Operation Barbarossa 22.6.41 - KG 3 and KG 53

[markr]

Good day, everyone!

Looking for KG 3 and KG 53 crews/aircraft that made first attacks on Soviet airfields (about 3 am, coinciding with beginning of Wehrmacht ground assault).

I understand that about 150 crews, from KG 2, KG 3 and KG 53 were selected to attack various airfields, in Kette strength, with fragmentation and incendiary bombs - in preparation for the main, larger air attacks to follow.

I did some searching of previous postings, but did not find anything.

Thanks in advance if any crew/aircraft information is available.

markr

[Tim O.]

Hi Markr

Not quite what you requested but I have the following two entries for 22nd June 1941 in a Flugbuch for a Radio Operator with KG54 (Totenkopf):

Pilot: Feldwebel Ernst Weible
Radio Operator: Feldwebel Alfred Schmittka
Rest of crew unknown

Flying out of Lublin.

1st Mission 'Bombing Kolki' in Ju88 B3+CK took off 03:05 and landed 05:05. Comment written: 'War against Russia. Kolki Fighter Airfield unit attack. 70 Rata destroyed.'

2nd Mission 'Low-level bombing Kolki' in Ju88 B3+BK took off 08:10 and landed 09:50. Comment written: 'Hit in left wing.'

I hope this gives you something useful.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Out of Lublin was and still is an airfield Świdnik; it was this place I suppose?

mw

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

This is intersting post but based on myth, for example on the North Soviet airfield were attacked by Me 110s of 5./ZG 26 a few minutes before 3.15 (at 2.55) over Alitus (Olita), the same was over airfield on the south like Czerniowce attacked by Stab, I i II/KG 27 with III/JG 77 i I(J)/LG 2 early in the morning

There was of course attacks done by very small formation 1, 2 or 3 planes and it was done by III/KG 51 (Ju 88 A-5 with 2 containers of 360 SD-2). These planes were specialy adopted for very low attack of 25-50 m high with small fragmetation bombs - SD-2.

So, the first air attacks on many Soviet's airfields were done by stronger formation then mentioned small force (1-3 planes). To small impact of air power attack with classic bombs to be useful against Soviets air regiments.

mw

PS
Tim, which was the Staffel of I/KG 54?

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by Mirek Wawrzynski

This is intersting post but based on myth, for example on the North Soviet airfield were attacked by Me 110s of 5./ZG 26 a few minutes before 3.15 (at 2.55) over Alitus (Olita), the same was over airfield on the south like Czerniowce attacked by Stab, I i II/KG 27 with III/JG 77 i I(J)/LG 2 early in the morning

There was of course attacks done by very small formation 1, 2 or 3 planes and it was done by III/KG 51 (Ju 88 A-5 with 2 containers of 360 SD-2). These planes were specialy adopted for very low attack of 25-50 m high with small fragmetation bombs - SD-2.

So, the first air attacks on many Soviet's airfields were done by stronger formation then mentioned small force (1-3 planes). To small impact of air power attack with classic bombs to be useful against Soviets air regiments.

mw

PS
Tim, which was the Staffel of I/KG 54?

At this time the two men mentioned (Weible and Schmittka) flew with 2. Staffel of KG 54. They then transferred into 5. Staffel/KG 54 in August 1941. They had only begun conversion to the Ju 88 in January 1941 after the Norwegian Campaign, where they flew in Ju 52s with KGzbV 106 dropping paratroopers over Narvik and delivering supplies. Prior to this they flew in Ju 52s against Poland with KGzbV 2 and took part in the bombing of Warsaw amongst other things. Pre-war Schmittka flew with Aufklärungsgruppe 122 so he was very experienced and met the criteria for those early missions against Russia. Schmittka paired up with Weible in April 1940 and they flew and transferred together until an horrific incident where two of their crew were killed and Weible was wounded in September 1942 when a Russian anti-aircraft shell exploded in the cockpit area. Schmittka helped get the crew back to German lines but broke down on landing and was taken off active duty. Weible went on to be awarded the RK but this was sadly posthumous as he went missing on a mission to London on 24th March 1944.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Thanks
Kolki was an airfield of 89. IAP of 14. SAD (I-16s). There were not such huge losses done as mentioned by Germans. It was to big overclaiming of victories, 89. IAP sustained much less losses on the ground on 22.06.41. The unit was not destroyed.

mw

BTW

"in Ju 52s against Poland with KGzbV 2 and took part in the bombing of Warsaw amongst other things".

Is there any info about thier mission/s over Warsaw in IX 39 (or on 25.09.39)?

[Tim O.]

Hi Mirek

Schmittka's flugbuch shows three missions 'bombing Warsaw' on 25.9.39

Gollasch + Unteroffizier Schmittka Ju52 G6 + EF Bombing Warsaw
take-off Breslau 25.9.39 06:50 09:10 Landed Kaycin

Gollasch + Unteroffizier Schmittka Ju52 G6 + EF Bombing Warsaw
Take-off Kaycin 25.9.39 11:17 12:37 Landed Kaycin

Gollasch + Unteroffizier Schmittka Ju52 G6 + EF Bombing Warsaw
Take-off Kaycin 25.9.39 16:00 16:55 Landed Kaycin