I./KG27 & Stalingrad Air Supply

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Richard,

On 24 December 1942 VIII. Fliegerkorps, to which Kampfgeschwader 27 was subordinated, was ordered to postpone supply operations to attack in front of Tatsinskaya and Morosovskaya with all available forces.

On 27 December 1942 a He 111 of K.G. 27 flew early morning reconnaissance in anticipation of a night bombing operation with a target 50 miles due west of Chernyshevsk. This raid was carried out by at least fourteen aircraft, but whilst it was underway K.G. 27's base was attacked by ten Soviet aircraft. K.G. 27 aircraft operating included: 1G + AH, LH, AK, GK, EK, HK, BL, KL, BM, UM, BN, ON, AP, BP.

Between 08:04 and 09:30 on 8 January 1943 six aircraft of I./K.G. 27 were operating a few miles north of Pavlovka and twenty miles east of Voroshilovgrad, presumably attacking the enemy between Sal and Don. Three more He 111s of I. and II./K.G. 27 were operating between 15:58 and 17:38, presumably on the same operations.

At 16:00 on 8 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was ordered to continue to supply 6th Army by all available means. Another order on that day stated that "VIII. Fliegerkorps will carry out the supplying of the 6th Army with all formations."

On 18 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was to continue to supply 6th Army with all resources, with all He 111s to land at Gumrak airfield.

On 21 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was to flying long-range bombing to support 6th Army, and to operate east of Kamensk in the event of bad weather.

On 23 January 1943 eight aircraft of K.G. 55 and three of K.G. 27 (including 1G + UL and EN) flew operations probably in support of 6th Army at Stalingrad between 08:20 and 15:33.

On the night of 27/28 January 1943 at least eleven aircraft of K.G. 55 and six of K.G. 27 (including 1G + IH, JL, BD) carried out bombing operations between 15:10 and 00:07, probably in the Stalingrad area.

On 29 January 1943 the primary task of VIII. Fliegerkorps was to supply the 6th Army at Stalingrad.

PS - Thanks for your recent email. I'll reply to it as soon as I can.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Andrew Arthy

Hi Richard,

On 24 December 1942 VIII. Fliegerkorps, to which Kampfgeschwader 27 was subordinated, was ordered to postpone supply operations to attack in front of Tatsinskaya and Morosovskaya with all available forces.

On 27 December 1942 a He 111 of K.G. 27 flew early morning reconnaissance in anticipation of a night bombing operation with a target 50 miles due west of Chernyshevsk. This raid was carried out by at least fourteen aircraft, but whilst it was underway K.G. 27's base was attacked by ten Soviet aircraft. K.G. 27 aircraft operating included: 1G + AH, LH, AK, GK, EK, HK, BL, KL, BM, UM, BN, ON, AP, BP.

Between 08:04 and 09:30 on 8 January 1943 six aircraft of I./K.G. 27 were operating a few miles north of Pavlovka and twenty miles east of Voroshilovgrad, presumably attacking the enemy between Sal and Don. Three more He 111s of I. and II./K.G. 27 were operating between 15:58 and 17:38, presumably on the same operations.

At 16:00 on 8 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was ordered to continue to supply 6th Army by all available means. Another order on that day stated that "VIII. Fliegerkorps will carry out the supplying of the 6th Army with all formations."

On 18 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was to continue to supply 6th Army with all resources, with all He 111s to land at Gumrak airfield.

On 21 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was to flying long-range bombing to support 6th Army, and to operate east of Kamensk in the event of bad weather.

On 23 January 1943 eight aircraft of K.G. 55 and three of K.G. 27 (including 1G + UL and EN) flew operations probably in support of 6th Army at Stalingrad between 08:20 and 15:33.

On the night of 27/28 January 1943 at least eleven aircraft of K.G. 55 and six of K.G. 27 (including 1G + IH, JL, BD) carried out bombing operations between 15:10 and 00:07, probably in the Stalingrad area.

On 29 January 1943 the primary task of VIII. Fliegerkorps was to supply the 6th Army at Stalingrad.

Andrew

Thank you very much indeed for the additional information!

I must admit that it is fascinating reading about the Stalingrad airlift, I hope that a comprehensive book on the subject will be released one day.

Regards Richard.