Aircraft on strength 30/9/39

[Neil Wakefield]

I found the information on this site for single and twin engine fighters on Luftwaffe strength 30/09/39. In addition to the aircraft on strength with the named squadrons does anybody have any information about other fighter aircraft not on the strength of the named squadrons (e.g. built but not yet delivered, in training units, in reserve)?

Also does anybody have details for aircraft on Luftwaffe strength with Coastal, Recce, Transport and Bomber squadrons on or about 30/9/39?

Thanks,

Neil

[Adam]

Not sure how helpful this is but for 30 Sept. 39 the GAF stood at:

(First colum is strength, second serviceable)

Short Recce: 318, 290
Long Recce: 237, 204
S.E. Fighters: 1125, 870
Heavy Fighters: (S.E.): 51, 41
(T.E.): 143, 100
Bombers: 1213, 1014
Dive Bombers: 347, 230
Ground Attack:37, 37
Coastal:261, 220
Transport: 227, 186

Total: 3990, 3189

I have no further details on how these were shared out between units.

regards

Adam

[Neil Wakefield]

Thanks Adam,

The 51 heavy fighters (S.E.) are Bf 110s I'm sure as 51+143=194 and 194 is the figure for Bf 110s on strength for 30/9/39 I have.

The figure of 227 transports is interesting as Williamson Murray's book 'Luftwaffe' gives a figure of 552 transports on strength 2/9/39.

Cheers,

Neil

[Adam]

Neil,

The source I used was Australian War Memorial, AWM 54 423/4/103 Part 100 which is strength and servicability returns from mid '38 - '45 and is based on VI Abteilung returns throughout the war. That said, there are a few dates (which are noted as once weekly) that I have found in various spots to be conflicory with other sources. Generally, I find them to be within coo-ee of other sources reporting.

The S.E. in the Zestorer list is noted as beingSingle Engined, though how or what a single engined fighter was classed and came to be grouped in as heavy fighter, I don't know. It doesn't state.

As for the transports, I just checked and the same figure is given for the same date (552), though the specification is made that, that figure is the total number of available transports (again, not specification and probably more than just Ju 52s) as only 540 transports were serviceable on 2 September.

regards

Adam

[Juha]

Hello
because there were not enough Bf 110s in late summer 39, some ZGrn got older Bf 109s (Cs and Ds) instead. Gradually when number of Bf 110s increased those older Bf 109s were replaced by Bf 110s in those ZGrn and IIRC by Spring 40 all ZGrn had Bf 110s as their equipment.

HTH
Juha

[Neil Wakefield]

The following Dutch site http://www.go2war2.nl/artikel/921/3
has some details on the Bf 110B and C and states that 23 Bf 110Bs and 59 Bf 110Cs were operational at the start of the war.

In contrast this website has 90 Bf 110Cs operational at the start of the war http://www.ww2.dk/misc/ob1939.htm

I./ZG1 Bf 110C 34 27
I.(Z)/LG1 Bf 110C 33 32
I./ZG76 Bf 110C 35 31

Cheers,

Neil

[Marius]

I have the following:

26.8.1939
I./ZG 1 32 Bf 110 B & C (34 on 1.9.1939)
I.(Z)/LG 1 36 Bf 110 B & C
I./ZG 76 33 Bf 110 B & C

Furthermore I./ZG 2 had Bf 109 C & D`s and II./ZG 1 Bf 109 E`s (!!).

Marius

[Neil Wakefield]

Does anybody have a breakdown by type of the 261 coastal aircraft on strength 30/9/39? There were 240 coastal aircraft on strength 2/9/39 of which 167 were He 59, He 60, He 115 and Do 18.

Thanks,

Neil