Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Dear all,

I am looking for the correct English translation-meaning of the following German Nachtjagd terms:

Benito

Bordmeßfunker (as opposed to Bordfunker or radio/radar operator)

Bordwart

Befristete Krähe (B.K.): literally ‘? crow’, codeword for increased operational readiness

E.S. (Erkennungssignal, or 'Eigen Schutz'(?)

Strassenjagd: 'street hunting'


Cheers and thanks for any help,

Theo

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Bordmessfunker or Bordfunkmessmann? Aircraft radar operator
Bordwart-flight engineer
Befristet-for a specified period
ES-Erkennungssignal=Recognition signal
Strassenjagd-Road or Road Transport hunting?

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hello

Befristete Krähe is the opposite of 'endgültig Krähe' (which meant 'readyness cancelled'): for the next 1-2-3 hours the state of readiness is halted.

Strassenjagd: this refers to the harassment attacks on allied street convoys behind the allied/german frontline by Ju88's and Bf110's of the NJG's: several NJG losses in the southeast part of Holland were nightfighters on such missions, see for instance several A.D.I.K. reports in november/december 1944.

All the best, Marcel

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

»Straßenjagd« was also carried out by the Nachtschlachtgruppen. I translated it as "road hunting" because I couldn't think of an RAF equivalent. Maybe something like "truck hunting" would fit?

As for »Erkennungssignale«, RAF Operations Record Books talk about "Resins" which I assume is short for "recognition signals", so the equivalent of ES would be Resins.

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Many thanks chaps for your most useful contributions, which are of great help in completing the German glossary for the NJWD 2nd edition!

Cheers -and all the best wishes for 2015!

Theo

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

»Straßenjagd« may I humbly suggest Armed Recce.
bregds
SES

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Or traffic interdiction?

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Hi Nick,
The allied (RAF) doctrinal equivalent would be Armed Recce, but as a trilateration your expression would do.
bregds
SES
Been there, done that and got the T-Shirt.

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

Good evening !

As a German language native, I wouldn't agree with this.

A "Nachtjäger" pursuits an enemy aircraft at night. A "Tagjäger" pursuits and fights against enemy aircraft at daytime.

The "Straßenjagd" is in my opinion a term, which came up during the French campaign and later, when those fighter-units shot up enemy columnes on the roads. This happened during the Ardennes 1944/45 by German Nightfighter units several times in Luxembourg, Belgium and North-East France.

Armed recce is an allied term. It meant to fly into enemy space until someone shoots to you. Then shoot back or disappear. This was a kind of reconnaissance. When the German military forces joined NATO, this term was then called in German "bewaffnete Aufklärung".

But this term doesn't agree (in my opinion) with Straßenjagd.

All the best !

Horst Weber

Re: Correct translation of German Nachtjagd terms
 

. . . and that is precisely what was and is called Armed Recce by the allies during WW II and by NATO to-day.
"An air mission flown with the primary purpose of locating and attacking targets of opportunity, i.e. enemy materiel, personnel, and facilities, in assigned general areas or along assigned ground communication routes, and not for the purpose of attacking specific briefed targets". Please see AAP-6 and JP 1-02
bregds
SES