JG3 Stalingrad

[stephen f. polyak]

Leon,

Thank you very much for taking the time to compile and transmit that information. Very helpful! Clearly, Pitomnik was the main base of JG3’s operations. It’s likely, I feel, that some of the other nearby airfields/landing sites, internal and external to the pocket, Gumrak among them, saw use by JG 3 airplanes on a transitory, contingency basis. It’s also likely that such comings and goings were relatively insignificant, unrecorded outside a pilot’s flightbook.

I’ve one more question, do those references note any flight or combat activity by JG 3 over/around Stalingrad on 7 September 1942?

Best regards,
Steve

[leonventer]

Steve,

Originally Posted by stephen f. polyak

... do those references note any flight or combat activity by JG 3 over/around Stalingrad on 7 September 1942?

According to Prien and Stemmer:

• On 7 Sep 1942, I./JG 3 handed over their remaining seventeen Bf 109 Fs to another Gruppe at Tusow. On the same day, the pilots were flown in some Ju 52s to Nowotscherkassk to begin conversion to the new Bf 109 G-2. After this process was completed, the 1. Staffel transferred to Pitomnik on 24 Sep, followed in the next few days by the Gruppenstab, 2. Staffel, and 3. Staffel.
• In early Sep 1942, II./JG 3 was at Königsberg-Neuhausen, converting to the Bf 109 G-2. They were combat-ready by 9 Sep, when they started relocating to Smolensk.
• In the first week of Sep 1942, III./JG 3 was stationed at Tusow. Although greatly hindered by rainy and cloudy weather, they were able to achieve 71 victories by 10 Sep, including 13 on 8 Sep and another 16 on 10 Sep. No specifics are given for their activities on 7 Sep.

I didn't find any details about JG 3 for 7 Sep 1942 in Bergström.

Regards,
Leon Venter

[stephen f. polyak]

Leon,

Another thank you is in order. I appreciate your additional helpfulness.

V/r,
Steve

Originally Posted by leonventer

Steve,

According to Prien and Stemmer:

• On 7 Sep 1942, I./JG 3 handed over their remaining seventeen Bf 109 Fs to another Gruppe at Tusow. On the same day, the pilots were flown in some Ju 52s to Nowotscherkassk to begin conversion to the new Bf 109 G-2. After this process was completed, the 1. Staffel transferred to Pitomnik on 24 Sep, followed in the next few days by the Gruppenstab, 2. Staffel, and 3. Staffel.
• In early Sep 1942, II./JG 3 was at Königsberg-Neuhausen, converting to the Bf 109 G-2. They were combat-ready by 9 Sep, when they started relocating to Smolensk.
• In the first week of Sep 1942, III./JG 3 was stationed at Tusow. Although greatly hindered by rainy and cloudy weather, they were able to achieve 71 victories by 10 Sep, including 13 on 8 Sep and another 16 on 10 Sep. No specifics are given for their activities on 7 Sep.

I didn't find any details about JG 3 for 7 Sep 1942 in Bergström.

Regards,
Leon Venter