[Larry deZeng]

Below are translations from the Oberbefehlshaber Südost daily reports for the dates specified:

22 May 1944
Allied aircraft attacked Vrnograc and Slunj. A number of houses were badly damaged. (LXIX.AK daily report dated 23.5.44)
Numerous fighter patrols, with attacks on Kavaja, the bridge at Cetinje, Rogozina, Klis (5 km northeast of Split), R-R station at Drnis. Other fighters patroled roads in the Bihać area (here a German medevac Fi 156 was shot down). 8 Partisan supply sorties, some of which were over Kraljevo.
Own Luftwaffe: normal reece. Armed recce and Sehlachtfl. employment in Croatia, especially in the vicinity of Slunj. Air supply of own troops in the Sarajevo area. 2 mines destroyed by Mausi Ju 52s in the Danube between Pancevo and Budapest. (OBSO daily report 23.5.44)
[Comment: the medevac Fi 156 belonged to Sanitätsflugbereitschaft 5].


26 May 1944
Allied F-Bs destroyed 3 trucks NNO of Sibenik, wounding 2 men. 14 Lightenings bombed and strafed Zemunik (airfield?); 1 man wounded, but other damage not yet reported. In the 392.ID area, Allied F-Bs attacked assault boats between Rab and Senj, killing 1 officer. In the 373.ID area, there were 3 low level attacks and 1 heavy bombing attack on Bihać. 1 Hs 126 was shot down. (314:562/633). 15th AF 248 bombed troop concentrations at Bihać.
[Comment: the Hs 126 could have belonged to any of these units which were all operating in that exact area on this date: Nahaufklärungsstaffel Kroatien (had 15 Hs 126s in May and lost 13 of them to enemy action), III./Luftlandegeschwader 1 (had 23 Hs 126s in May and lost quite a few of them but the exact number is not known), 1./Schleppgruppe 1 (had 3 Hs 126s in May; losses unknown). However, in his fine article on "Rösselsprung" (“Der Luftwaffen-Einsatz beim ‘Unternehmen Rösselsprung’” in Luftwaffe im Focus 2/2003, pp.37-43), Georg Schlaug states the following: “On 26.5.1944, 1./NSGr. 7 lost two He 46s to ‘enemy aircraft fire’. The slow high-wing aircraft probably fell prey to Spitfires of 249 Squadron, which claimed to have shot down several “Hs 126” on that day, the pilots presumably mistaking the relatively unknown He 46 for the Hs 126.”

Numerous low level attacks throughout the entire day in the Bihać area, with several directed specifically at the airfield there, including one at noon by 36 4-engine enemy bombers (4 a/c totally destroyed, barracks totally destroyed, runway no longer usable until repaired). Harrassing attacks with bombs on Durazzo harbor. 50 Partisan supply sorties over Macedonia and the Bihać area.
Own Luftwaffe: armed recce and Sch1achtflieger employment in support of "Rösselsprung" with 201 aircraft. Fighters were used to escort our assault aircraft in the Drvar area, but without encountering any of the enemy. Lw. aircraft provided supplies by air drop to the SS parachute battalion. (OBSO daily report 27.5.44)

Bletchley Park Signals Intelligence Summary:
26.5.44 (Sunset #572): "For short-term operations against Tito's forces planned to begin 25 May, Luftwaffe in Zagreb area temporarily reinforced by 30 SEF from Austria, 30 SEF from Niš area and 30 Ju 87's from south Russian Front. Transfer intended to last about 5 days. Airfields at Bihać and Banja Luka expecting arrival of reinforcements. Gen.d.Flieger Fiebig, CG of Lw.Kdo.Südost, arrived Zagreb on 24 May and flew on to Bihać following day. Dispositions suggest intention to mop up Dalmatian hinterland with a view to forestalling Allied landings on Dalmatian coast, which were anticipated on 17 May after recce had established shipping concentrations in Bari."

HTH,

Larry