Ghostbombers updates

[Nick Beale]

SES: Thanks, that will be interesting to see.

Heuser: the Gen.Qu. loss data that I used (item 44 in the report of 10.2.45) says »Besatzung unverletzt« and is listed under Luftflotte 10. I./NJG 6 was part of Luftflotte Reich at that time (e.g. the loss of Oblt. Willi Rathmann's Bf 110 W.Nr. 730370 near Reuthlingen on 1 February, with the deaths of all three crew).

On 10 January 1945, Stab NAG 6 had 2 (1) Bf 110 G-4/R3 on strength.

[SES]

and what I meant to say was supplementary primary sources.
I just re-sent the mail.
bregds
SES

[RodM]

Hi Nick,

surviving German documentation does seem to attribute 730324 to different units.

The relevant NJG6 Namentliche Verlustmeldung gives:

10 km nordwestl.
Waldmühlenbach
b./Heilbronn.
1.2.45 19.15 h
Bf 110/G-4
2Z-OK. W.-Nr.
730324, Nr. d.
Qu.Meld.: 106

Note that Waldmühlenbach is only some 4.5 km from Roigheim, as mentioned with the NAGr 6 loss...

Werner Koch's published transcription of the handwritten KTB of Stab NJG6, "Das Kriegstagebuch des Nachtjagdgeschwaders 6", also gives 730324 as Ofw. Paul Faden's aircraft, but it is unclear if Koch added this data to his manuscript or if the data is cited in the original KTB....

There is no other entry in the surviving Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt returns that could relate to Faden's Bf 110.

Cheers

Rod

[Nick Beale]

There is no other entry in the surviving Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt returns that could relate to Faden's Bf 110.

Which points to two entries getting confused or conflated, but it's pretty hard to tell which was correct.

[Nick Beale]

Today's Ghost Bombers updates are:

• Some additional information on the fates of I./JG 2 pilots who served in Italy.
• Extensive additions to the Geschwader Bongart article about the attacks on the Glières Plateau (March 1944); Valréas (09.06.44); Houeillès (13.06.44); Anterrieux (20.06.44); Lestaget (25.06.44); Combovin (22.06.44); Combovin Plateau (28.06.44); Les Ollières (29.06.44; Saou and Saint-Floret (30.06.44); Le Cheylard (05.07.44); Lamastre (06.07.44); Villereversure (11.07.44); Oyonnax (12.07.44); Saint-Pierreville (17.07.44); Ambert and Ouroux, Rhône (26.07.44); Thônes (03.08.44); Morgins, Switzerland (06.08.44); Marcols (07.08.44); La Douzette and Cluny (11.08.44); Le Lioran (13.08.44). Also, an afterword, several additions to the map of operations, many more source links and various changes to page layouts and numbering to incorporate the new material.

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Thanks for your much appreciated additions, Nick. Glières is close to Geneva; good to know what was undertaken by the Luftwaffe there in 44.

Cheers
Marc

[Nick Beale]

Today's updates are:

• Jagdgruppe 200: more about the events of 14 July 1944; also a brief note about the unit's whereabouts prior to its disbandment.
• Geschwader Bongart: a little more about IV./KG 27's deployment to Dijon in March 1944; the German police request for an attack on Thônes; an Fw 190 of the 8. Staffel at Cravant and an He 46 D at Étampes-Mondesir, possibly belonging to the Geschwader; an eyewitness account of Luftwaffe attacks on the Vercors Plateau.
• 10./ZG 1: Several additions, including operations on 2 and 6 March 1944 and information about the Staffel's disbandment, necessitating a slight change of title.
• Jagdgeschwader recognition markings: a deciphered message stating the aims of the major defensive fighter operation being prepared in Autumn 1944; and an RAF Intelligence assessment of the bases from which this could be mounted.
• Operation Dragoon: something more about Ju 88 A-17, W.Nr. 300135 of KG 26.
• Kommando Hecht: details of an operation on 18 November 1944.
• Raid damage: German Police reports on the attacks on Angers on 8 and 17 June 1944.
• Guide to Ultra: two additions to the Further Reading page.
• Corrections to layouts, links and typing mistakes.

[edNorth]

550070 DO+L. likely 550570 DO+LT (as 550070 had other Stkz.)

A-17 1022 (can be 0881022) anyways one A-4 ´1022 is known in need of certain spares at Westerland 28.04.44 (Ultra)

A-17 801490 is mentioned twice, confusing re-dates / units
(but either can be 301490, as no info yet)

A-17 801598 3Z+CH already lost 11.05.44 ("LATA & OPS" Thiele; Salonen)
(but 0881598 still no fate)

Else other II/KG 26 info fills preatty well in.

http://www.ghostbombers.com/dragoon/appx2.html

Best regards
Ed

[Nick Beale]

The Ghost Bombers website is 10 years old today.

To mark the occasion, there's an expanded and remastered 25th Anniversary de luxe reissue of an article I had published back in November 1989 about a I./KG 200 spy-dropping mission over Belgium. Many more sources have become available since I researched the original.

The other new things this month are:

• Information about 2/Lt. Peter J. McGirr of the 414th NFS, shot down by an Fw 190 of NSG 9. (This new material comes by courtesy of Lt. McGirr's niece, Ellen Manzo).
• A visit by General der Schlachtflieger Hubertus Hitschhold to SG 4 in Piacenza, Italy in June 1944.
• SG 4 in Normandy: more about the defence of the Distelfink radar station at Douvres-la-Délivrande.
• More about Bf 109s of 3./NAG 13 in Spring and Summer 1944.
• Geschwader Bongart: identification of another Junkers W.34 belonging to the unit.
• Operation Dragoon: reference to another He 111 of Stab II./KG 26.

The Me 262 "S" marking: more about the Sichtungsstelle General der Jagdflieger.

Amendments to page layouts, typing corrections, restoration of links and some changes to file structures.

[SES]

Hi Nick,
Interesting as always. I find it ironic that no RK was awarded to intercept controllers (JLo) for their vital contribution in obtaining kills in the air. The only RK awarded to Ln-personnel were for ground action. Please see:
http://www.gyges.dk/Jlo%20abschuessse.pdf
for a listing of intercepts resulting in confirmed kills.
The unit was given credit for kills and this was mentioned in the monthly summary of the JK.
But the action at DIESTELFINK was certainly the result of outstanding leadership.
bregds
SES