OOB Question - Minenstaffel X.Fliegerkorps

[AndreasB]

Hi

I have contradictory information.

The entry in the war diary of D.A.K. states a Minenstaffel remained on Sicily.

https://rommelsriposte.com/2016/02/1...-north-africa/

Based on what I know this would have been from KG4 "Wever". Lexikon der Wehrmacht states it was 2./KG4, but ww2.dk states it was 4./KG4

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...hwader/KG4.htm

http://www.ww2.dk/misc/obmed.pdf

Not a biggie, but would be nice to know. Many thanks in advance.

All the best

Andreas

[Larry deZeng]

I./KG 4 with 1.-3. Staffel was in Russia during 1941-43.

Hence,

II./KG 4
Balkan Campaign and Mid-East Operations. (Apr 41 - Jun 41)
6.4.41: from Vienna-Aspern with 28(25) He 111Ps on strength, flew two attacks on Belgrade dropping aerial mines into the city that destroyed much of the central area and caused great loss of life.
21.4.41: transferred to Zilistea in Central Romania and flew bomb and mine-laying attacks on Alexandria/Egypt and the Suez Canal from 1 May to 7 Jun, using the island of Rhodes off the southwest coast of Turkey as a staging and refueling base. Only 5 planes were lost for the 69 sorties flown, a rate considered acceptable in view of the importance of the mission and the distance of the target.
5/41: meanwhile, 4. Staffel was detached on 8 May and assigned to Fliegerführer Irak (Sonderkommando Junck) for special operations in Iraq, flying armed reconnaissance missions against British targets in the western part of the country from Mosul. The Staffel returned to Zilistea on 11 Jun after losing 8 He 111s.

There are other possibilities but there isn't much more that we can do without a date or dates, Andreas. Are you sure your reference source says "Minenstaffel" and not "Minensuchstaffel"?

L.

[AndreasB]

Hi Larry

Deffo 'Minenstaffel'.

Note this is February 41, so a few months before Russia.

All the best

Andreas

[Andrei Demjanko]

Andreas,

2./KG 4 flew a mission from Comiso to lay mines in the Suez Canal staging through Benghazi as early as the night 29-30 January. So, in February 1941 it must be 2./KG 4

[AndreasB]

Spassibo bolshoi Andrei, very much appreciated!

All the best

Andreas

[Larry deZeng]

The date is the key:

15.12.40: 2. Staffel ordered to Comiso/Sicily, arriving 11 Jan 1941, and assigned to X. Fliegerkorps for aerial mine-laying operations in the Mediterranean, particularly around Malta and along the Suez Canal. The Staffel flew 263 combat sorties before rejoining the rest of I. Gruppe at Soesterberg on 29 May 1941.

L.