Luftwaffe aerial recon prior to D-Day

[edwest]

Hi Martin,


Thank you for that information. I am wondering if the Germans were aware of American troop ships coming in.



Ed

[Chris Going]

Just a quick footnote, as it were Ed, to your inquiry. Once the Invasion got under way efforts were made to photograph UK harbours and the kentish port of Ramsgate was covered by 5/123 (7th June 1944 Sortie F29/44, pilot Uffz Kallenberger, Height 750m; photos 753 and 754 used in report on the shipping there. Int Report Nr 3474 from from Stabia Luft 3). Copy in IWM.

There was another off Shoreham, same day, but I dont have the details in front of me now.....

Best.....

ChrisG

[Brian Bines]

Notes from a PRO file made some years ago on Enemy Air Avitivity Over the UK show 5th April Luftwaffe recon over the N.Sea and S/W Approaches, 6-4 evening recon over the English Channel , 19-4 single aircraft over IOW, 21-4 afternoon recon to Poole area. The E-Boot attack off Slapton Sands on 28th April has been reported as being the result of a Luftwaffe recon.
Between 3-9th May daily recon activity was reported and on May 20th there was recon to the Swanage and Dover areas.
Additionally on 7th march a Fw190 of Stab/NAG13 crashed in Guernsey following a recon to the S/W coast and on 28th. March a Bf109G of 5(F)/123 was shot down over France returning from a mission to London and the Thames Estuary.
No details of how well these missions went, there were also missions to Scotland.
Roman Gastager in the book Easter Bunnies refers to a couple of missions to Ireland and Southern England in a Ju88H1 in mid May.

[cheesey]

Hello.
Just to add something to Brian's post. On March 7th, 1944 two pilots of 610 Sqn. engaged three Fw190s approx 35 miles SE of Start Point at about 17.45hrs. Enemy aircraft broke and one was seen to be hit around the wing root area, panels flew off port mainplane. Enemy took little evasive action and aircraft was not seen to strike the ground/sea.
This puts the engagement very near to NW part of Guernsey. I believe 190 crashed at La Ponchez area of island.
RAF pilots were:P/O Hussey & F/Sgt Harding flying Spitfire Mk XIVs. Gun camera was used and e/a was dark grey/light in colour.
Hope this helps, Steve.

[Brian Bines]

Steve,

According to an enquiry to the Dienstelle the German pilot was Oblt. Gottfried Bitterlich b. 27-12-1915, they gave ths crash site as north of Flugplatzes Guernsey. I take it you have a copy of the 610 Sqd. combat report,

Regards

Brian Bines

[cheesey]

Hello Brian.
Yes I do have a copy of the report but I didn't have the Luftwaffe pilots details so thanks for that! North of Guernsey aerodrome sounds about right.
Thanks, Steve.

Edit:Just looked up Bitterlich on the Volksbund graves site and an Oberleutnant Heinrich Bitterlich (b:27/12/1915) is noted for the date 7/3/44! He is the only Bitterlich which corresponds for that date.

[edwest]

Thank you all for the additional information. I have read two accounts from the German side regarding delays after the invasion had begun. Apparently, some German ground units did not receive orders for days after it all started. I recall at least one other account from the German side complaining that "traitors" were not allowing some aircraft to fly.

I find it hard it hard to believe that the Germans were unaware that so many Yanks were now on shore in England.



Regards,
Ed