Crete 1943 - Luftwaffe units

[Brian]

Hi Byron

Just checking Lew Lind's book 'The Battle of the Wine Dark Sea', in which he states that five Ju88, five Ju87 and a Fi156 were destroyed or badly damaged at Kastelli on 4/5 July 1943 raid, and further aircraft destroyed during a similar raid on Heraklion.

Cheers
Brian

[byron-]

Hi Brian.

I have a report from a bucklet writen by Richard Sand "Britische Kommandounternehmen 1942-1945" about this raid, unfortunately also in german language. I will read it and post what is everything in referance about the plane losses.
In the german documents that i have already posted, only one plane is mentioned which i also think is not accurate.

[byron-]

Hi Brian,

There is an english publication by Barrie Pitt "Special Boat Squadron - the story of the SBS in the Mediterranean" with the raids on Crete during the years 1942, 1943 and 1944.

In his booklet Richard Sand is referring for 1943:

Operation "Albumen", 2 Commando groups (Lieutenents Ken Lamonby (+), Lassen, Sutherland and Rowe, Sergeant Nicholson, Corporals Greaves and Holmes, private Jones and the Greek Kimon Legonfakis).
First Cdo arrived at 23.06.43 in Cup Kokinochos, the second under Ltn.Rowe at 27./28.06.43.

On the 05.07.43 there were only 8 Ju 88 and some older planes stationed in Kastelli, the Cdos destroied 5 Ju 88.

[Brian]

Hi Byron

Thanks for the latest - I have just ordered a copy of 'Special Boat Squadron.'

I assume the five Ju88s were from 2.(F)/123?

Cheers
Brian

[byron-]

I assume the same Brian.

I think L.G. 1 was not any more on Crete in July 43, his usual base, the Fliegerhorst Iraklion was at that time and after Jellicoes raid almost empty.

I wonder, why these loses are not reported in the lists of Qu.M. 6

[byron-]

Hi Brian,

I just found an other document of the german secret service (Ic.) refering the raid in Kastelli on the 05.07.43, they also write about the loss of only one plane, and i believe the Germans woudn`t write untruths in the official war diary.

Take it under consideration

[RT]

Indeed it was reported , at least hte KL35,

Kdo,Fl,H,ber,7/VI Kastelli FP Kreta Sabotage KL35 3055

To add a Ju88 was also lost at Heraklion the same day with LDK Griechenland Wn 3286, but cause of the loss a bit disapointing collision flying

Possibility that germans don't claim the loss exist, but also that british overclaimed too

Remi