1./(F)123 Losses 1943

[Larry deZeng]

Melvin -

Here are the 1943 losses that I have, but I do not pretend it to be complete:


Aufklärungsstaffel 1.(F)/123 (2d Formation)
(Unit Code 4U+)

Also as: 1.(F)/Aufklärungsgruppe 123
1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 123

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1 December 1942: Staffel reported 7 Ju 88 D-1, 2 Ju 88 D-5, 2 Ju 88 A-5, 1 Bf 110 E-3, 3 Bf 109 F-4/R2, 5 Bf 109 F-4/R3, 1 Bf 109 F-4/Z, 1 Bf 109 G-2/R2 and 2 Bf 109 G-1/R2 on strength.
16 February 1943: Ju 88 FTR - believed shot down into the sea off the Isle of Wight by a Typhoon, 100%, 4 MIA.
18 February 1943: Ju 88 D-l damaged landing at Paris-Buc, 15%.
March – mid-June 1943: the Staffel enjoyed nearly 4 months of routine operations without a single loss to enemy action and only two incidents where aircraft received minor damage in accidents.
6/43: Staffel departed Paris-Buc in mid-June for reassignment to Stab/Aufkl.Gr.122 in Italy.

Mediterranean. (June 1943 - October 1944)
17 June 1943: now at Frosinone airfield in central Italy under Stab/Aufkl.Gr. 122.
15-30 June 1943: the Staffel too delivery of 6 Ju 88 T-2, which was a new, significantly faster high altitude version of the Ju 88 that was specifically outfitted with aerial camera installations.
26 June 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+AH) FTR from a recce of the Algiers area, 100%, 3 MIA.
7 July 1943: Ju 88 D-l (5M+E) FTR from a recce east of Malta, 100%, 4 captured. This aircraft originally belonged to Westa 26.
8 July 1943: Ju 88 (4U+BH) shot down by a USAAF Spitfire at c.8,225 meters (27,000 feet) 80 km west of Mateur/north Tunisia while on a recce of the coastal area west of Bizerta, 100%, 3 KIA and 1 captured.
23 July 1943: Frosinone - flying recce between Sicily and Malta.
15 August 1943: Ju 88 (4U+CH) FTR from recce over Algiers, 100%, 3 MIA.
17 August 1943: Ju 88 A-4 (4U+DH) FTR from the Algiers area, 100%, Oblt. Hugo Diebold (observer) + 2 MIA.
20 August 1943: a Klemm Kl 35 belonging to the Staffel was rammed by an Italian aircraft at Pisa, 80%. The Klemm was probably used to courier spare parts, pick up mail and related chores.
22 August 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+GH) shot down by 4 Spitfires while flying an early morning recce around Malta in search of shipping, 100%, 3 captured.
24 August 1943: a Ju 88 T-l that had just been assigned to the Staffel was destroyed by bombs during an Allied air raid on the aircraft park/depot at Villacoublay-South near Paris, 100%. Evidently, it was about to be ferried to Italy for delivery.
27 August 1943: Ju 88 T-l (4U+JH) FTR from recce over Malta, 100%, 1 KIA and 2 MIA.
30 August 1943: Ju 88 D-2 (F6+EK) FTR - no details, 100%, 4 MIA. Aircraft originally belonged to 2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 122, also based at Frosinone.
3 September 1943: Frosinone – flew day recce of the Straits of Messina.
3 September 1943: Ju 88 T-l (4U+KH) FTR from recce over eastern Sicily, 100%, Hptm. Eduard Dirchner (observer) + 2 MIA.
7 September 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+NH) FTR from recce over Malta, 100%, 4 MIA.
9 September 1943: transferred from Frosinone to Guidonia/north-east of Rome.
7 October 1943: transferred from Guidonia to Perugia in north-central Italy and remained there through April 1944.
8 November 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+UH) missing in bad weather north-east of Pescara and believed shot down by two USAAF P-38s, 100%, 3 MIA (all from Stab/Aufkl.Gr. 122).
26 November 1943: Ju 88 T-l (4U+LH) FTR from recce in the Naples area, 100%, 2 KIA, 1 MIA.
26 November 1943: Ju 88 T-l (4U+BH) shot down by Spitfires during a reconnaissance of the harbor and airfields at Naples, 100%, Hptm. Hermann Ludwig (observer) + 3 captured.
1 December 1943: Staffel reported 4 Ju 88 D-1/CLi and 3 Ju 88 T-1 on strength.
22 December 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+UH) FTR from recce of the Corsica-Sardinia area, 100%,4 MIA.
24 December 1943: Ju 88 D-l FTR from over the Adriatic and believed shot down by a fighter, 100%,4 MIA.

Sources:
PRO London: DEFE 3 Government Code and Cypher School/Tactical Sigint forwarded to Allied Commands: Summaries 1940 – 1945 [ULTRA - currently listed in PRO catalogue under HW 20; microfilm edition published in 143 rolls by Clearwater Publishing Co., Inc., New York, c 1979], ULTRA Signal ML4595.
CSDIC Report AFHQ A.88.
CSDIC Report AFHQ A.82.
AFHRA Maxwell: Decimal 512 - British Air Ministry, 329 Wing Sigint reports.
CSDIC Report AFHQ A.204.
329 Wing reports-op cit.
ADI(K) interrogation reports-op cit.
ADI(K)-op cit; BA-MA Freiburg-RL 40/Kart; Tessin- Verbände und Truppen der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939-1945. Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte (Osnabrück, 1980).
CSDIC interrogation report AFHQ A.281.
CSDIC report AFHQ A.311.

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L.