4(F)/11 January 1942

[Larry deZeng]

4.(F)/11
My files show the following for that period:

1/42: reassigned directly to VIII. Fliegerkorps for recce operations along the defensive front between Smolensk and Moscow, this subordination continuing into April; the Staffel was based at Seshchinskaya/40 km SE of Roslavl.
8.1.42: (Ob.d.H.) - 2 Ju 88s (6M+DM, LM) both FTR from recce flights in the vicinity of Sukhinichi/NE of Roslavl, both crews MIA.
30.1.42: (VIII.FI.K.) - Ju 88 (6M+BM) FTR from recce flight from Seshchinskaya to Medyn, 100%, 4 MIA.

Sources:
W.Dierich - Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935-1945: Gliederungen und Kurzchroniken – Eine Dokumentation; J.-P.Défieux - Répertoire des Unités Aériennes de la Luftwaffe 1935-1945: Reconnaissance Aéronavale (Nanterre, privately published, n.d. (c 1988-90?); G.Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939-1945. Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte (Osnabrück, 1980); N.Kannapin - Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945. 3 Bde (I – III) (Osnabrück, 1980-82); U.Balke - Der Luftkrieg in Europa: Die Operativen Einsätze des Kampfgeschwader 2 im Zweiten Weltkrieg, Teil I, p.398; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs); Signatur RL 40/Kart; PRO London: AIR 40/1966; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-311 roll 228/491); (T-312 roll 188/768); (T-313 roll 111/201; rolls 154-56 daily reports); (T-321 roll 50/876; roll 114/016); NARA WashDC aerial photo data via M.Abicht; AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 512.625S (British Air Ministry) OKL document; documents from TSAMO Podolsk.

It was still at Vitebsk in 29.11.41. To find out exactly when it arrived at Seshchinskaya, you will need to find a Flugbuch or two or three because I've been through all the surviving documents. The Staffel is not mentioned for December 1941 and that leads me to believe it was resting and refitting somewhere, or at least on stand down, perhaps at Vitebsk, while most of the personnel were released for home leave.

L.