reconnaissance Units & Operations 1938-1945. Ottringham (East Yorkshire): Flight Recorder Publications Ltd., 2006. ISBNs: 0 9545605 8 2 and 978 0 9545605 8 4. Hb (oversize). Dj. 256p. Heavily illus. Color profiles. Maps. Charts. Tables. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.

Re: Wekusta 1 Operations
 

Thanks Larry-one would assume they weren't on holiday during early 1943, but perhaps nothing of note was occuring other than routine flying ,without incident.

regards
Dave

Re: Wekusta 1 Operations
 

Hello!

There are quite a lot Westa 1 flights reported in the Finnish Air Observation logs. It is now few years since I last looked at these, but certainly it was the same unit as codes were in format B7+_A. As far as I remember these were mostly from late 1943 (there might have been something also for late 1942) till late Summer 1944 and most flight originated from Riga, Latvia. So I fear these would be of not help for you. More so as your area of interest is south of Pskov. Finnish material contain only areas near Finnish airspace.

I could ask couple of colleagues with better records if they have something of interest. Will look my notes too when and if I find them...
NB. My personal message box is full an will remain so until further notice.

Regards,
Kari

Re: Wekusta 1 Operations
 

Hi Kari

Thanks for that, it would be appreciated - just in the specific area and around the time period I mentioned if possible.

regards
Dave

Re: Wekusta 1 Operations
 

Still at Dno through the first half of 1943 and later. No mention of a stand-down to re-equip or anything like that. The only source I can think of that would confirm routine weather operations during that period would be the Flugbücher of Westa 1/Lfl. 1 air crew who were assigned to it at that time.

Larry