German Anti-Aircraft reports (US Archives)

[Henofred]

Lino

It is Bourges not Bourget, the main city near Avord.
Take a look at your PM.

Regards,
Frederic

[Henofred]

Hi FrankieS,

Both bombers were shot down by Flak. You are right with your last message. Lt. Cater’s crew (5 EVD, 5 POW) and Lt. Henslin (3 POW, 7 KIA).

Regards,
Frederic

[Henofred]

Hi Larry,

Film C. 2027/I - I can find this reference at Freiburg?

Regards,
Frederic

[Larry deZeng]

8 Jun 44: gem.Flak-Abt. 442(v) ordered to move by rail from Avord to Flers in Normandy; on 10 Jun the destination was changed to Le Mans; then on 16 Jun to Tours where is was to protect the airfield at Tours.
[Source: various ULTRA signals from the DEFE 3 collection].

Here are the Flak units at Avord in spring 1944:

Station Units (on various dates): le.Flak-Abt. 763 (Mar 43); le.Flak-Abt. 673 (Apr 44); gem.Flak-Abt. 442 (May 44); Lw.-Bauleitung Avord (c.1940-44); Ldssch.Zug d.Lw. 29/VII (1941 – Aug 44).

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Henofred

Hi Larry,

Film C. 2027/I - I can find this reference at Freiburg?

Regards,
Frederic

Yes. You can also order a copy as a microfilm or as a DVR from Freiburg's vendor, Selke. Warning: the entries were made by Luftwaffenhelferinnen using colored pencils. Now, 68 years later, it is very, very faint and difficult to read.

[Henofred]

Merci beaucoup Larry. I know...some documents get old badly.
For June 1, 1944 I have also 6. Gemischte Flak-Abteilung 496 (o).

Regards,
Frederic

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Henofred

Merci beaucoup Larry. I know...some documents get old badly.
For June 1, 1944 I have also 6. Gemischte Flak-Abteilung 496 (o).
Regards,
Frederic

Yes, as with 442 and 673, 496 was also under Flak-Rgt. 59 (Paris) during April and May 1944, so some of its batteries were assigned to airfield defense.

Unlike the Flak units in the Reich, the Flak in the occupied countries moved around with great frequency and that, along with the massive destruction of Luftwaffe records, makes it difficult to determine where an Abteilung or a Batterie was on a particular day.

[Henofred]

Merci Larry, I appreciate all your details and explanations. A last question: What are the components of a “gemischte Flak-Abteilung” at that time? The full force strength of such Unit? (Men, kind of equipment…). I don’t have any knowledge about Flak Units.


Kind regards,
Frederic

[Larry deZeng]

gem.Flakabteilung (mot.)
Stab mit Nachr.-Zug: 4 Offz., 2 Beamte, 31 Uffz., 93 Mannsch., mit 1 le. MG, 112 Handfeuerwaffen, 28 Kfz., 11 Krädern.
1. – 3. Battr. je: 4 Offz., 53 Uffz., 110 Mannsch., mit 2 le. MG, 171 Handfeuerwaffen, 4 2cm-Flak, 4 8,8cm Flak, 36 Kfz., 3 Krädern.
4. – 5. Battr. je: 6 Offz., 65 Uffz., 139 Mannsch., mit 2 le. MG, 209 Handfeuerwaffen, 9 2cm-Flak, 3 2cm-Flakvierlingen, 4 60cm-Flakscheinwerfer, 58 Kfz., 5 Krädern.
le.Flakkolonne: 2 Offz., 10 Uffz., 56 Mannsch., mit 2 le. MG, 71 Handfeuerwaffen, 28 Kfz., 2 Krädern.
Total Personnel: 30 officers, 2 officials, 330 NCOs, 757 men = 1,119.
Total Flak Weapons: 12 x 8,8cm, 30 x 2cm, 6 x 2cm-Flakvierlingen (4-barrel 20mm Flak guns), 8 x 60cm searchlights.
Total Vehicles: 280 trucks, 32 motorcycles.

By 1944, these totals had increased to 1,300 officers and men, 12 to 18 x 8,8cm and 33 x 2cm.

Note: the above is for a motorized gem.Flak-Abt. A gem.Flak-Abt.(v) would only have about 70 trucks instead of 280.

[Henofred]

Merci beaucoup Larry for these additional info.

All the best,
Frederic