[sidney]

Hello Marcel,

Thank you for the kind note. Just back from work, so it took me a little while to remember the line of thought that I was following while writing my query.

My understanding of the strength report of 10.(N)/JG 26 is generally based on the following premises:

1. There must have been the reason for 10.(N)/ZG 26 to be absorbed by 10.(N)/JG 26 in early January 1940. Perhaps both Staffeln were under-strength, the former not at full complement of man and machines, the latter also, albeit because of the supposed battle attrition suffered during the Battle of the German Bight of 18 December 1939

2. The highest identification numeral I found with 10.(N)/ZG 26 was N+9, which in theory would suggest that at some point in time in the early autumn of 1939 there were at least nine aircraft and/or pilots with the Staffel. Not necessarily so, of course, but for the sake of argument

3. I presumed that at least six (6) pilots were transferred to 10.(N)/JG 26, and that they all were combat ready

4. Finally, if on 6 January 1940, 10.(N)/JG 26 reported nine (9) combat ready pilots, out of which six (6) presumably were from formerly 10.(N)/ZG 26, than in early January 1940 10.(N)/JG 26 had only three (3) pilots from the original Staffel, while the remaining six were perhaps recuperating (or, were on the well deserved leave?).

5. It is a theory. As you suggested rightly, there is no way to guess the even remotely accurate picture of the 10.(N)/JG 26 at that time based on the insufficient information available to us.

7. In the quoted reference, Prien, Stemmer and others suggested that the entire 10.(N)/ZG 26 was absorbed by 10.(N)/JG 26.

Finally, I fully agree with you, these pre-born NJ-Staffeln are most interesting indeed.

Best Regards,
Sinisa