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Re: Bomber Unit Redesignation
Hi Chris,
606: change in designation effective 1 November 1939.
806: change in designation effective 8 July 1940.
KGr 606
Kampfgruppe 606
(Unit Code 7T+)
Formation. (Nov 39)
Formed 1 November 1939 at Kamp/15 km WSW of Kolberg on the Baltic in Pomerania with a Gruppenstab and 1. – 3. Staffel, all new. Originally intended as a Küstenfliegergruppe, the comprehensive reorganization order for the entire Küstenflieger arm that was issued on 25 October 1939 directed it to begin conversion to the Do 17 effective 1 November as an intended Kampfgruppe, thus changing its mission and classification. Moved to Kiel-Holtenau very shortly after assembling at Kamp to be equipped and begin training, which lasted until the beginning of April 1940.
North Germany - Occupation of Denmark and Norway. (Apr 40 - Jul 40)
28 Mar 40: 2. Staffel Do 17Z crashed near Kiel, 100%, Oblt. E. Euler, Oblt. Oesterbelung + 2 KIA.
[Sources: S.Neitzel-Einsatz der deutschen Luftwaffe über den Atlantik und der Nordsee 1939-1945:67, 75, 109, 135; F.Kurowski-Seekrieg aus der Luft:77, 146-47, 259, 293-94].
KGr 806
Küstenfliegergruppe 806 (10/39 - 7/40)
Kampfgruppe 806 (7/40 – 8/42)
(Unit Code M7+)
Formation and Organization. (Oct 39 - Jul 40)
Formed 25 October 1939 at Dievenow/Pomerania on the Baltic coast with Stab (ex-Stab/Kü.Fl.Gr.506), l.Staffel (ex-l.(M)/Kü.Fl.Gr.506), 2.Staffel (ex-3.(Mz)/KüF1.Gr.506) and, a few weeks later, 3.Staffel (ex-l.(M)/Kü.Fl.Gr.306). Equipped with a mixed complement of Heinkel He 111J-l twin-engined bombers and He 60 and He 114 floatplanes, but the latter were gradually replaced over the next several months with He lllJs. Much confusion persists concerning the designation of this formation, specifically when it changed from being Küstenfliegergruppe 806 to being Kampfgruppe 806. The effective date of this change was 8 July 1940 when it was reassigned from the operational control of the German Navy (Skl/OKM) to the operational control of Luftflotte 3/ Ob.d.L. It is also the approximate date that it completed conversion from the He 111 to the Junkers Ju 88.
[Sources: Kurowski-Seekrieg: 57, 161, 292-98; Radtke-KG 54:51; Neitzel:58].
806 re-designated III./KG 54 on 1 September 1942 (Radtke-KG 54:154). This re-designation was planned several months before so there are a few citations in documents for “KGr. 806/III./KG 54”. Any use of that designation prior to June 1942 would not be found in documents but it might be found (erroneously) in the minds of Air Ministry wonks at the time as well as postwar authors.
Why was 806 lumped with KG 54 and 606 with KG 77? Because of their quasi-maritime role, i.e., anti-shipping, mine-laying, usw. The “fit” was far better than trying to match them with KG 1, KG 2, KG 3, KG 53 and others at that time (mid-1942).
I might note, as you have so often done in your posts, that this is all cover in our books on the Luftwaffe bomber units, which we and our publishers believed to be indispensable, cutting-edge references on the subject:
deZeng, Henry L. IV and Douglas G. Stankey, Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945, 2 volumes, Chevron/Ian Allan, 2007 and 2008.
Cheers,
Larry
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