I./ZG 1 claims in 1939 - 1940 - any info?

[Evgeny Velichko]

Marius - many thanks for Info...

But where did You found NAMES of pilots, who claimed victories during Polish campaign?

P.S. About 3 - airplane schwarm of german airplanes:
I dont know about earlywar, but on 3.02.42 there was a combat mission of 3 Bf 110 to airfield near Toropetz.

Also, during combat mission one of four could return because of tech problems e.t.c, and 3 other could continue flight to target.

"Kette" could appear because of many reasons, & this is not showing that "that planes was BOMBERS or STUKAS.

IMHO.

[Marius]

Eugen,

If you are confused by Franek, don`t mind. Franek does not like my work, because I found many German records which are clearing up with so many Polish legends. For him every German document is incomplete or even falsified when contrary to Polish pilots memories. The main point is he must not revise his own vision of air war history in Poland.

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 But where did You found NAMES of pilots, who claimed victories during Polish campaign? 


In archives, German war diaries and so on. Furthermore I worked on the complete victory list for Poland together with our expert here in Germany Mr. Bock.

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 "Kette" could appear because of many reasons, & this is not showing that "that planes was BOMBERS or STUKAS. 


Something about German terms:
Rotte - 2 aircraft (fighter),
Kette - 3 aircraft (bomber),
Schwarm - 4 aircraft (fighter).

For the 4th Sept. 1939 it is remarkable that several Polish pilots reported they have fought with formations of "3 German airplanes". No doubt, they were mainly Ju 87`s of III./StG 2. Sure, it could happen that one Bf 110 or Bf 109 had to fly back to basis with engine trouble and there remained 3 aircraft in the air. But the Luftwaffe formation of two fighters was already introduced in Spain and later taken over by other nations.

But nonetheless of this story I had 18 German victories for the 5th Sept. 1939 before I looked to the details of the mission of the Polish 112 eskadra. Official German documents are reporting of at all 20 victories for the day. So the remaining two victories could indeed be claimed by I./ZG 1 against 112 eskadra. Polish losses are confirming this. Also the account of the formation leader kpt.Opulski. And additionally I have an account of a German airman who was shot down in the Ju 87. He wrote about 2 Polish losses he observed before he had to leave the formation and forceland on Polish territory.

Here is something for you from a German document (translated into English by a friend of mine); Expieriences of I.(Z)/LG 1 in Poland 1939:

The escort is, according to availibility, to be composed from at least 1 "Schwarm" of Zerstörer formed from 2 "Rotte". The "Schwarm" should fly loosely stepped, within sight of the bomber "Staffel" at appr. the same altitude as the tail "Kette" of the bomber "Staffel".
Attacks are to be executed by the "Rotte"...
(another simple translation of the last sentence: The general operational formation is the "Rotte".).

Marius