X Fliegerkorps Units

[Chris Goss]

According to Michael Holm, X Fliegerkorps moved from Luftflotte 5 to Italy in Dec 40; could it be it moved initially to Luftflotte 2 and was then based at Soesterburg until Luftflotte 2 moved away east in May 41? If so, in May 41, in addition to KG 4 & KG 30, was KG 53 subordinate to X Fliegerkorps/ Luftflotte 2? Some records say KG 53 came under Luftflotte 3 but Luftflotte 3 records do not make mention of this Geschwader. Can anyone help throw light on this?

[Larry deZeng]

X. Fliegerkorps
[extracts]
10 Dec 40: ordered to transfer from Norway to Sicily. Initial mission: (1) to engage Royal Navy fleet units, especially those at Alexandria; (2) to attack enemy shipping in the Suez Canal and the Straits of Sicily; (3) to be available as needed for employment against targets in the Ionian and Aegean Seas; and, (4) to coordinate all operations with the Italian supreme command.[1]

Mediterranean and North Africa. (Dec 40 - Mar 44)
10 Jan 41: Stab at Taormina/NE Sicily, 35 km S of Messina, and commenced operations this date. Over the next 5 months, flew continuous raids on Malta and attacked British shipping and naval targets throughout the Mediterranean.[2]
11 Jan 41: mission expanded to include attacks on British supply dumps and ports where supplies were being off-loaded in Cyrenaica and western Egypt. Aircraft were to stage these attacks through bases in Tripolitania.[3]
4 Feb 41: mission expanded again to include flying escort for German troop and supply convoys underway from Italy to North African ports.[4]

[1] KTB/OKW 1940-1941 Teilband I, p.223.

[2] K.Gundelach-Die deutsche Luftwaffe im Mittelmeer 1940-1945 (2 volumes); C.Shores et al-Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41; C.Shores et al-Malta: The Spitfire Year 1942; plus dozens of other books that forcus on the Mediterranean theater of operations (see the Bibliography).

[3] KTB/OKW 1940-1941 Teilband I, p.261.

[4] KTB/OKW 1940-1941 Teilband I, pp.303, 306-07.



Hope that helps,

Larry

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Larry. This seems to confirm they were in Luftflotte 2 but which Fliegerkorps were the following subordinate to in May 41?

Stab/KG 4 He 111 Soesterburg
I/KG 4 He 111 Soesterburg
III/KG 4 He 111 Soesterburg

Stab/KG 30 Ju 88 Eindhoven
I/KG 30 Ju 88 Eindhoven
II/KG 30 Ju 88 Gilze-Rijen

Stab/KG 53 He 111 Lille-Nord
I/KG 53 He 111 Vitry-en-Artois
II/KG 53 He 111 Lille Nord

The following month they (less KG 53) were subordinate to IX Fliegerkorps in Luftflotte 3

[Larry deZeng]

KG 53 was subordinated to IX. Fliegerkorps/Luftflotte 2 through May 1941.


Gen.Kdo. Fliegerkorps IX
(FpN: L 32688)
Formation. (Nov 40)
Formed on or about 16 November 1940 at Blomendaal/Holland by renaming and expanding Stab/9. Fliegerdivision, and assigned to Luftflotte 2. The first reference to the change in designation in KTB/OKW did not occur until 23 October 1940. Although taking part to the fullest extent in conventional night bombing operations, IX. Fliegerkorps specialized in anti-shipping and mine laying in the Channel and in the North Sea. From June 1941 it was the only Fliegerkorps in the West until 1944. Under Luftflotte 3 from June 1941 to 1944.[1]


[1] G.Tessin-Verbände und Truppen der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939-1945. Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte; W.Ramsey (ed.)-The Blitz Then and Now (volumes 2 and 3); KTB/OKW 1940-1941 Teilband I, p.125.



You were just one Roman numeral off -

L.

[Chris Goss]

That makes sense as all then came under IX Fliegerkorps in Jun 41 under Luftflotte 3. Thanks