[RodM]

Hi Michael,

from a entries in a few NJG5 Flugbücher:

23-24 April:

I./5 - 00.51h Redlin / 02.32h Redlin (Nachtschlachteinsatz)
II./5 - 23.20h Lübeck-Blankensee / 02.00h Lübeck-Blankensee (Nachtschlachteinsatz)
III./5 - 02.00h Lübeck-Blankensee / 04.20h Lübeck-Blankensee (Nachtschlachteinsatz)

24-25 April:

I./5 - 00.14h Redlin / 01.51h Redlin (Nachtschlachteinsatz)
II./5 - 01.56h Lübeck-Blankensee / 04.32h Lübeck-Blankensee (Nachtschlachteinsatz)

25-26 April:

II./5 - 23.53h Lübeck-Blankensee / 02.31h Lübeck-Blankensee (Nachtschlachteinsatz)

26-27 April:

I./5 - 23.18h Redlin / 01.26h Redlin (Nachtjagdeinsatz)

Firstly, I should clarify that the NJG5 Nachtjagd Gruppen no longer existed at this stage, since they were reduced to a single Staffel each on 29 March. Thus, I./NJG5 was really 1./NJG5, II./NJG5 was 4./NJG5, III./NJG5 was 7./NJG5.

Secondly, the Kriegschronik of III./NJG5 (BArch RL 10/604) records that 7./NJG5 flew a few sorties in the Berlin area with the last reserves of fuel on 23, 24 and 26 April ["Einzelne Maschinen starten nochmals am 23., 24. und 26. mit den letzten Triebstoffverräten zum Schlachteinsatz und zur Verpflegung Berlin."].

As previously mentioned, the OKL Ost Morgenmeldungen (BArch RL 2 II/393) would provide a much better overview of nightly sorties, claims, and losses (at least up to the point when OKL evacuated Zossen), but the files are undergoing conservation at the moment and are unavailable.

Cheers

Rod