11.(N)/LG 2 vs. 10.(N)/JG 26

[Larry deZeng]

Hi Sidney (Sinisa?),

Great question. Here is the source material I used for the little one paragraph mini-history of 11.(N)/LG 2:

Ries-Lw.Story:173; Tessin-Band XIV; Balke-KG2/v.1:391; J.Prien-JG 77:125; C.Shores-Fledgling Eagles:172.

I had to rely on these published sources - some of them quite old - because I could not find any primary documentation for this Staffel, which only existed for 6 months, never left the Reich Heimat and therefore had no Feldpostnummer which could be used to trace its lineage. Of the 5 authors noted above, 4 are or were acclaimed and respected Luftwaffe historians of German nationality.

As most Luftwaffe researchers will agree, there are still - 70 to 75 years later - dozens of little conundrums like this in the greater history of the Luftwaffe. To solve this one, I suspect you would need the flight logs of a number of the unit's pilots plus the Karteikarten cards for 6 to 12 of the personnel who served in the Staffel during its existence.

Should anyone else come along here to provide factual commentary on this subject, be sure to ask them to furnish full details on their sources.

It would be nice to see this thread develop fresh information and finally put the conflicting details about 11.(N)/LG 2 to bed.

L.

[sidney]

Hi Larry,

Thank you for your exhaustive reply to my query on the 11.(N)/LG 2 vs. 10.(N)/JG 26 thread. It is highly valued.

I believe that to a certain degree I could understand difficulties that you and other acclaimed authors are facing in finding the primary material for the semi-autonomous Staffel-size units such as this one, which existed only briefly at the beginning of WW2.

I can only hope that someone will come forward and provide factual commentary on this subject supported with the fully disclosed sources.

If this thread manages to bring some fresh information on the 11.(N)/LG 2, that will be a nice end of the year closure on the TOCH.

Best Regards,
Sinisa aka Sidney

[Andy Mitchell]

Guys,

Here are some additional references fro you on this subject

1. Holm - 10. (Nacht)/JG26 was formed 1.9.39 in Bonn-Hangelar, apparently from 11.(N)/LG2.

2. Aders (History of the German Night Fighter Force) - p13 - 10(N)./JG 26 at Bonn-Hangelar (from 1./LG 1 undrer Oblt. Steinhoff)

3. Caldwell - JG 26 War Diary - 10(N)JG 26 was formed at Bonn-Hangelar with the mission of "night flak support". It was commanded by Oblt. Johannes Steinhoff, who transferred in from an experimental night fighting staffel, 1(N)./LG 1.

No separate mention on Holm for 1./LG 1 and no mention in Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe v2 (de Zeng and Stankey) either.