Schalldämpfungsflug

[RSwank]

This site for Grünthal, Ottomar from 2/KG-66:

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety...anPilotsG.html

Has this description:

KIA 31 August, 1943; crashed during a sound-proofing (?) mission, 8.5 km east of Villaroche, by Petit Plessig, cause unknown. Remaining crew (KIA): Lt Karl Reitzenstein, geb 6/5/1919, Obs; Uffz Josef Ries, geb 2/11/1918, R/O and Gefr Karl Marschall, geb 1/20/1922, 1/Wart. Source: B.Bines.

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to answering my question. Any idea if there were any tests for engine exhaust silencers for the Ju 88? I can imagine it would help reduce detection especially at night.

Regards,

Norbert

[Marcel van Heijkop]

BTW: Does anybody have the NVM for Uffz Ottomar Grünthal and his Besatzung (crew)? Please contact me by PM or off the board.

Thanks in advance,

Marcel

[Brian Bines]

A couple more thoughts on this Schalldampungsflug can translate as sound lowering flight, could this be trial flight to establish the flight characteristics needed to lower the noise in the cockpit. According to ADIK 160/1944 the main task of 3/KG66 was to anticipate and attempt diversion of Bomber command night attacks. Crews included an English speaking radio officer a Horchf., I believe Horchen means to investigate or eavesdrop. If cockpit noise could be reduced by engine management etc. would this have helped the Horchf. with listening in on RAF transmissions. The 'K' also said 3/KG66 operated over German controlled airspace which would seem to negate the need to silence the aircraft from enemy sound detectors. ADIK report for a POW from 2/KG76 on the night of 29/30-1-44 says that the day after the first Steinbock attacks crews were told only 14 RAF NF's were operating that night. Despite the accuracy of that figure one wonders whether the info. came from 3/KG66.
It would be good if the definite meaning of the little used term Schalldampfungsflug could be found.

[Seaplanes]

This link can possibly help
http://www.wiki.luftwaffedata.co.uk/...hp?title=KG_66
Im sorry but KG 66 is a bit far out for me so I have to rely on others.

[Norbert Schuchbauer]

Hi All,
thanks for the extraordinary feedback to my inquiry. Never expected this! Hopefully there will be an answer to this mystery soon. Anybody with KG 66 war diary copies that may put a light on this????

Regards,

Norbert

[edNorth]

Do not know if this is relavant ... (besides it was S-1 140588 not 140580 SL+PV that was converted to Ju 88 P "Tank-buster")

I seem remember 3./KG 66 (Horch und Störstaffel) became 6.(F)/123 later, but I suspect designation "3/KG 66" having been a cover, possibly the real one was this here....

- Sonderkommando Rastádter/KG 40
An special SIGINT unit was attached in June 1943. Using the Do 217, He 111 and Ju 88 aircraft. Made operational tests in June, July and August 1943 to determine radar frequencies of the Allied Mk.III centimetric radar etc. Continiued operating untill April 1944, when it became a full electronic warfare unit (Horch und Störstaffel 2) finally absorbed by 4./FAGr 5 (Ju 290) in May 1944.

but I am no expert on these matters ...

[Brian Bines]

Thanks Ed for posting that, the Radtke KG54 history opp. page 206 has an order dated 25-4-1944. This shows the exsisting 3/KG66 (Horch und Störstaffel) becoming 6(F)/123, and 4/KG54 to become the new 3/KG66. ADIK 381/1944 ( capture of a BF from 3/KG66 on 16-7-44) shows that when a KG54 crew joined the 'Egon' staffel (5/KG66) in March the aircraft codes were Z6+-N, but in early June the 'E' staffel designation was dropped and the unit became 3/KG66 with aircraft codes becoming Z6+-L.
ADIK 160/1944 dated 5-4-1944 shows the Staffel Kap. of 3/KG66 (Horch und Störstaffel) as being Signals officer Oblt. de Milde, is it known if this officer links to Sdkdo.Rastadter/KG40. The only thing shown about him was that previously he had been at Halle.

[Andy Saunders]

Brian

According the A.I 12 handbook

Horchf. = Horchfunker

(Wireless Interceptor)

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Hi Ed,

Thanks for the interesting comment! What's your source and do you have pictures of the aircraft of this mysterious unit? It confirms my suspicions that 3./KG66 had nothing in common with I./KG66 except for the designation. (And hence that none of the I./KG66 veterans had any recollections about this unit and its men.)

@Brian: Name of the Staffelkapitän is probably Oblt. Heinz de Wilde instead of "de Milde". ("De Wilde" is a Dutch family name, maybe he was of Dutch origin.) There's a photo of him on page 244 of Jan Horn's KG6 unit history Volume 2. Aperently he was 15./KG6's last Staffelkapitän (15./KG6 being the nucleus for the new I./KG66.) According to Horn, Oblt. de Wilde was "Referent für Offiziers-Ausbildung der Ln.-Truppe beim Chef des Nachrichten-und Verbindungswesen im RLM" before that. I don't know completely what this mouthful means, but at least it has something to do with signals (which makes sense)!

BTW: Regarding "Schalldämpfungsflug", we have all been focussing on the suppression of engine (exhaust) sound so far. Could it be that they were actually trying to suppress the aircraft or systems electronic emissions ?(i.e. stealth?!)

Interesting topic!

Regards,

Marcel