Frontfl.-Sst.

[Gordon Raddock]

Can anyone please assist with the meaning of the subject abbreviation? This unit(?) was mentioned in researching the military career of Maj. Karl-Heinz Leesmann. He was posted(?) to this unit after handing over command of I./JG 52 to Hptm. Helmut Bennemann on 13.6.1942.

Cheers
Gordon

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

Could be Frontfliegersichtungsstelle?? or Frontliegersammelstaffel? I know that some of the pilots went to these units probably for R&R after a heavy period at the front.

I have not got a lot of information on the units, but had to do some research connected to Heinz Deuschle, who were flying with I./J.G.5 when he was killed on 27.05.1944, but his unit was given as Frontfliegersammelgruppe Quedlinburg. My suspicion has been that pilots that were suffering from battle fatigue (and in Deuschle' case no wonder... he had been at the front literally from the outbreak of the second world war, first with II./JG 77 on the northern coast of Germany, then in Norway and on the Balkans, and then the eastern front) were posted to these units and returned to frontline units after being considered ready for action again.

There is an interesting note in the Namentliche Verlustemeldung considering Deuschle:

Hauptmann Deuschle wurde am 25.4.44 von der Fliegersichtungsstelle München entlassen und in Einvernehmen mit Gen.der Jagdflieger bei der I./J.G.5 eingesetzt. Versetzung zur I./J.G.5 war von Gen.d.Jagdfl. bei R.L.M. beantragt.

So he was released from this Fliegersichtungsstelle, that would be either a medical facility or some kind of jail?? and sent to I./J.G.5. He had received an Erkennungsmerke (ID disc) from J.G.5, but his unit was still reported as Frontfliegersammelgruppe Quedlinburg, but he was also acting as Staffelführer on this flight!!

So - trying to sum all this up:

I think Leesmann went to a unit that were tasked with returning combat pilots with signs of combat fatigue (especially experienced unit leaders) to operational status, this unit probably being named Frontfliegersammelstaffel (part of one or more Frontliegergruppen) or Frontfliegersichtungsstelle.

If someone have more knowledge of these units it would be interesting to know what they really did!

Regards,
Andreas

[Gordon Raddock]

Hi Andreas

Many thanks for a most comprehensive reply! I, too, suspected the Frontfl.-Sst. could have been a recuperative centre for wounded and battle-fatigued pilots and the info you have provided tends to confirm that.

Thanks again
Gordon