What does OBS mean?

[Larry deZeng]

From my notes:

KGr. z.b.V. O.B.S.
Kampfgruppe z.b.V. Oberbefehlshaber Süd
(Unit Code: used factory codes)

Formation. (Jan 43)
Formed on or about 1 January 1943 in Italy (probably Fp. Comiso/SE Sicily) and equipped with He 111s. Nothing has been found on this provisional transport unit other than the 5 loss entries noted below. Its origin and composition remain a mystery. Presumably it was hastily assembled under the authority of Oberbefehlshaber Süd (a.k.a. Luftflottenkdo. 2) using a number of He 111 replacement aircraft parked at a depot in Foggia or Bari. In any event, it does not seem to have existed for more than two weeks.

Italy and North Africa. (Jan 43)
2 Jan 43: He 111 damaged taxiing at Fp. Comiso/Sicily, 20%.1
4 Jan 43: He 111 crash landed at Fp. Lecce/S Italy, 15%.
5 Jan 43: He 111 (VG+IJ) destroyed in a mid-air collision west of Linosa Is. halfway between Sicily and Tunisia, 100%, 4 MIA.
6 Jan 43: He 111 hit by a truck at Fp. Comiso, 20%.
12 Jan 43: He 111 (SM+KO) crashed into the sea between Comiso and Tripoli, 100%, Oblt. Rudi Resch plus 3 others MIA.

FpN: (none)


As you can now see, I had no clue as to its origins, but Merlin has now cleared this up, and nicely so. A tip of the hat to G.S.

L.