KG(J) 30 - Mistel Attacks

[Michal]

Hello,

did KG(J) 30 directly participate in some Mistel-Attacks in March - April 1945? Or did she serve only as training unit and her members were sent after completing training to 6./KG 200?

Thanks for help

Michal

[robert_schulte]

Michal,
These are excerpts from the book "Mistel" by Robert Forsyth:

18 March 1945:
"General der Flieger Koller signalled Baumbach (KG200) that demands on the Oder front may supersede immediate military intentions and secondly, that the time to utilise a second 'Mistel' unit in the battle for the bridges had arrived."

23 March 1945:
"Following Koller's instruction to Baumbach on the 18th, Oberst Helbig issued orders to KG(J)30 to immediately commence operations on the Oder Front"

"KG 30 will carry out as rapidly as possible the destruction of the Visula bridge. Anticipated targets: Railway bridge near Thorn, both railway bridges near Warsaw, Deblin railway bridge, the railway bridge at Dunajec, east of Krakau. Every bridge six Mistel."

6 April 1945:
"During the late afternoon an unknown number of Mistel of I./KG(J)30 were prepared for a mission over the Oder." ..."we were ordered to attack the Oder bridges south of Stettin, over which came the supplies for the Russian armies attacking the northern sector of the front. Take-off was set for 17.00 hours."

7 April 1945:
"In accordance with Oberst Helbig's orders of 23 March, KG(J)30... commenced operations against the Vistula bridges."....."Under the somewhat uninspired code-name 'Operation Weichselbrücken' Heise was ordred to prepare 24 Mistel from I. and II./KG(J)30 to destroy the enemy-held bridges near Thorn, Warsaw and Deblin as well as Soviet headquarters nera Tarnow."

So, KG(J)30 did participate directly in a few Mistel-attacks.