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Old 4th April 2026, 21:28
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Re: I/NJG-3 in North Africa

As Dirk mentioned, only 1./NJG3 operated in the Mediterranean theater; 2./NJG3 and 3./NJG3 remained in Vechta defending the Reich. I have not found a primary source for the transfer of 1./NJG3 from Gela, Sicily, to Derna, North Africa; Von Eimannsberger, Zerstörergruppe - A History of V./(Z)LG1 - I./NJG3, writes that the Staffel transferred May 27 1941 via Greece. Shores et al, A History of the Mediterranean Air War Volume 1, has the transfer occur in August 1941. Similarly, there is lack of clarity about the date of the re-assignment back to the defense of the Reich; e.g. Einsatzbereitschaftsmeldungen, RL2-III/ 700 series have it occur in the second half of August 1941.

Regarding success during night operations, it appears that none were recorded, see Theo Boiten, as Dirk already mentioned.

It appears that 1./NJG3 occasionally operated at night. German records describe for example an attack on Derna and Benghazi airfields during the night of August 4th to 5th 1941. Over the former target, the RAF bombers were reportedly intercepted by a German Bf 110, forcing the bombers to drop their bombs off target. According to Shores et al., 24 SAAF Sqn lost a Maryland during that operation without trace.

1./NJG3 crews flew day-light operations and incurred at least one casualty during those: on August 11th 1941, German records report one Bf 110 shot down near Bardia. This appears to be Bf 110 WNr. 3944 of Gefr. Reinhold (pilot) and Gefr. Stark (gunner) of 1./NJG3, see Shores et al.

I have not been able to find any flight logs with information about 1./NJG3 operations during their Sicilian and North African deployments. Any pointers would be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,
Mathias
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