III./KG 30 19/20-June-1943

[Richard Mills]

According to 'Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945' by Larry de Zang and Doug Stankey, on 19/20-June-1943 III./Kampfgeschwader 30 is listed as attacking a convoy and claiming 24 hits.

As part of some research to a Beobachter serving in the Gruppe at that time, I have looked high and wide and cannot find any mention of the convoy in question anywhere.

Consequently, is anyone out there able to provide any information on the convoy in question at all?

Any help at all will be very well received indeed.

Regards Richard.

[Larry deZeng]

G'Day Richard,

This comes from an ULTRA DEFE 3 intercept:

15.6.43: Ju 88A-4 (4D+MS) shot down by AA-fire over Bone harbor -Staka of 8.Staffel, Hptm. Karl Donner, + 2 KIA, 1 P/W (LRs).
19/20.6.43: attacked an Allied convoy with 11 Ju 88s, and claimed 24 bombs hit the target; however, what exactly was hit is not known (ULTRA ML4657).
29/30.6.43: 2 7.Staffel Ju 88A-4s (4D+DR,ER) FTR from an evening raid on Bone harbor - Staka Hptm. Karl-Heinz Sommern + 3 MIA (LRs).

The key word in that entry for 19/20 June is "claimed". I think it may be probable that the Gruppe attacked a convoy as stated, but the claimed hits are just that, claims. As for the convoy, on and around that date the Mediterranean was choked with convoys bringing in troops and supplies for the forthcoming attack on Sicily and the Italian mainland, so identifying the right one might be difficult.

'gards,

Larry deZeng

[Richard Mills]

Larry

As always your input is top notch and that was exactly what I was looking for.

Many thanks for your continued help and support with these research questions.

Regards Richard.