Using Ultra to research the Luftwaffe

[Bruce Dennis]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

For my money the translators, analysts and clerks who maintained the card indexes and glossaries of technical terms are the unsung heroes of all this.

Absolutely. As I understand it, sometimes the translation was done by the Officer of the Watch. I imagine that this was a case of utilising the resources available, i.e. if the OoW was fluent, why not?

Otherwise, it was handed to the legion of 'hidden heroes' including refugees and academics who worked round the clock.

Bruce

[Bruce Dennis]

from CX/MSS/2872/T44

Signed IC, 1630 9/7 (1943):
‘PRELIMINARY INTERPRETATION OF CONVOYS TO THE NORTH OF MALTA TO BE DROPPED BY STORCH AT PARADISIO DELL ETNA OR IF NECESSARY BY M/T
NOTES:
(1) SOURCE WAS ALMOST CERTAIN THIS WAS SENT TO 2(H)14 SPINASANTA
(2) FOR MOVE OF FLIEGERKORPS II TO TAORMINA LEAVING A BATTLE STAFFEL AT PARADISIO DELL ETNA TO INITIATE FLIEGERFUHRER SARDINIA INTO HIS DUTIES’

[Bruce Dennis]

from CX/MSS/2872/T45

In the Sicilian Night Fighter zone ‘CASTOR’, FREYA 130 detected an incoming raid on 8/7/43.
On 10/7 Freya 130 was awaiting an urgent visit from an engineer and Obfw SOMMER was using 130 for testing of personnel.
(note from Bruce: from other entries Freya 130 was almost certainly at POZZALO at that time.)

[Bruce Dennis]

from CX/MSS/2871

8/7/1943: Field Post Office 190 = OLBIA
-
Same date, Field Post Number 3152(B4) = Front Forwarding Staion NAPLES

‘P&Q report 3/7/43, I SG2 MILIS
FW190, Works Number 1354 A5-U8 B (word illegible) (D% total loss) on the ground by direct hit.’
-

[Bruce Dennis]

CX/MSS/2872/T34:


From ZG26, on 9/7, forwarded to EXPERIMENTAL DETACHMENT 25, PERSONAL FOR OBERST LUETZOW VIBO VALENTIA
RE: 21CM MORTAR BOMBS 42
AMN ETC HAS NOT YET ARRIVED IN NAPLES. MAJOR SIMON, LUFTFLOTTE 2 QM-QM1 HAS BEEN INFORMED. THE MATTER WILL BE DEALT WITH FROM YOUR END, TOGETHER WITH MUNICH-REIM. MAJOR SIMON WILL ARRANGE THAT THE EXPERIMENTAL STATION IS INFORMED AND THE CONSIGNMENT FORWARDED AT ONCE.


NOTES (summarised, not verbatum):
(1) PREVIOUS REFS TO EXPERIMENTAL DETACHMENT 25 HAVE IT LOCATED AT WITTMUNDAAFEN ON 9 JUNE ‘43, ORDER ISSUED REQUESTING OPERATIONAL SUBORDINATION. ON 3 JUNE IT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SHOT DOWN ONE AIRCRAFT IN MAY IN A SUCCESS RETURN OF UNITS TO 2JD. [meaning of this is not explained: Bruce]
(2) REFERRED TO PRESENCE OF 7 JU88 OF 10/ZG26 AT VIBO ON 7/7 [meaning of this is not explained: Bruce]
(3) OBERST LEUTZOW LAST REPORTED 27/12/42 AT AIR MINISTRY, AIR INSPECTORATE 3 CONNECTED WITH INSPECTORATE OF FIGHTERS
(4) IMPLICATION OF ABOVE REFERENCE TO MORTAR BOMBS NOT CLEAR


Bruce

[Bruce Dennis]

9 July 1943, CX/MSS/2872/T37:

Obltnt LELAUTZ is Technical Officer of II NJG2
-
Same date:
COMISO temporarily unserviceable for night landings as the airfield lighting is totally burnt out.

Bruce

[Bruce Dennis]

12 July 1943
CX/MSS/2882/T20


“TO AIRCRAFT SECURITY CENTRE TAORMINA AT 19:15 HRS: 11/7 – OPS REPORT (SMUDGED) /KG6: 18 JU88 TOOK OFF AT 1800 HRS CROSSING THE COAST OUTWARDS AT 1905 IN SQUARE 4 (FIGURE SMUDGED) 14. CROSSING THE COAST INWARDS AT 2125 HRS (SQUARE 4) 114 (REST NOT SEEN)
-
NOTE [from duty intelligence officer at Bletchley]:
1) THE ONLY GRID POSITION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN CORRESPONDING TO THE SMUDGED COASTAL POSITION IS 14E 4114, IN THE NAPLES AREA.
THE TIME OF FLIGHT WOULD ALLOW DIRECT FLIGHT TO SICILY AND BACK.
2) THIS REPORT MAY REFER TO DUSK ATTACK ON SHIPPING INTENDED FOR NIGHT 10TH-11TH (2875/T13)”

[Bruce Dennis]

12 July 1943
CX/MSS/2882/T13


STRENGTH RETURN AT 1900/11/7 FROM 3/F33 :-
A/C TOTAL 4, SERVICEABLE 1.
CREWS TOTAL 7, READY 3.

[Bruce Dennis]

12 July 1943
CX/MSS/2882/T5


“11/7/43 From JG77 to Senior Signals Officer:
(A) AT 0645 HRS, TAKE OFF WITH 13 FW190’S, DOWN 0750. ATTACK ON SHIPPING TARGETS. ALL OVER THE TARGET. A FW190, OBFW. ABENDROT, (WORD OR TWO SMUDGED) SOUTH EAST OF LICATA ON A LANDING CRAFT. A HIT ON THE BOW OF ONE AND ON THE (STERN OF ANOTHER LARGE LANDING CRAFT. ON ANOTHER (WORD SMUDGED) HIT, FOLLOWED BY CLOUDS OF SMOKE. 4 OTHER NEAR MISSES. 1 FW190 HIT BY A.A. FIRE. DEFENCE OF ALL CALIBRES. ENEMY FIGHTERS-NONE. SEVERAL BARRAGE BALLOONS ON (WORD SMUDGED) LICATA.
(B) TO 11 JG 27. VIBO VALENTIA, AT 1030 11/7:
AT 1000 HRS (+)/11/7 RENDEZVOUS WITH 20 JU88 AT 4000 METRES OVER AIRFIELD.
NOTE [from duty intelligence officer at Bletchley]: (+) AS THIS IS IN THE FORM OF AN ORDER, THE TIME IS CLEARLY WRONG.”

[Bruce Dennis]

CX/MSS/2733 June 1943:
“Orders from Transport Fliegerfuehrer 1 IA issued late on 14/6 to Detachment Fliegerfuehrer 1, Major HAERTNER, VENAFIORITA and to Fliegerfuehrer 2, SARDINIA:
OpS. ON 15/6:-
4 Me. 323 with Armoured Troop Carrying vehicles and cars.
13 Ju. 52 with canteen goods, medical equipment, personnel travelling individually, and personnel of various units.”