[Doug Stankey]

The following was extracted from our notes:

As your comments seem to be limited to the Polish campaign, I will mention only those parts:

I./KG.z.b.V. 172 existed only as an organizational shell, under the name I./BKG 172, with its aircraft held by Lufthansa in everyday civilian use, but ready on short notice to become military transports. This state of being continued to 26 August1939, when it was called into activation for use in the Polish campaign and at the same time redesignated I./K.G.z.b.V. 172 ( bomber wing on special duties).

01.09.39: based at Berlin-Tempelhof under 7. Fl.Div. and Lfl. 4
09.39: - specific opetrations are unknown but generally flew supplies to advance elements of the German army.
17.09.39 reported the crash of a Ju 52 (N3+HR) near Patzer/Kreis Trautenau, 3 killed.
late 09.39: deactivated following the end of the campaign, with assets returned to original owners.

Similarly, II./KG.z.b.V. 172 existed pre-war as II./BKG 172 as a shell to be filled out in mobilization (26.08.39) from Lufthansa assets.

01.09.39 : had 26(16) Ju 52s at Berlin – Tempelhof under 7. Fl. Div. with at least three Staffeln. There survives no information about the Gruppe's activities for this period.

III./KG.z.b.V. 172 has an even more vague story.
26.08.39 mobilized with 26(0) Ju 52s at Berlin-Tempelhof presumably from Lufthansa contributions. There is no information about the Gruppe's activities. Apparently these were limited to general supply ops.




HLdZ
DGS