MYSTERY GEFECHTSSTAND

[Chris Goss]

The former owner of this photo wrote it was taken in Katwijk; he had joined his unit at Jever in October 1940 so I am assuming he was with I./JG 1? Has anyone seen this before and are those kill markings on the side?

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Chriss,

If memory does not fail me, a similar Picture however from JG 27 (I guess) appears on the book of Jean-Bernard Frappé "La Luftwaffe ataque a L'Ouest" from Heimdal Editions.

And..yes, seems to be Staffel or Gruppe victories painted on the lateral side of the car/improvised HQ.

Most humbly yours,
Adriano

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Adriano Baumgartner

Chriss,

And..yes, seems to be Staffel or Gruppe victories painted on the lateral side of the car/improvised HQ.

Most humbly yours,
Adriano

That's a Gruppe sumbol to the left of the door, isn't it? Two triangles, either side of a triangular pennant.

[sidney]

Could it be a Flak unit?

[Chris Goss]

The owner of the photo was a pilot & the chap in the doorway is wearing an Aircrew lifejacket

[Jaap Woortman]

IMHO this could be the mobile Gefechtstand of II./JG 52.
These mobile Gefechtstand/Flugleitung carts were used in the West during the war in May/June 1940 and
afterwards when they were located at the new Einsatzhafen with no facilities.
The II./JG 52 was from April 27th till May 24th 1941 at Katwijk-Valkenburg.
At the cart are 18 victory marks and three of them are ‘fresh’.
Pilots of II./JG 52 had three victories when they were at Valkenburg. Two at May 7th and one at May 19th 1941.
He unit was at Jever during the second half of August 1940.

To me it seems handly impossible that the picture shows the Gefechtstand of I./JG 1.
The first generation I./JG 1 became III./JG27 in July 1940.
The second generation I./JG 1 was not existing in October 1940.
The first Staffeln of I./JG 1 sec. gen. were formed in December 1940.

But, it’s just guessing. The picture gives no prove or other clues for a identification.
The picture in the appendix shows the mobile Flugleitung of 9./JG 54.
In the left corner are tactical signs.

Jaap

[Chris Goss]

Good point Jaap. Jochen has one kill on 1 May 41 (unconfirmed) and two on 7 May but four on 19 May so maybe these are Staffel not Gruppe kills? For example 4 Staffel had 19 kills starting 10 May 1940 by the time they left Katwijk

[Adriano Baumgartner]

JAAP,

You are really an EXPERT!
Congratulations! And....the pictures seems to be one I had seen before...I just could'nt remember well where it was....so maybe my original ideam or memory of one of those being on Jean-Bernard Frappé book may be wrong. Sadly part of my 1,000 books are not with me, but stored somewhere else, some 400 km away! Hope someone will find a similar Picture and enhance our knowledge.

I shall return in one or two months and have a look at the mentioned French book. Until there, maybe someone do give us a hand

Congratulations for both of you "experts".

Adriano.

[Jaap Woortman]

Adriano,

Thanks for the complements but I just simply used the information we have acquired in our 15 year
research program for our book Vliegvelden in oorlogstijd (Airfields during the war). The history of the
Dutch airfields during WWII. Printed in 2009 and a 2nd print in 2017.
The picture is from JG 54 A Photographic History Of The Grunherzjager of Held, Trautloft and Bob.

In the appendix is a picture from Vliegvelden in oorlogstijd of a mobile Flugleitung at Waalhaven.

Jaap

[sidney]

Originally Posted by Jaap Woortman

To me it seems handly impossible that the picture shows the Gefechtstand of I./JG 1.
The first generation I./JG 1 became III./JG27 in July 1940.
The second generation I./JG 1 was not existing in October 1940.
The first Staffeln of I./JG 1 sec. gen. were formed in December 1940.
Jaap

It was 10.(N)/JG 1, then equipped with the Bf 109 E aircraft, which was stationed in Katwijk in October 1940. There the Staffel was known as the "verstärkte Jagdstaffel Holland" and as such it was transferred into the Luftwaffe day fighter force. On 12 December 1940 the Staffel was renamed 1./JG 1. So, it might have been that Staffel. The photo shows a reasonably well camouflaged Gefechtsstand, to my eyes it just does not look like a temporary arrangement from May/June 1940.

Regards,
Sinisa