I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

Seeking crew details of the loss of this Ju88, all I have is crew of Oblt. Preufier missing,

Thanks

Brian Bines

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

1945-02-07, 1.(F)/120, Ju 88D-1, 430277, 4N+EH, Nordmeer, 450 km nordwestlich Drontheim, Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Olt Preußer, Heinz, vermißt
Beobachter Ofhr Maier, Günter Johannes, vermißt
Bordfunker Ofw Hoyer, Heinz-Gustav, vermißt
Bordschütze Fw Schwerke, Fritz, +
1945-02-07, 1.(F)/120, Ju 88D-1, 430352, 4N+FH, Nordmeer, 350 km nordwestlich Drontheim, Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Bartetzko, Hubert, vermißt
Beobachter (Staffelführer) Hptm Eiler, Heinrich, vermißt
Bordfunker Fw Klein, Arno, vermißt
Bordmechaniker Ogfr Solik, Rudolf, vermißt

Matti

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

Both aircraft lost over the Norwegian Sea due to still unknown reason and took off from airfield Vaernes in Central-Norway. This day Lufttorpedogruppe II./KG26 prepared for an attack on the Arctic Convoy JW54 in the Norwegian Sea but failed to located. Most probably both aircraft were part of the operation and was to search for the convoy too. Note that both aircraft had ealier been in use by Aufklärungsstaffel 1.(F)/AGr22 in North-Finland and North.Norway. Ofw. Bartetzko, Hptm Eiler and Fw. Klein were a very experienced crew that had all earlier served with Aufklärungsstaffel 1.(F)/AGr 124 in North-Norway.

Greetings from Norway
Knut

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

Matti and Knut thank you both for the information including the additional info. on 4N+FH. I understand that KG26 also had five crews missing and one crew killed on return (own Flak?) this day according to the new KG26 book,

Thanks Again

Brian Bines

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

The Allied convoy was JW.64 about 350 km out to sea, and both belonged to Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120.

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

Hi Ed, not certain on 'Halbstaffel' is it a staffel reduced in size, or part of the staffel on detached duties,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

Teilkommando 1.(F)/120, later known as Halbstaffel 1.(F)/120 was a entire unit formed “discreetly” at Trondheim/Værnes in spring 1944. First operating on Ju 88 D-1 4N+FH 29.05.1944 as "Teilkommando 1.(F)/22". At first it used (7) aircraft ( 6 D-1 + 1 A-4 ) and crews taken from 1.(F)/22 (when it left for Italy) but also crew and aircraft from 1.(F)/124 (Kirkenes). Later aircraft and crews of the Stabstaffel/KG 26, Westa 5, ZG 76, 1.(F)/33, 1.(F)/122, Westa 26 and Sonderstaffel des RLM operated with the unit. The aircraft were flown with “old” codes (the other units codes) as officially it did not exist in Berlin. In 1945 it even operated three Fw 200 Condors but few details are known. The unit was operating against Allied convoys and shipping in the central Norwegian Sea, west to Iceland, north-west to Jan Mayen and north-east to the areas south-west of Spitzbergen and Bear Island.

Researcher Rune Rautio has more details on this via link below - but notice the "Ju 88 A-6/U" likely really was D-1 0881285 4N+CH with FuG 200 "Hohentweil" Radar (i.e. Ju 88 D-1 "Rustgrad D")

http://www.ahs.no/forumv3/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=144

Best regards
Ed

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

Ed, thanks very much for this, there is always something new to learn and add,

Best Regards (previously Beast Regards)

Brian Bines

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

Beast? :-)

Re: I.(F)/120 loss 7-02-1945
 

Ed, my apologies I should not try typing without my glasses,

Best Regards

Brian Bines