N.J.Kdo. Bretagne

[ju55dk]

According to RL 7-3/829:

Vom Nachtjagdkommado Bretagne kamen 7 Flugzeuge ohne Feindberührung zum Einsatz. Juni 1941.

Junker

[MW Giles]

The list of known sorties is interesting

There does not seem to be any correlation between the sorties you list and the nights when RAF raids and Gardening took place. Particularly in May and early June 1941 there are some quite large (for the time) operations on Brest and St Nazaire, with up to 100 aircraft, but no sorties.

Two thoughts, are they there to protect U-boats entering and leaving harbour or to try to bag Coastal Command aircraft over the Bay?

Martin

[Andy Mitchell]

Martin and Junker ,

Many thanks for your thoughts and input.

Junker - with regards to RL 7-3/829 and the Einzelmeldung that I have quoted from - the file in my possession is not complete. For example I have Einzelmeldung Nr 3 and 4 for 7.6.41 and then nothing until 12.6.41 so with gaps like this I could easily be missing the items accounted for in RL 7-3/829.

Tomorrow I will add an entry for June quoting the comment from RL 7-3/829.

Martin - thanks for your suggestions. I had not got as far as looking at what operations the RAF had carried out during that period. Nor have I looked at the Lageberichten to see if there is anything recorded in there regarding perceived RAF attacks or incursions in that area.


Once again many thanks guys.

[ju55dk]

Same source:

"Vom Nachtjagdkommando Bretagne kamen 14 Flugzeuge zum Einsatz ohne Feindberührung. Mai 1941."

The unit only had Bf 110 on strenght.
I does not seem to be in connection with Geleitschutz for ships or uboats.
Junker

[Andy Mitchell]

Junker,

Many thanks for this extra information - I have just found my way to the file on Invenio - Tätigkeitsbericht der Luftflotte 3 Mai 1941.(and I have now found how I can download this as well - excellent)

I will incorporate this and your previous post within the NJKdo Bretagne page.

Again many thanks

[MW Giles]

Came across this paragraph in the AHB publication The Air Defence of Great Britain Vol III

"Enemy preoccupation with the Russian Front had from mid-May
brought about the virtual cessation of large-scale air bombardment of this country. A great many units had moved eastwards and rearrangement in theWest had thus become necessary.

On 15th June, when a raid on Birmingham was carried out, several Flieger Korps were still operating, but by the middle of the month most of the bomber squadrons had been brought under the Command of IX Flieger Korps.

Other commands in Western Europe included Flieger-fuhrer Atlantik which had been assigned on anti-shipping role, a Nachtjagd division whose function resembles that of our own 'Intruders', and Nachtjagdkommando Bretagne which devoted itself to sea reconnaissances.

Mention must also be made of Stuka aircraft which under the auspices of Jafu 2 had commenced operations against vessels passing through the Straits of Dover, a task they continued to perform until the end of 1941. The enemy bomber force in the West was, however, soon depleted to an even greater degree by the calls of the war against Russia, and the Germans realised that any clear-cut distinctions between the duties to be undertaken by the few remaining units was impossible. By July, therefore, aircraft of Fliegerfuhrer Atlantik were attacking land targets, aircraft of IX Flieger Korps were bombing ships and the Nachtjagddivision which had been engaged on 'Intruder' work had taken up reconnaissance and nuisance raiding. Even aircraft of purely reconnaissance units like 3/(F)122 had to be called in to make up the numbers when land targets were attacked.

By October, elements of KG2, KG30, KG40, KuF Gr406, KGr106, KGr606 and F.123 formed the bulk of the long range bombers in theWest. The Nachtjagddivision had first become a Nachtjagd Kommando and then Flieger Korps XII. Nachjagd Kommando Bretagne with some ME.110s continued to do shipping reconnaissance."

Two definite references to use of NJKdo Bretagne for shipping recce

Martin

[Andy Mitchell]

Martin,

Many thanks for this - much appreciated.

Have been using the AHB publication The Air Defence of Great Britain Vol I for other purposes and it did not cross my mind to look at AHB publication The Air Defence of Great Britain Vol III for N.J.Kdo. Bretagne.

It adds a little more to answer the puzzle.

[Andy Mitchell]

Martin,

I have updated the page with a reference to your findings.

Many thanks.