Unit code U4+-K

[Seaplanes]

The remains of a Ju 88A-1 W.Nr. 0119 is in the custody of the Aircraft Collection (museum) at Gardermoen Norway. The aircraft carries the unit code U4+TK. It is said that the aircraft began service in an Ergänzungsgruppe and ended up in K.G.30 just before the attack on Norway on 9. April 1940.
The plane was damaged by enemy fire on 18. April 1940 and further damaged during landing in slush on the frozen lake Jonsvannet near Trondheim the same day. On 25. April the plane was attacked by Skuas and set on fire. It later sank. Can someone help with the correct unit designation U4+. It was not given the usual K.G. 30 unit code 4D+.

[Chris Goss]

Strange. I was just looking at a Flugbuch for a 4/KG 51 pilot who was converting to the Ju 88 at Greifswald from 4 Apr 40 onwards. His first flight was with a Do 17 M U4+OH after which he flew Ju 88s U4+EH, U4+AH and U4+KH

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Björn

I have a note the code was used by Erg. KG 4
Hopefully someone will verify that.

Cheers
Stig

[Larry deZeng]

Erg.KGr. 4
Ergänzungs-Kampfgruppe 4
(Unit Code U4+)

Formation and Organization. (Mar 40 - Oct 40)
Formed 1 March 1940 at Greifswald with a Gruppenstab and 1. – 2.Staffel by renaming I./Lehrgruppe Ju 88. A 3.Staffel was added on 15 Oct 40. The Gruppe was initially established to provide Junkers Ju 88 replacement crews for Luftflotte 4, but from 25 April 1940 came under Chef AW (Chief of the Training Establishment)/Ob.d.L. Due to Ju 88 production shortages and their urgent need by operational units, Erg.-KGr. 4 was forced to begin training with some 5 Do 17Ms and 11 Ju 87 dive-bombers.
etc., etc., etc.

All covered in the deZeng/Stankey book on Luftwaffle bombers.

L.

[RT]

Care Erg.KGr.4 had nothing to do with KG 4.

Rémi

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by RT

Care Erg.KGr.4 had nothing to do with KG 4.

Rémi

Mas correcto. Das ist so.

L

[Merlin]

The unit code U4 belonged to Lehrgruppe Ju 88 and was in use from November 1939 until 1.03.40, when th unit became disbanded.

The aircaft of 1.Staffel with U4+xH were given to Ergänzungskampfgruppe 4 at Greifswald and those from 2.Staffel with U4+xK to Ergänzungskampfgruppe 5 at Barth. At these two training units the Ju 88 were flown for some weeks with old unit code in place.

[edNorth]

I have it assigned to I/KG 100 (one of six Ju 88s), not 2./KG 30.

[Stig Jarlevik]

All

Apologies for sloppy writing.
I DO have it down as Erg. KGr 4....

Merlin
Your details slightly contradict how Erg KGr 5 was formed (as per Larry and his book). Does any of you wish to expand on that?
A bit odd that two separate units would receive the same unit code, even if I can understand a transition period when aircraft from I./LGr Ju 88 ends up with both units.

Cheers
Stig

[Merlin]

The assignment of the unit code U4 to a Ergänzungskampfgruppe is simply a misinterpretation of the data.

All the Ergänzungskampfgruppen 2 to 6, which existed in the time period November 1939 to May 1941, flew with Stammkennzeichen only. None of these groups has had an assigned unit code.