Anzio Nettuno, II./KG40, He 177, Hs 293

Reading the book "Warriors and Wizards: The Development and Defeat of Radio-Controlled Glide Bombs of the Third Reich" by Martin J. Bollinger, I noticed that not much is known about the contribution of KG40 at Anzio and Nettuno in January 1944.

When my grandmother died a few years ago, we reveived some documents that provide at least a little bit of additional information. My grandfather Walter Rieder served as He 177 pilot and group commander of II./KG40 from late 1943 to 12 Feb. 1944.
Part of his legacy are 3 certificates that tell he took part in the sinking of 3 vessels in late January 1944. One transport vessel with 5000-6000t on 24. Jan. 1944, one destroyer on the same day, and one transport vessel with 3000t on 26. Jan. 1944.

His aircraft was equipped with Hs 293 radio-controlled glider bombs, so they have probably been used for the attacks.

I hope this can shed a little bit of light on things that happened at Anzio and Nettuno, and may be of interest to some people on this forum.

[Chris Goss]

If you would like to PM me, I am currently researching & writing about Fw 200 & He 177 operations of KG 40. His name is known to me also as StKap of 8/KG 40 & Gr Kdr of III/KG 40 before he took over from Maj Rudolf Mons after his death in 26 Nov 43. I have also accounts from the pilots that shot him down in Feb 44