Perugia airport

[Larry deZeng]

June 1944 locations for NSGr. 9:
5 Jun 44: elements of NSGr.9 transferred from Tuscania to Brolio.
6 Jun 44: 1. and 2. Staffel transferred from Tuscania to Perugia and Pisa.
26 Jun 44: 1. and 2./NSGr. 9 both at Torino-Caselle.
28-30 Jun 44: 1. and 2./NSGr. 9 and 2./NSGr. 2 transferred to operational airfields in Central Italy.

Sources Used:
Dierich-VdL; Tessin-Tes; N.Beale et al-Air War Italy:19, 20, 98 and ff; K.Gundelach-Med:800, 883; C. Shores-Med/v.III:121, 125; N.Beale letters to H.L.deZeng dated 17 June and 14 July 1991; N.Beale article in Flugzeug magazine issue 2/1990, p.6; PRO London: DEFE 3 ULTRA signals; PRO London: AIR 40 Air Ministry intelligence documents; BA-MA Freiburg: Flugzeug-Bereitstellungen (Aircraft Availability Status Reports – FzB) in: M.Holm-website (ww2.dk); BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 10/509; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 40/Kart (“Aufmarsch die fliegende Verbände” order of battle maps for 25 May 44, 3 Oct 44); NARA WashDC: RG 242/T-321 roll 53, frame 003ff; AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 512.619 British AirMin CSDIC P/W Interrogation Reports in microfilm rolls A5415-18, interrogation CSDIC A.406, A.412, A.437, A.440, A.499, A.514, A.520, A.564, A.583, A.589.

Possibilities:
(1) perhaps a few aircraft from one or the other or both Staffeln made it to Perugia and were there for a few hours, for a day, or two, or three, etc., and this fact has been lost in time;
(2) perhaps all or part of the two Staffeln were en-route to Perugia but were diverted before they arrived because of the constantly changing combat situation on the ground;
(3) perhaps the 6 June transfer was canceled altogether;
(4) perhaps the transfer was disinformation provided to the Allies by a NSGr. 9 POW;
(5) perhaps a transcription error occurred in the original documents (ULTRA signal?) and the word “transferred” was actually “transferring”;
(6) etc., etc.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

(1) perhaps a few aircraft from one or the other or both Staffeln made it to Perugia and were there for a few hours, for a day, or two, or three, etc., and this fact has been lost in time

I'd agree that passing through was always a possibility, indeed that would go for almost any unit in theatre.

The best I could find from a quick word search in Ghost Bombers was a transfer in early June 1944 to an "airfield in the Perugia/Pisa area."

[Larry deZeng]

I'd agree that passing through was always a possibility, indeed that would go for almost any unit in theatre.
The best I could find from a quick word search in Ghost Bombers was a transfer in early June 1944 to an "airfield in the Perugia/Pisa area."

Agreed, but another strong possibility might have been an ULTRA or "Y" intercept, #(5) on my list. Rome had been captured on 4 June and by 6 June U.S. VI Corps with 1st Armored Div. was almost half the distance from Rome to Perugia. This rapid rate of advance may have forced a quick change of plans by the Luftwaffe, so instead of "transferring" NSGr. 9 to Perugia the order was rescinded.

L.