1./Nacht NAG 31

[Nikita Egorov]

Another question, TW list gives Ofw. Jakot from 1./Nacht NAG 31 claiming one I-17 on October 23, 1942. I failed to find any basic info on this unit. Who can give a hint on what types of planes it used and any general info on the unit?

[Larry deZeng]

1.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 31
Code: (5D + )

also as: Nahaufklärungsstaffel 1./31 (Mot)
Nahaufklärungsstaffel 1./31 (Nacht)


Formation and Training. (Nov 38 - Aug 39)
Formed 1 November 1938 at Brieg/Silesia (ex-1.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 13) with Henschel Hs 126s and Heinkel He 46s. The He 46s were phased out and replaced with Hs 126s during the first half of 1939.[1]
………………………………….
North Russia. (Mar 42 - Oct 44)
1.3.42: Staffel reported 6 x Fw 189 A-1 on strength.
28.3.42: now back at the front, and identified flying reconnaissance for German counterattacks in the vicinity of Staraya Russa and Demyansk.
4.42: assigned to Nahaufklärungsgruppe 11, probably with effect from 19 April.
8.6.42: one man reported KIA during enemy bombing at Demyansk.
20.6.42: Staffel reported 7(5) Fw 189s on strength.
26.6.42: based at Demyansk.
19.8.42: 3 Fw 189 A-2s (95%, 95%, 60%) destroyed by bombs during Russian air attack on Fp. Demyansk.
6.9.42: Fw 189 crashed at Fp. Soltsy/36 km N of Dno, 100%, 3 killed.
9.9.42: based at Soltsy under NAGr. 11.
26.9.42: Fw 189 A-2 shot down by a fighter near Demyansk, 95%, 3 KIA.
2.10.42: Fw 189 A-2 damaged by bombs at Fp. Soltsy, 25%.
9.11.42: based at Soltsy.
12/42: Soltsy under NAGr. 11.
26.1.43: Soltsy under NAGr. 11 in support of 16th Army.
……………………………………..
FpN: 1. (H)/31 (L04202).

Staffelkapitän:
Hptm. Harald Stainer ( ? - ? ) 1939
Hptm. Kurt Kempken ( ? - 2 Mar 43) KIA
Hptm. Meier ( ? - ? ) 1944
Oblt. Hans Albers ( ? - May 45)


[1] J.-P.Défieux - Répertoire des Unités Aériennes de la Luftwaffe 1935-1945: Reconnaissance Aéronavale (Nanterre, privately published, n.d. (c 1988-90?); K.Ries - Luftwaffen Story 1935-1939; Tessin, Georg, Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939: Altes Heer, Freiwilligenverbände, Reichswehr, Heer, Luftwaffe, Landespolizei; G.Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, 16+ Bde., Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte (Osnabrück, 1980); W.Dierich - Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935-1945: Gliederungen und Kurzchroniken – Eine Dokumentation; N.Kannapin - Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945; U.Balke - Der Luftkrieg in Europa: Die Operativen Einsätze des Kampfgeschwader 2 im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Teil I, p.397; K-O.Hoffmann - Ln: Die Geschichte der Luftnachrichtentruppe, p.107; M.Meyer/P.Stipdonk - Von der Fliegerschule zum Einsatzverband: Ein Bildband der deutschen Luftwaffe 1933-1945, p.78; K.Köhler - “Der Einsatz der Luftwaffe im Bereich der Heeresgruppe Nord von Ende Juni bis Mitte Oktober 1944”, in Meier-Welcker, Hans (ed.), Abwehrkämpfe am Nordflügel der Ostfront 1944-1945, p.37; M.Rauchensteiner - Der Krieg in Österreich, 1945, p.359; AFHRA Maxwell decimal Karlsruhe Collection KC-Kl13.309-3/ v.1; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-311 roll 71); (T-312 rolls for AOK 16 and AOK 18, especially roll 568 frames 314-19 “Genst.d.Heeres/Org.Abt.(II) Nr.1483/42g.Kdos., 19.4.1942” order setting up the Nahaufklärungsgruppen); (T-321 roll 50/876); PRO London: AIR 40/1986; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 40/Kart; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs); BA-MA Freiburg: Flugzeug-Bereitstellungen (Aircraft Availability Status Reports – FzB) in: M.Holm-website (ww2.dk).

[Nikita Egorov]

Larry, Thanks a lot for info.

However, question has been altered somehow. From what I see in your file, Staffel was constantly deployed in north west sector, while Fw. Jakot's claim occurred far south of Stalingrad. So, either 1(H)/Aufkl.Gr.31 was redirected to Stalingrad at least for brief period in the end of October, or Fw. Jakot belonged to another detachment.

[Larry deZeng]

Fw. Jakot either belonged to another unit or he had been assigned to temporary duty with another unit in the Luftflotte 4 area.

Larry

[Nikita Egorov]

That sounds sensible. Thank you again.