Dates of withdrawal of Zerstörer Gruppen from Eastern Front in 1942 1943

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Evgeny Velichko

Paul:
I./ZG26 (wich was virtually named I./NJG4 only on papers) flew same kind of missions as before, along with II./ZG26, such as airfield attacks (day-light time), road hunting (strafing vechicle columns), other ground attack missions.

Evgeny, thank you for the additional clarification. I take it that I./NJG 4 / I./ZG 26 did not undertake night intruder operations of any significance.

I looked up Spies and Meyer in Doug Stankey's excellent Careers database, I am copying the summaries below as a quick reference for anyone else interested in these issues:

SPIES, Wilhelm. (DOB: 26.08.13 in Rimpar/Unterfranken). (RE, DKG?). c.25.06.41(19.07.41?) appt Kdr. I./ZG 26 (to 27.01.42). 14.06.41 Hptm., awarded Ritterkreuz, 1./ZG 26. 27.01.42 KIA – Bf 110 C-4 (3U+FH) shot down by AA fire during a low-level attack SSW of Suchinichi/116 km NNE of Bryansk. 21.03.42 awarded the DKG? 05.04.42 Hptm., posthumously awarded Eichenlaub, Kdr. I./ZG 26. Posthumous promo to Maj. effective 01.01.42. Credited with over 300 combat missions and 20 air victories.

MEYER, Eduard. (DOB: 08.12.19 in Detmold). (R). 1940 in I./ZG 26. 09.09.41 Lt. in an unspecified ZG, awarded the Ehrenpokal. 20.12.41 Lt., awarded Ritterkreuz, I./ZG 26. 31.03.42 KIA – Bf 110 E-2 (3U+PL) collided with another German aircraft and plunged to his death near Velizh/Belorussia. Credited with 22 air victories and the destruction of at least 48 enemy planes on the ground and 2 tanks.

Evgeny, I have sent you a PM regarding an Eastern front issue which came up in my research.

Regards,

Paul