Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a list of the Luftwaffe actions in the South West of France (Toulouse area) on 20 & 21 July 1944 .

Why ?
the Maquis/résistance in the North East of Toulouse was attacked on 20 July 1944 by several Luftwaffe aircraft and we would like to identify them with precision.
It could be KG Bongart (thanks Nick for te info :
https://www.ghostbombers.com/Bongart/jul_06.html
It could be KG100 Do217 (but which Wnr ? there are no archives of KG100 and Ulfe Balke do not confirm any such action onto the maquis)
It could be Ju88 of KG76 (based in Toulouse Francazal) but we have no data ..

Any information on flights on 20/21 July 1044 will be welcome
BR & happy new year
Gilles

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

Hey Gilles

Chris Goss might be able to help here...

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

Hi and thanks
I contacted him but it’s a troubled period with very few archives
Thanks for the guidance anyway
Best
Gilles

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

I feel that what Nick has discovered is all you are going to get

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

Gilles - possibly KG100 Do217 - see pp. 179-180 of Roderich Cescotti 'Langstreckenflug' published 2012. Cescotti describes KG 100 operations against French resistance 'partisans' during June and July 1944 and relates an account of a Henschel HS 293 glide bomb sortie flown against Allied shipping off the Normandy coast.

"Invasion!"

" ...The fate met by Oblt. Heinrich Kirchhoff and his crew was particularly cruel. Returning from a combat sortie their Do 217 was hit by our own Luftwaffe anti-aircraft fire and they were forced to bail out over Marmande between Bordeaux and Toulouse, where they were taken captive by French resistance partisans and shot out of hand. By this stage the “French underground” were starting to represent a considerable danger for us. The quarters used by our various Staffeln, by the Geschwader and Gruppe Staffs were widely spread throughout Toulouse and the surrounding area, and the only means of staying in touch was by telephone network or vehicle. We soon had to forbid personnel from going out on their own as it had become too dangerous. Any activities in the city had to be carried in groups of men no smaller than three, each armed with his service pistol. With their liberation so close at hand all the pent-up hatred and sheer malice that the French felt towards us was now given expression....

On 19 June I received my first mission orders to bomb French resistance fighters - Bandbekämpfung – anti-partisan bombing. At 05:30 that morning we were airborne from Toulouse Francazal to fly a combined operation with Wehrmacht ground forces against a Maquis encampment located in the Pyrenees, dropping 500 kg bombs for no visible results. Less than one month later on 15 July at the request of our hard-pressed troops we bombed a village – dropping a ton of incendiaries on two barns and a farmstead, as well as pouring fire from our onboard armament into buildings. The targets were obliterated. This was what was meant by Terroristenbekämpfung – anti-terrorist operations. On our return I noted “ some shrapnel damage in the fuselage” which meant that we had come under fire – but what did this mean in reality. That both sides had sunk to a level of warfare that could do nothing but bring shame on those practising it. Time and again shot-down crews were being murdered in cold blood or simply disappearing never to be seen again. “Terror” on both sides escalated right up to the deployment on the German side of the radio-guided Hs 293 missile against ground targets..

I am unable to state exactly how many such operations were carried out by KG 100 as my duties were principally on the technical side. This meant that I was back in Germany for a few days during this period securing all that we needed for our aircraft. Nor was I in Toulouse on 20 July 1944 when news of the attempt on Hitler’s life came through – I was at the controls of the Geschwaderstab’s Ju 52 en route from Giebelstadt to Lüneburg..obviously we discussed Stauffenberg and his action in my immediate entourage and were agreed that this was a lost opportunity that should and could have been better exploited. It was not until after the war that we realised the fundamental weakness of Stauffenberg’s plan – that the prinicpal organiser of the plot was also its chief protagonist. No one believed in the much-heralded Endsieg or final victory – or at least no-one I knew...


source - Neil Page's Falke Eins blog

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

lots of info in this article from 2019 by Andrew Arthy including a useful list of references:


Luftwaffe Anti-Partisan Operations in France
By Andrew Arthy - www.airwarpublications.com
Apr 29, 2019


Introduction
A little-known aspect of the air war of World War II was the Luftwaffe operations against the French Resistance in the aftermath of the Allied invasion. A bitter ground war was fought in central and southern France, with German air units also participating. A number of Luftwaffe units were involved, but the most important was Geschwader Bongart.

Geschwader Bongart was a dedicated anti-partisan unit that operated a variety of German and Italian aircraft in France in 1944. The FW 190s of 10./Z.G. 1 [see my other article] were attached to Geschwader Bongart on 11 June 1944, along with the rest of Z.G. 1. Geschwader Bongart and its attached elements operated a great variety of aircraft, including Re 2002s, Ju 88s, FW 190s, He 111s, Bf 110s, Go 145s, He 46s, FW 58s, and SM 200s (probably Saiman 200s, Italian biplanes). Geschwader Bongart was formed in April 1944 and from May 1944 flew in regions known for heavy partisan activity, namely Lyon, Valence (90 km S. of Lyon), Clermont-Ferrand (130 km W. of Lyon), Avord (220 km N.W. of Lyon) and Bourges (235 km N.W. of Lyon). After the Allied landings in the south of France on 15 August 1944, Geschwader Bongart was forced to move northwards, joining the retreat from France before being disbanded in September 1944. Little is known of the role played by the 10./Z.G. 1 FW 190s with Geschwader Bongart.

III./Schlachtgeschwader 4
Before its involvement in anti-partisan operations in June 1944 in France, III./S.G. 4 was one of the most experienced Jabogruppen in the Luftwaffe. Formed as III./Z.G. 2 in April 1942, it flew the Bf 109 on the Eastern Front, before withdrawing in summer 1942 to convert to the FW 190 in the West. In October and November 1942 it flew some missions on the Channel Front, and then moved to Tunisia in November 1942. In December 1942 it became III./S.K.G. 10, and flew from bases in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, until withdrawing from operations in September 1943. After rest and refitting it flew U-boat escort, and then flew missions in the early days of the invasion of Normandy. It had FW 190 A-6s and A-7/R6s on strength, equipped with a single bomb rack under the fuselage.

II./Kampfgeschwader 100
II./K.G. 100 was a German twin-engine bomber unit.

Creation of Geschwader Bongart
Geschwader Bongart was created from the III. and IV. Gruppen of Fliegerzielgeschwader 2 (Fl.Z.G. 2) in mid-April 1944. Fl.Z.G. 2 had been created in February 1944, and operated under Luftflotte 3, helping German anti-aircraft units with their training by towing targets. This unit received most of the Re 2002s built for the Luftwaffe in the Reggiane and Caproni factories.

In spring 1944 the Allied invasion was drawing closer, and the intensity of Resistance activity increased in central France increased. Thus, Hermann-Josef Freiherr von dem Bongart was ordered to move the Stab Fl.Z.G. 2 to Bourges on 15 April 1944. With the III. and IV. Gruppen of Fl.Z.G. 2 he was ordered to begin anti-partisan operations in the area under the designation of Geschwader Bongart.

The Stab of Geschwader Bongart was formed in April 1944 at Charleville (100 km E. of Paris). I. Gruppe of Geschwader Bongart was formed at the same time and place, with the Gruppenstab from Stab III./Fl.Z.G. 2, and 1.-3./Bongart from 7.-9./Fl.Z.G. 2. II. Gruppe was also formed at Charleville in April 1944, with the Stab II./Bongart from Stab IV./Fl.Z.G. 2, and 4.-7./Bongart from 10.-13./Fl.Z.G. 2.

Unit Operations � June 1944 to September 1944
Geschwader Bongart flew operations from Lyon-Bron, Bourges, Valence, Clermont Ferrand and Avord (20 km E.S.E. of Bourges). Operations commenced in the second half of May 1944, and continued in central and south-eastern France until mid-August 1944. During that time, the unit proved quite successful.

7 June 1944
During the day, Geschwader Bongart, based at Bourges, was in communication with 10./Fl.Z.G. 2 in southern France.

8 June 1944
Geschwader Bongart was placed on the Luftflotte 3 distribution list.

9 June 1944
At midday, the Bourges-based Geschwader Bongart was informed of partisans collecting near Mar�ges (71 km W.S.W. of Clermont-Ferrand). A dam was protected by weak anti-aircraft defences. There is a dam five kilometres west of Mar�ges, and it is presumably the one referred to in this signal. Luftflotte 3 ordered reconnaissance and offensive operations if necessary.

10 June 1944
No entries.

11 June 1944
Late on this day Z.G. 1 was subordinated to Geschwader Bongart, and was ordered to go immediately with ground personnel to Bourges. [need KV 7512 - AA]

Table 1: Z.G. 1 on subordination to Geschwader Bongart, evening
Aircraft Crews
26 (12) 39 (18)

12 June 1944
No entries.

13 June 1944
No entries.

14 June 1944
No entries.

15 June 1944
No entries.

16 June 1944
On this day Re 2002 W.Nr 1256 �Red 5 + � of Geschwader Bongart was lost in action against the Resistance in southern France, at Amboiras (250 km W. of Lyon, 30 km S.E. of Limoges).

17 June 1944
No entries.

18 June 1944
No entries.

19 June 1944
III./S.G. 4 transferred from Laval to Clermont-Ferrand via Tours. Poor weather prevented some aircraft making the flight.

20 June 1944
Major Weyert, Kommandeur of III./S.G. 4, flew from Villacoublay to Bourges to meet with Oberst Bongart. Weyert then flew on to join his Gruppe at Clermont-Ferrand. III./S.G. 4 was now subordinated to the Geschwader Bongart. 19 FW 190s were now based at Clermont-Ferrand, but III./S.G. 4 reported that the airfield was too small, with only thirteen blast bays.

21 June 1944
III./S.G. 4 looked for a place to disperse its aircraft near Clermont-Ferrand.

22 June 1944
The Stab of III./S.G. 4 moved to quarters in Royat, and the 7., 8. and 9./S.G. 4 moved to villages around Clermont-Ferrand, or moved into Clermont-Ferrand itself. Airfields at Avord and Saint Lau (possibly Saint-Laure, 20 km N.E. Clermont-Ferrand) were both rejected as alternative airfields by the Gruppe for various reasons.

At 12:00 fourteen III./S.G. 4 aircraft flew a mission against a �Partisanend�rfer�, partisan village, south of Valence.

23 June 1944
III./S.G. 4 had 49 aircraft at its airfield.

24 June 1944
The transfer of 10./Fl.Z.G. 2 to Luxeil (250 km N.N.E. of Lyon) was mentioned on this day.

Table 2: Geschwader Bongart Aircraft Strengths
Type - and number of Aircraft
Re 2002 - 35 (22)
Junkers W.34 - 7 (4)
Ju 88 - 6 (3)
Bf 109 - 5 (2)
He 46 - 4 (2)
Bf 110 - 4 (0)
He 111 - 3 (1)
Fi 156 - 2 (2)
Do 217 - 1 (0)

9./S.G. 4 transferred to Avord with seven aircraft, even though the airfield was not entirely suitable.

25 June 1944
III./S.G 4 was at two hours readiness for operations. It reported a bombing raid on Avord, but no 9./S.G. 4 aircraft were damaged.

26 June 1944
In the early morning twelve III./S.G. 4 aircraft led by Hptm. Dedekind flew from Clermont-Ferrand to Conches, but were intercepted by enemy fighters and landed instead at Villacoublay. One crashed due to damage at Conches.

27 June 1944
Bad weather prevented planned III./S.G. 4 operations, so instead the Gruppe rested.

28 June 1944
At 09:15 seven III./S.G. 4 FW 190s flew an anti-partisan operation to the Valence area. From 16:00 the Gruppe was at two hours readiness, then from 20:00 it stood down.

29 June 1944
III./S.G. 4 flew two missions and 24 sorties against partisans in the Valence area. After the second mission they had to land at Valence due to bad weather.

In the morning, Oberst Freiherr von dem Bongart requested that he be left a Staffel if III./S.G. 4 was to be transferred away.

During the day, Fourth [Gruppe or Staffel?] Geschwader Bongart at Chateauroux was in communication with 10./Fl.Z.G. 2 at Aix Lenfant (Aix-la-Fayette is 45 km S.E. of Clermont-Ferrand).

30 June 1944
In the afternoon III./S.G. 4 was ordered to transfer to the Eastern Front, beginning on 1 July. It was to come under the control of Luftflotte 1 on the northern sector of the front.

In total, III./S.G. 4 flew five missions and 59 sorties against the Resistance. Bombs were accurately dropped on the following French villages: Beaufort, Plan de Baix, Le Chappel-en-Vercors, La Vacherie, �, Lozerou, La Rouchette, Vincent, Saint Nazaire-en-Royans, Saint-Jean-de-Royans, Pont-en-Royans and two others.

July 1944
During this month German aircraft bombed a Resistance barracks in central France, and a railway station, and these attacks probably involved Geschwader Bongart.

Geschwader Bongart only flew by day during the month, and undertook 482 sorties in total.

1 July 1944
No entries.

2 July 1944
Geschwader Bongart flew two daytime sorties.

3 July 1944
On this day there were serious German operations against the Resistance in the Clermont-Ferrand area.

During the night a German aircraft was reported to have bombed Landes-le-Gaulois, a village just north-west of Blois. The action occurred just after the Germans discovered one of their soldiers in a nearby village. The closest German airfield at Le Breuil was unserviceable at this time, having been ploughed up by forced labour peasants under the direction of the Germans.

4 July 1944
On the fourth and fifth the Germans were fighting with the Resistance in the Bourges area, and Luftwaffe aircraft were involved.

Geschwader Bongart flew only one sortie.

5 July 1944
The Fliegerverbindungsoffizier (Flivo) of Army Group G requested the assignment of a Flivo for a special undertaking planned with support from Geschwader Bongart.

On this day three German bombers were destroyed at Chateauroux airfield. It is unknown which unit they were from.

There were large-scale German operations against the Resistance in the St. Claude area [which St. Claude?]. 31 Luftwaffe sorties were flown against the resistance. Geschwader Bongart flew no sorties on the fifth.

Geschwader Bongart lost two aircraft on this day.

6 July 1944
24 sorties were flown by Geschwader Bongart.

7 July 1944
Geschwader Bongart flew no sorties.

8 July 1944
Geschwader Bongart was asked to do something quickly about the enemy airfield at Vassieux-en-Vercors, 16 km north of Die (100 km S.S.E. of Lyon).

The Geschwader Bongart flew six sorties during the day, but further details are not known.

9 July 1944
Nine Re 2002s of Geschwader Bongart flew a mission against the Resistance towards the evening. The unit flew a total of twelve sorties during the day.

Table 3: Geschwader Bongart Strengths
Staffel Aircraft
11./Fl.Z.G. 2 20 (10)
12./Fl.Z.G. 2 29 (19)

10 July 1944
8./Fl.Z.G. 2 sent FW 190 A-8 W.Nr 170 407 to the repair facility at Auxerre.

Geschwader Bongaft flew just one sortie.

11 July 1944
Geschwader Bongart aircraft flew 45 sorties, undertaking weather, defensive and armed reconnaissance, as well as attacks on the Resistance.

12 July 1944
28 aircraft of Geschwader Bongart flew weather and defensive reconnaissance. Four aircraft from II./K.G. 100 also flew against the resistance. Geschwader Bongart flew a total of 35 sorties.

13 July 1944
The Germans reported that there were many instances of railway tracks and bridges being blown up by the Resistance in the Chateauroux, Limoges and Montlucon areas.

Geschwader Bongart flew 28 sorties against the Resistance.

14 July 1944
100 supply containers were dropped to the Resistance to the east of Valence.

Geschwader Bongart and 2. Flieger-Division flew 27 anti-partisan sorties. Geschwader Bongart was responsible for 19 of those.

15 July 1944
X. Fliegerkorps provided two anti-partisan sorties. Geschwader Bongart flew patrols and dropped bombs on the Resistance in the Vassieux-en-Vercors � La Chapelle-en-Vercors area, flying twelve sorties.

16 July 1944
In the Limoges area railway tracks, bridges and roads were all blown up by the Resistance. In return, 500 of the Maquis were reported killed by the Germans.

Geschwader Bongart flew ten anti-partisan sorties.

17 July 1944
X. Fliegerkorps flew three sorties against the Resistance, and Geschwader Bongart flew 17.

18 July 1944
Geschwader Bongart flew four sorties against the Resistance, attacking a troop concentration and an ammunition dump.

19 July 1944
Nine Geschwader Bongart aircraft flew operations, attacking a Resistance headquarters, an ammunition dump and billets, with good results.

20 July 1944
X. Fliegerkorps provided five aircraft for operations against the Resistance. Geschwader Bongart flew four anti-partisan sorties.

Operations against the Vercors Plateau
During July 1944 Geschwader Bongart took part in a major operation against some 10,000 mobilized French partisans on the Vercors Plateau, south of Grenoble (90 km S.E. of Lyon). The Resistance position threatened German supply lines, so paratroops, Russian volunteers, mountain troops from the army�s 157. Reserve Division, and Geschwader Bongart, were all used to attack them. The partisans were surrounded and destroyed in a combined operation by air and land forces, and combat was heaviest between 21 and 26 July 1944.

21 July 1944
Luftflotte 3 reported that the combined German army-air force operation against the Resistance began on this day in the area east of Valence. Aircraft from Geschwader Bongart provided cover for 22 gliders that landed on the massif south of Grenoble. The German battle group was reported to have taken up a hedgehog position at Vassieux-en-Vercors, but the day�s objective was not reached due to strong enemy resistance. Re 2002 fighter-bombers, along with other Luftwaffe aircraft, dropped a total of 7.5 tons of bombs. Fourteen aircraft of the Jagdfliegerf�hrer S�d flew operations to the area south-east of Valence, while Geschwader Bongart contributed 44 sorties.

22 July 1944
Another 7.5 tons of bombs were dropped on the Resistance at Vercors. Luftwaffe aircraft provided support, flying operations against Resistance groups east of Valance. The road eight kilometres north of Die was blocked by three bomb hits. Supplies were also brought in to the hedgehog position at Vassieux-en-Vercors. The Germans were carrying out mopping up operations in the areas of Bouganeuf, Ussel, Limoges and Chateauroux.

Geschwader Bongart flew 68 sorties, and the Jaf� S�d flew 17 sorties in support of the 157. Reserve Division. Air cover, army support and supply missions were flown.

23 July 1944
Ten tons of high explosive bombs were dropped, and German aircraft took part in the Vercors operation. Luftflotte 3 reported that the operation south-east of Lyon was proceeding to plan. The troops had now reached Vassieux-en-Vercors, about 100 km south-south-east of Lyon, despite strong opposition from the Resistance.

On this day Geschwader Bongart flew 63 anti-partisan sorties, while Jaf� S�d flew six.

24 July 1944
Action continued against the French resistance on the Vercors plateau. Geschwader Bongart flew 20 sorties. 16 were against the Resistance, while four were for supply missions and rescuing the wounded.

At 12:30 bombers of the USAAF XV Bomber Command attacked Valence airfield. St. Martin de Crau airfield near Marseille was also hit. The taxying area, guns and aircraft at Valence were hit. 24 aircraft were badly damaged or destroyed on the ground. Fuel and ammunition was destroyed, and communications were put out of action. 18 aircraft of the Jaf� S�d intercepted the American raid.

25 July 1944
In the night of 24/25 July high-explosive bombs were dropped on Valence airfield, hitting the taxying area, and telephone and high-tension lines.

Geschwader Bongart flew 32 sorties against the Resistance. By this stage enemy resistance had weakened, and Luftflotte 3 went as far as to say that the enemy resistance had collapsed, after heavy fighting during this day. Mopping up operations were now undertaken by the Germans.

26 July 1944
Geschwader Bongart flew 18 sorties against partisans at Vercors, supporting the 157. Reserve Division and Kampfgruppe Sch�fer. The operation concluded successfully on this day, with the Germans reporting many Resistance fighters killed, along with much ammunition and many weapons captured.

Valence airfield was attacked by Allied aircraft, with five Ju 88s and one Do 17 destroyed.

Luftflotte 3 noted that the �attacks on Valence airfield during the last few days [were] presumably aimed at Geschwader Bongart based there for operations against partisan groups.�

27 July 1944
Only three sorties were flown by Geschwader Bongart, this time to the Beaujeu area (50 km N.N.W. of Lyon).

28 July 1944
No sorties were undertaken by the Geschwader Bongart.

29 July 1944
Two aircraft of Geschwader Bongart flew reconnaissance and attacks against the Resistance.

30 July 1944
Geschwader Bongart flew no sorties during the day.

31 July 1944
The Jaf� S�d flew twelve sorties against the Resistance, while the Geschwader Bongart flew only two.

August 1944
During the month German aircraft bombed a railway station in central France. Unfortunately no details about the operations of Geschwader Bongart in August are known.

8 August 1944

Table 4: Geschwader Bongart Aircraft Strengths
Type Aircraft
Fighter-bombers 32 (14)
Bombers 18 (4)
Others 70 (31)

4 September 1944
Geschwader Bongart was disbanded at Luxeil. After the Allied landings in southern France in August, the Geschwader could no longer operate due to the total Allied air superiority over all of France. Thus, following orders by the Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe on 3 September 1944, the Stab, III., and IV./Fl.Z.G. 2 were disbanded. This was the end of Geschwader Bongart.

A Biography of Hermann-Josef Freiherr von dem Bongart
Oberstleutnant Hermann-Josef Freiherr von dem Bongart led IV./K.G. 55 from 10 June 1941 to 1 September 1941, before moving to III./K.G. 55 and leading it for a year. During 1943 he joined the staff of Luftflotte 3 as the Offizier f�r Sonderauftr�ge (special projects officer). In spring 1944 he was ordered to create a unit to conduct anti-partisan operations, and this would be known as Geschwader Bongart. Oberst Bongart controlled this unit from April 1944 to September 1944. After the disbandment of his unit in September 1944, Oberstleutnant Bongart became Kommandant of Neum�nster airfield in Schleswig-Holstein. He passed away on 21 December 1952.

Conclusion
Geschwader Bongart had served its purpose, but by early September 1944 it had become obsolete, because with the loss of France the Germans did not need an anti-partisan unit in the West. Geschwader Bongart was kept very busy in the aftermath of the Allied landings in Normandy, and with assistance from a few other Luftwaffe units it provided the German ground forces fighting the Resistance with strong air support, flying patrols, bombing and transport missions.


The Reggiane 2002 with Geschwader Bongart

Around 30 Re 2002s were operated by Geschwader Bongart, but it was a difficult aircraft to keep serviceable. By 31 May 1944, Geschwader Bongart had 18 Re 2002s on strength, and a month later there were 35 in total, with 22 serviceable. The Germans had seized Regia Aeronautica Re 2002s, including ten from 50� Stormo, and these were amongst the aircraft operated by Geschwader Bongart. Others came from Italian factories (Note: Beale & deZeng, �Geschwader Bongart�, p.17; Neulen, The Rich Booty, pp.47-48; Roba, �Sonderkommando Bongart�, p.19).

A surviving Re 2002 of Geschwader Bongart is on display at the Mus�e de la R�sistance in Limoges (140 km W. of Clermont Ferrand) (Note: Neulen, The Rich Booty, p.52).

Type W.Nr Stkz. Markings Remarks, Camouflage & Markings Source
Re 2002 1222 ? ? Olive-green/duck egg blue mottled scheme Beale & deZeng, p.17
Re 2002 1256 ? ? Force-landing 16.06.44 Neulen, p.74
Re 2002 4607 DV + BE ? Olive-green/duck egg blue mottled scheme Beale & deZeng, p.17
Re 2002 4611 DV + BI �Red 5 + � Yellow fuselage band Profile via M. Murphy
Re 2002 ? BN + YB �Black 2 + � Abandoned at Valance; yellow fuselage band Roba, p.19 photo; Beale & deZeng, p.17 J. Crow photo
Re 2002 ? ? �White 7 + � Abandoned at Valance; yellow fuselage band Roba, p.19 photo; Beale & deZeng, p.17 J. Crow photo
Re 2002 ? ? ? Abandoned, possibly at Etampes Roba, op.cit., p.19 photo
Re 2002 ? DN + VS �2 + � Abandoned at Valance; yellow fuselage band Beale & deZeng, p.16 J. Crow photo
Re 2002 ? ? ? Valance; yellow rudder, no wing splinter scheme Beale & deZeng, p.17 J. Crow photo
Re 2002 ? ? ? Valance; splinter camouflage on upper wings Beale & deZeng, p.17 J. Crow photo
Re 2002 ? ? ? Valance Beale & deZeng, p.16 J. Crow photo
Re 2002 ? DV + �5 + � Yellow fuselage band Luftwaffe Experten Message Board photo

(Note regarding Re 2002 DN + VS: I�m not sure if this is BN + YB � a photo of a Re 2002 with DN + is belly-landed, while a photo of �Y + � exists with the aircraft in good condition

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Various ULTRA decrypts, including:
VL 7713 decoded February 1944 VL 9998 decoded March 1944
KV 1546 decoded April 1944 KV 7346 decoded 10 June 1944
KV 7512 decoded June 1944 KV 7640 decoded 12 June 1944
KV 9591 decoded June 1944 XL 280 decoded 1 July 1944
XL 385 decoded 1 July 1944 XL 1055 decoded 7 July 1944
XL 1277 decoded 8 July 1944 XL 1522 decoded July 1944
XL 3141 decoded July 1944 XL 5390 decoded August 1944
XL 5477 decoded August 1944

AWM 54 423/4/103 Part 68, Luftflotte 3 Calendar of Operations, July 1944

AWM 54 423/4/103 Part 118, War Diary of Luftflotte 3 (Western Front), September 1944 [Air Historical Branch Translation No. VII/89]

AWM 54 423/4/103 Part 127, Situation Reports Issued by Luftflotte 3 (France), July 1944 [Air Historical Branch Translation No. VII/127]

BA-MA RL 2 III/876 � 882, Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen material

BA-MA RL 10/358, III./S.G. 4 Kriegstagebuch Nr. 3

NA AIR 40/1887, �Air P/W Interrogation Unit Main Headquarters Second T.A.F.: Focke-Wulf Repair Facility, Auxerre�

NA AIR 40/2152, German Air Force operations Western Mediterranean: types of aircraft, units, areas of operation, orders and intentions, May 1943 - May 1945

NA AIR 40/2687, German Air Force: daily summaries of teleprints and special reports for the period 11 July 1944 - 6 May 1945

Secondary Sources
Beale N. & deZeng, H.L. �Geschwader Bongart� in Rosch, B.C. (ed.) Luftwaffe Verband #19, July 1999, pp.16-18

Written in response to Jean-Louis Roba�s queries about Geschwader Bongart in an earlier issue of the Luftwaffe Verband (see below), Nick Beale and Larry deZeng provided some good information. Accompanying their comments were five photos of Geschwader Bongart Re 2002s provided by Jim Crow. Nick wrote about the various aircraft operated by Geschwader Bongart, described the formation of the unit, included some strength reports, and mentioned some details of Allied reports on captured Re 2002s. Larry deZeng provided a detailed overview of Geschwader Bongart, including its formation, the unit�s commander, operations, strength reports, and disbandment in early September 1944. Finally, he gives a nice summary of available archival sources.

Baudru, R. article in Jet and Prop, May 1992

Referred to in the Luftwaffe Verband, not sighted by the author.

Diot, G. �Bombardement de Landes-le-Gaulois, 3 Juillet 1944�

In French, an account of the bombing of Landes-le-Gaulois on 3 July 1944.

Neulen, H.W. The Rich Booty: Italian Aircraft in Luftwaffe Service, Giorgio Apostolo Editore, Milano, 2000.

This book is in Italian and English (titled Il Ricco Bottino �Aerai Italiani nella Luftwaffe� in Italian), and is a good source for Italian aircraft in the hands of the Luftwaffe. The section covering operations by Geschwader Bongart is from page 47 to page 51, and there is one loss entry on page 74. A number of photos are included, and a good summary of the history of Geschwader Bongart is included.

Roba, J-L. �Sonderkommando Bongart� in Rosch, B.C. (ed.) Luftwaffe Verband #18, July 1999, p.19

Jean-Louis gives a brief summary of what he knows about Geschwader Bongart and its activities. He then goes on to give a short biography of Hermann-Josef Freiherr von dem Bongart.

Rosch, B.C. Luftwaffe Codes, Markings & Units 1939 � 1945, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, 1995, ISBN 0-88740-796-X

Rosch�s book is a fantastic resource for those interested in the histories of the smaller and lesser-known Luftwaffe units. Rosch provides details like formation and disbandment dates, Feldpostnummern, types of aircraft operated, codes, along with photos and profiles throughout. The sections on 5./B.F.Gr. 196, 1./S.A.Gr. 128 and Geschwader Bongart are quite valuable, and there are a number of photographs of aircraft operated by 5./B.F.Gr. 196 (unfortunately there are no shots of FW 190s). Pages relevant to this article include pp.50, 85-86, 152, 181, 183-184 and 328.

Thomas, G.J. Air Operations Over the Vercors, unpublished, 1995, 27 pages

Mentioned in the Luftwaffe Verband, but unfortunately not seen by the author.

Electronic
Holm, M. http://www.ww2.dk

Photographs
Crow, J.V. five photos of Geschwader Bongart Re 2002s on airfields around Lyons, in Rosch, B.C. (ed.) Luftwaffe Verband #19, July 1999, pp.16-17

Roba, J-L. two photos of Geschwader Bongart Re 2002s at Bron-Valance and Etampes, in Rosch, B.C. (ed.) Luftwaffe Verband #18, April 1999, p.19

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

Thanks very much Rich, I am amazed by the compilation of information about Bongart Kommando.

Indeed, Cescotti's writings is a good way to find new information.
I would love having access his logbook and personal pictures (if any) but how get in touch with his family, who probably owns them?

I could rebuild the fate of Oblt Kirchhoff tragic fate, when he was down shot by the resistance, you can see read it here
https://aerocherche.fr/aube-sanglante/

I wish you all a happy end of 2025 and a successful 2026

Gilles

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France
 

this "Piaggio" plate was found at Orange Airport, in 1944, on A/C wrecks on the airfield,
This plates proves that Italian aircraft (probably Re2002) were based there.
It was given to me by a friend whose father, when he was a young kid (in 1944) collected plenty of parts from aircraft, mostly German one but also this Italian plate.
Gilles

Re: Luftwaffe action on 20 21 July 1944 in south of France