Reconnaissance flight - August 1944

[Fenix78]

Hello all

I have three reconnaissance flight from 1944 but I dont know which unit led it. All flights was led over Oświcim (Auschwitz) in Poland. I suppouse that it was USAAF units but I dont have any proof for it. Does anybody can help ???

USEC/R-79 from 09.08.1944
USEC/R-82 from 12.09.1944
USEC/R-86 from 20.08.1944

Regards
Janusz

[edwest2]

Photo reconnaissance flights over Oświecim were carried out by Mosquitos of the 60 Photo Reconnaissance Squadron SAAF and by F-5 Lightnings of the US 5th Photographic Reconnaissance Group of the 15th Air Force. The first bombing mission against the IG Farben Buna Werke was carried out on 20 August and the second on 13 September. The B-24s involved were from the 464th Bomb Group and aerial photos were taken.

[Fenix78]

Hi

Yes, yes I agree with you I know all this info.

Reconneissance flight led by 60 Sqn SAAF had a mark 60PR/522 or SA60/743 (only the last number changed)
Reconneissance flights led by 5 Photo Group we must divide on flights led by 15 Sqn and flights led by 32 Sqn.
Reconneissance flights led by 15 Sqn had a mark 15SG/994 (the last number changed)
Reconneissance flights led by 32 Sqn had a makr 32S/72 (the last number changed). This flights was very few.

But still nothing about flights:
USEC/R-79 from 09.08.1944
USEC/R-82 from 12.09.1944
USEC/R-86 from 20.08.1944


Please look:






Janusz

[edwest2]

I am sorry but I cannot help further.


Best,
Ed

[Chris Going]

Hi Janusz
To answer your question: USEC means United States Eastern Command. It was the recon component of Frantic. As you see from the SIS microfilmed plots they did quite a lot of flying out of, I think, Poltawa. Not sure why R86 has earlier date than R82 though. Also interested in camera designation. Why expressed in mm? Odd.

Best

Chris

[edwest2]

It is still common to express focal length in millimeters.


Ed

[Chris Going]

True, Ed, but the usual mode with Allied Recon cover plots (CIU/ACIU, NWA, MAPRW FEAC and the rest of 'em) is to use the gross lens designation (ie 6", 12", 24", 36" 40") not the precise one which would be on the camera calibration certificate.

All best

Chris

[Fenix78]

Hi

Chris thanx for the important info. The question is which units fly from Soviet Union to Poland with reconnaissance mission - exactly in august 1944. It was RAF or USAAF ??

On the overlay with flight USEC/R-87 is writing camera 24''. On the second one overlay with the same flight is 154,0 mm.
Flight USEC/R-86 - camera 154,0 mm
Other flight USEC/R-81 - camera 24''


If you want this overlays please write to me on PM.



Regards
Janusz

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

From Glenn B. Infield's " The Poltava Affair ", page 246.
Summary of Photo & Weather Reconnaissance Missions.

June 1944
40 F-5 a/c were despatched from Eastern Command
* 32 F-5's returned to Eastern Command
8 F-5's continued to Italy
8 F-5 a/c were despatched from Italy & Britain and landed at Eastern Command.
20 of the above missions landed in Eastern Command after successfully photographing enemy installations.
* 1 F-5 was shot down in Russian territory by a Russian fighter on 26 June, the pilot, Lt. Rowe was injured.

July 1944
45 F-5 a/c were despatched from Eastern Command
36 F-5's returned to Eastern Command
9 F-5's continued to Italy
13 F-5 a/c were despatched from Italy and landed at Eastern Command
29 of the above missions landed in Eastern Command after successfully photographing enemy installations
There were no losses or casualties during the month.

August 1944
23 F-5 a/c were despatched from Eastern Command
12 F-5's returned to Eastern Command
11 F-5's continued to Italy
9 F-5's were despatched from Italy and landed in Eastern Command
18 of the above missions landed in Eastern Command after successfully photographing enemy innstalations
There were no losses or casualties during the month.

Alex

[Fenix78]

Alex

Thank you for the great info !!
Does inside this book is writing which units fly in Eastern Command in Rusia in August ?