I/LLG1 and LLG2 - Istres 1943

[Ianfst]

Hello,
Can anyone inform me of movements of the above two units between their base at Istres (France) and Sicily in the early days of August 1943. I'd be particularly interested in any flights on, or after, August 3rd. Failing this, does anyone know where I could find their KTB's ?
Thanks,
Ian Stevenson

[Michal]

I don´t know that these Glider Units were based at Istres. According German OOB dated July 10 1943:


Stab, I./LLG 1 (52 Do 17, 136 DFS 230) Lezignan
II./LLG 1 (23 Ju 87, 24 DFS 230, In Verlegung von Halberstadt) Marseille
III./LLG 1 (32 Hs 126, 120 DFS 230) Valence
I./LLG 2 (27 He 111, 188 Go 242) Orange
DFS-Staffel 23 (69 DFS 230) Orange
GS-Kdo. 1 and GS-Kdo. 2 (11 He 111Z, 20 Me 321) Istres

American Air Raids on Istres (August 17 1943) and Practica di Mare (September 17 1943) destroyed and damaged nearly 250 tugs and gliders. At the end of September 1943 all gliders units were evacuated from southern France and Italy to airfields in northern France.

[Michal]

Once more:

Glider units flew Missions to Sicily from Pomigliano A/F, near Napoli. There are known flights to Catania on July 13 1943 and to Torre di Farro between July 20 and 22 1943. Parts of German Glider Units were redeployed to Viterbo A/F between July 28 and 31 1943 and to Practica di Mare A/F between August 1 and 8 1943.

Einsatzbereitschaft der Verbände des XI. Fliegerkorps. Stand: 10.8.1943

(only units involved in Sicily Missions)
serviceable (non-serviceable)

G.S.-Kdo. 1 and 2 (10 (3) He 111Z, 21 (18) Me 321) Istres
Einsatzgruppe I./LLG 1 (50 (32) Do 17, 130 (67) DFS 230, 2(1) Fi 156) Lezignan
Einsatzgruppe II./LLG 1 (29 (19) Ju 87, 48 (22) DFS 230, 1 (0) Ju 88) Aix Les Milles
Einsatzgruppe III./LLG 1 (35 (26) Hs 126, 117 (71) DFS 230) Valence
Einsatzgruppe I./LLG 2 (17 (7) He 111, 146 (35) Go 242, 2 (1) Fi 156) Istres

[Ianfst]

Michal,
Thank you for the information on the glider units. Do you know how many gliders and tugs were destroyed at Istres by the U.S. attack of August 17th ?

The reason I requested help is that I'm trying to establish how an Australian fighter pilot, probably shot down by flak near Mt. Etna on August 3rd, reappeared at Istres airfield where he was mortally wounded during the USAF raid on the 17th.

We think that he may have been injured in the crash landing of his aircraft, taken prisoner by German troops and somehow evacuated by air to Istres.

If this was the case then it can only have been by a transport flight between Sicily and Istres, between August 3rd and 17th.

Thanks again for any help, information or suggestions.

Ian Stevenson