Nahaufklärer: Tactics etc. ?

[yogybär]

Does anyone know more about how these units were flying combat missions?
I think there were specific tactics for each type of plane (Hs126, Fw189, Bf110, Bf109), but I don't know too much - to be honest nearly nothing.

Of interest ware details like
- flight altitude
- flight size (109 often Rotte afaik)
- number of flights per day and Staffel
- did they also fly w/o cameras (i.e. as Artilleriebeobachter)
- ...

??

Any info, also for a good source (book, net) is wellcome.

Thanks!

[yogybär]

bump pe rampampamp.

Nobody interested in sharing his knowledge or does noone know anything ...

[leonventer]

Originally Posted by yogybär

Does anyone know more about how these units were flying combat missions? ... Any info, also for a good source (book, net) is wellcome.

Here are some suggested books:

• "Nahaufklärer 1910-1945: Die Augen des Heeres" by Nowarra; Motorbuch Verlag; 1981; ISBN 3-87943-808-0; 198 pages
  Detailed description of the development and deployment of short-range recon in all theaters. Includes unit listings with aircraft types for each campaign, plus a list of all Nahaufklärungsflieger who were awarded the Ritterkreuz. Well illustrated, with photos of aircraft, crews, and equipment.
• "Aufklärer: Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft & Units 1935-1945" by Wadman, Bradley & Ketley; Hikoki; 1997; ISBN 0-9519899-8-7; 272 pages
  Covers short-range, long-range, maritime, weather, and night recon. The main emphasis is on aircraft and equipment, but the first 20 pages provide a brief overview of each recon type and their organization and tactics. Includes brief histories of all units. Very good photo coverage, with some in color. Includes color profile drawings and unit emblems.
• "Recon for Rommel: The 2.(H)/14 air recon flyers in Africa" by Ommert; The Military Machine (König Verlag); 2006; ISBN 3-9805216-7-2; 195 pages; all text in both English and German
  Mainly pictorial, but the first 48 pages contain a fairly detailed history of this unit's operations in North Africa, including a loss list. High-quality photos (many in color) with detailed captions, plus color reproductions of several documents.

Hope that helps,
Leon Venter.

[chuckschmitz]

Also try Wadman's Aufklarer, Vol. 1 Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft and Units 1935-1941, 2007, 96 pages. Not sure how this book relates to the 1997 book mentioned in another post.

[leonventer]

Originally Posted by chuckschmitz

Also try Wadman's Aufklarer, Vol. 1 Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft and Units 1935-1941, 2007, 96 pages. Not sure how this book relates to the 1997 book mentioned in another post.

Good addition, Chuck. That's the first of the two volumes on Aufklärer in the "Luftwaffe Colours" series by Classic Publications. Here are the details:

• "Luftwaffe Colours: Aufklärer Vol. 1, Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft and Units 1935-1941" by Wadman; Classic Publications; 2007; ISBN 1-85780-268-3; 96 pages
• "Luftwaffe Colours: Aufklärer Vol. 2, Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft and Units 1942-1945" by Wadman; Classic Publications; 2007; ISBN 1-857802-78-0; 96 pages

Together, these two volumes constitute a revised version of Wadman's 1997 "Aufklärer" book -- much the same material, with less coverage of aircraft types, and more emphasis on unit histories and camouflage & markings.

Leon Venter

[Juha]

Hello Yogy
at least 1./NaGr 5 when it was part of Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey here in Finland in summer 44 used also „running commentary“i.e. itsBf 109G-8s flew along supposed Soviet attack routes and reported immediatly by radio what they saw to HQ of Gefechtsverband so that HQ could plan attacks using newest possible info.
Juha

[Larry deZeng]

Of interest ware details like
- flight altitude
- flight size (109 often Rotte afaik)
- number of flights per day and Staffel
- did they also fly w/o cameras (i.e. as Artilleriebeobachter)
- ...

I don't think anyone can provide a pat answer to any of these questions as they differed from aircraft-to-aircraft type, the Armee the Nahaufklärungsstaffel was in support of, the circumstances at the front at the time, the weather, the point in the war (early, mid-, late), the front (Ost-, West-, Süd-), etc.

There are quite a few ADI(K) interrogation reports that cover the subject of Nahaufkl. tactics and, IIRC, the variability in the answers is enormous. There are also several A.I.12 (Post Hostilities) studies on tactical reconnaissance that discuss tactics.

L.

[yogybär]

leonventer & chuckschmitz:

Thanks for your answers. That gives me a way to get into that topic.