II./NJG4 - drastic reduction in crew strength April 1945

[RodM]

Hi Martin and Ed,

thanks for the inputs.

The transfers and reorganisation was complete by the time 4./NJG4 reported only 8 crews on strength on 11 April 1945. Even if there happened to be one or two crews still in transit to Flensburg, they would still be on unit strength.

The Nachtjagdgruppen worked in the second half of March 1945, rating their flying crews and determining which crews would stay with the Staffeln, which pilots might train on Me262s for day ops, and which crews would be given up for ground troops. Once the bulk of the administrative work was complete, the Gruppenstäbe themselves were disbanded on 30 March.

By way of comparison, of the 17 former Nachtjagdgruppen reduced to Staffel strength by 2 April 1945, crew strengths on 11 April 1945 were:

one Staffel (4./NJG4) with an actual crew strength of 8 (versus establishment of 16).
three other Staffeln with actual crew strengths between 12 and 15.
eight Staffeln with an actual crew strength of 16.
four Staffeln with an actual crew strength of 17.
one Staffel with an actual crew strength of 21.

As mentioned, I don't know why 4./NJG4 ended up so much under strength with only eight crews. The only possibilities I can think of are unusually high losses during transit flights or crew killed in bombing or strafing attacks.

Cheers

Rod