[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello Larry,

According to an unpublished (but authentic in WW-2 written) chronic of the I./NJG 1, the I./ZG 1 minus 1./NJG 1 was moved from Le Havre to Düsseldorf on 20 June 1940 for their new task: nightfighting. Already that evening the few crews with nightflying experience flew the first exercise flights.
Before Falck was ordered to Wassenaar to get the order to errect NJG 1, the I./ZG 1 got a 4th Staffel with Do17Z nightfighters 'with special equipment' (not specified unfortunately, MH).
On 25th June 1940 the first nocturnal combat mission(s) were flown, without any contact with RAF Bomber Command. On 28th June however the first interception succeeded and a fierce battle developed. The Do17Z-10 with Uffz. Hugo Schwarz was hit and he made an emergency landing near Grefrath in Germany, just east of the border near Venlo.

The next reference to Do17's with the I./NJG 1 gives also a clue to the nature of the special equipment mentioned above: on 9 October 1940 the I./NJG 1 departed from all their Do17Z, equipped with Spanner and these were sent to Deelen to the II./NJG 1.

Here the involvement of Do17Z's at the I./NJG 1 ends. In 1943 the unit got one Do215 and early 1944 one Do217 as replacement before the I./NJG 1 converted to the He219.

All the best, Marcel

All the best, Marcel