Which Seaplane units attacked by Beaus 29-01-44 Aegean area.

[David Pausey]

Hi

Based on a radio inercept to Admiral AEGEAN(Ops) and for information to Fliegerkorps 10 dated 29-01-44 mentions three Ju. Seaplanes and three Ar.196 shot down off MIKOMOS by five Beaufighters(these were from 603 Sqn).
Does any know which units these aircraft were from ?

Cheers

David

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi All

Not an answer, but a further quation!
How come the loss records for basically ALL aircraft used by "naval" units are so, well, lousy from 1944 and onwards? For example, in 1943 there is an abundance of loss recored recorded for the Ar 196. In 1944 only some 3-4 losses are known. Since the production of the type continued well into 1944, I find it hard to believe the losses were cut in such a dramatic way as has been published.

So what happened with the Lw records for those types and the Ar 196 in particular?

Cheers
Stig

[Nick Beale]

1. and 2./Küflgr. 126 were active on convoy escort with the Ar 196 in the Aegean in spring 1944, so they'd be a good bet.

[Seaplanes]

The following losses and damages are known for 27 January 1944:
Ar 196A-3 W.Nr. 0297 1./126 D1+FH 5% damaged by fire from enemy aircraft while on escort duties off Mykonos Island. No casualties.

Ar 196A-3 W.Nr. 0154 1./126 D1+AH 100% Shot down in combat with enemy aircraft off Mykonos Island while on escort duties. Lt. Wolfgang Reichel (B) missing. Gefr. Horst Pfützner (F) missing.

Ar 196A-3 W.Nr. 0328 1./126 D1+CH. Same as for the aircraft above.
Fw. Gustav Zobel (F) missing. Uffz. Herbert Thumer (B) missing.

In addition three Ju 52/3 (See) were lost. One from Seetransportfliegerstaffel 1 and two from Seetransportfliegerstaffel 3.
Unfortunately, I have information for only one of these aircraft:
Ju 52/3g5e (See) W.Nr. 6987 St.Kz. TE+DZ 100% Shot down by enemy aircraft off Mykonos Island. This aircraft belonged to Seetr.Fl.St.3.

[Tony Jones]

Hi Stig

I see that your question was not fully dealt with. The QM reports avaibale from IWM, Duxford end in December 1943 and restart in Feb 1945 so there are no QM records between the two periods.

Thre are 12 IWM film rolls and they can be obtained for about £70 per roll so look in your piggy bank Stig!!! or contact me privately you never know your luck!!

Regards

Tony

[Seaplanes]

Please note that no seaplanes were reported lost on 29.01.1944. The fact that the radio intercept was from this date does not mean that the losses occured on this date. My information is not from the QM reports but from Kriegsmarine records available at BA/MA in Freiburg, Germany.
The location given as Mikomos is of course misspelling og Mykonos.
I believe that someone out there has info on the last two Ju 52s.