Wekusta 1 Operations

[DaveM2]

All

Does anyone have any details of bases /operations by Ju 88s of Wekusta 1 around, and particularly south of, the Pskov area during early January 1943? Pointers to information and if possible photos would be appreciated.

TIA
Dave

[Larry deZeng]

Westa 1/Lfl. 1 lost a Ju 88 D-1 (B7+AA) to a fighter over Velikiye Luki on 8 January 1943. The Staffel had been based at Dno since July 1942. It flew L-R weather recce. There appears to be no information about it for the next 5 months, although it was still based at Dno. No photos for that period in the source noted below.

Kingston, John A. and Franz Selinger. Wekusta: Luftwaffe Meteorological Reconnaissance Units & Operations 1938-1945. Ottringham (East Yorkshire): Flight Recorder Publications Ltd., 2006. ISBNs: 0 9545605 8 2 and 978 0 9545605 8 4. Hb (oversize). Dj. 256p. Heavily illus. Color profiles. Maps. Charts. Tables. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.

[DaveM2]

Thanks Larry-one would assume they weren't on holiday during early 1943, but perhaps nothing of note was occuring other than routine flying ,without incident.

regards
Dave

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

There are quite a lot Westa 1 flights reported in the Finnish Air Observation logs. It is now few years since I last looked at these, but certainly it was the same unit as codes were in format B7+_A. As far as I remember these were mostly from late 1943 (there might have been something also for late 1942) till late Summer 1944 and most flight originated from Riga, Latvia. So I fear these would be of not help for you. More so as your area of interest is south of Pskov. Finnish material contain only areas near Finnish airspace.

I could ask couple of colleagues with better records if they have something of interest. Will look my notes too when and if I find them...
NB. My personal message box is full an will remain so until further notice.

Regards,
Kari

[DaveM2]

Hi Kari

Thanks for that, it would be appreciated - just in the specific area and around the time period I mentioned if possible.

regards
Dave

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by DaveM2

Thanks Larry-one would assume they weren't on holiday during early 1943, but perhaps nothing of note was occuring other than routine flying ,without incident.

regards
Dave

Still at Dno through the first half of 1943 and later. No mention of a stand-down to re-equip or anything like that. The only source I can think of that would confirm routine weather operations during that period would be the Flugbücher of Westa 1/Lfl. 1 air crew who were assigned to it at that time.

Larry