Ghostbombers updates

[Nick Beale]

More added just now to ghostbombers.com, bringing the site up to 589 pages:

• Kommando Sommer: five new pages, taking the account to its conclusion.
• Ghost Bombers … NSG 9: information on the last posting of Oberstltn. Karl Vehmeyer; a new page with two frames from a film taken at Vicenza by the US War Department's Bureau of Public Relations.
• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: information about an He 111 transferring to the Hungarian air force; correction to the tactical markings of Obltn. Valet's Me 262 A-2.
• Jagdgruppe 200: more about the pilot taken prisoner by the Resistance on 14 July 1944; information about bomb damage at Avignon on 7 August 1944.
• Geschwader Bongart: correction to the Werk Nummer of a ZG 1 Ju 88 lost on 7 June 1944; possible identification of Fhr. Johann Kössler who crashed on 8 June 1944; more about the actions at Morgins, Égletons and Abondance in August 1944.
• Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen: information from Rod McKenzie about incidents in which aircraft of the unit were damaged; a reconnaissance sighting of an He 219 at Kastrup on 4 May 1945
• Markings and Camouflage: information from 1942 on the markings of a Ju 86 and a captured Hurricane.
• Invasion Watch: statement by a captured German airman on 27 April 1944.
• NAGr. 6: correction regarding operations on 28 February 1945.
• Kommando Götz: RAF reconnaissance sightings of an Ar 234 by the runway at Rheine; correction regarding operations on 28 February 1945.
• 1.(F)/100: information from Andrew Arthy about two of the unit's pilots: Fw. Heider and Obltn. Heinz Schelbert.
• The Ar 234 in Denmark and Norway: RAF reconnaissance sightings of Arados at Schleswig and Leck.

Right, time to get on with the next batch …

[Nick Beale]

More added this morning to ghostbombers.com:

• Geschwader Bongart: expanded account of the actions on the Glières plateau (March 1944); an air attack on Tarbes (10 June); "friendly fire" incident at Saint-May (22 June); more about the bombing of Les Ollières (29 June); an action at Col de la Fayolle (5 July); more about bomb damage at Oyonnax (12 July); Monestier (13 July); German assessment of Allied supply drops (14 July); Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors (27 July); more about the bombing of Morgins (6 August); l'Alpe d'Huez (10 August); l'eau d'Olle (12 August); Cirque de St. Même and Le Poursollet (13 August); St. Remèze (16 August); St. Marcellin (22 August); extracts from the Vichy, Swiss, and clandestine French press.
• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: an addition about Fl.Kps. VIII's activitiies on 5 July 1943, on the Army Group Centre front; additions to the account of the 14/15 May 1944 raid on Bristol.
• Jagdgruppe 200: a small addition about Resistance forces taking a pilot prisoner on 14 July 1944 and a quotation about Free French involvement in the combat of 8 August; more about II./JG 77's action at St. Remèze on 16 August.
• Kommando Sommer: revised to take account of information about attacks on Campoformido-Udine by the US 79th FG on 20 March1945 and with additions for1, 9 and 12 April.
• The Ar 234 in Norway and Denmark: information from the Japanese miltary attaché, 26 February 1945.
• 1.(F)/123: information from Allied photo-recoonniassance of Marx in February 1945; more about the unit's transfer to Lübeck-Blankensee, 6 April 1945.
• Operation Dragoon: information on wreckage of two additional aircraft from 1.(F)/33.
• NSG 9: more about the use of exhaust flame dampers on Ju 87s in Africa in 1942.
• Invasion Watch: small additions regarding 18 and 20 April 1944.

[Nick Beale]

This year's first updates to ghostbombers.com are:

• New article of 10,000 words-plus: Kommando Koch, July 1942–May 1943
• Numerous additions to Listening and Jamming: June 1943–August 1944,
• 1.(F)/123: information from Allied photo-reconniassance of Hohn on 25 April 1945.
• Geschwader Bongart: a link to images of Re. 2002, W.Nr. 1222 (discovered by Marc-André Haldimann)
• He 111 Torpedo Operations: July–August 1940: some additions and corrections.
• Various minor corrections to typing, links and page layouts.

[ouidjat]

Thanks Mister Nick Beale !

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thank again for a very interesting new article on Kdo Koch. I had never thought before that aircrew could be asked to shot down enemy flares. Would be interesting to see what are in the RAF crew reports about all this activity (jamming and flare shooting).

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

Thank again for a very interesting new article on Kdo Koch.

Thank you — I can't write articles as fast as you can read them!

[oquaig]

Hi Nick,

I was reading your article on the Coventry raids. After Stab.I./Kg 28, III./KG 26 and Kgr.100 were transferred to Luftflotte 2 in July 1941, I was wondering if you knew who took over flying missions against Britain using the X and Y Gerat ?

Regards
oquaig

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by oquaig

Hi Nick,

I was reading your article on the Coventry raids. After Stab.I./Kg 28, III./KG 26 and Kgr.100 were transferred to Luftflotte 2 in July 1941, I was wondering if you knew who took over flying missions against Britain using the X and Y Gerat ?

Regards
oquaig

I haven't researched 1941 at all. According to Ken Wakefield's book, after the bomber force went to Russia, there was no pathfinder unit in the west until the winter of 1941, when some crews of III./KG 2 took on the role.

[oquaig]

Hi Nick,

It may be that III./KG 2 took over the X Gerat from Kgr. 100 when the instruments were removed from their aircraft before going east. Apparently III./KG 26 simply exchanged their He 111 H5s for He 111 H6s before going east as well. Who got those machines is one of the unknowns.

Thanks
oquaig

[RolandF]

Ju 88C-6 WNr 705686 is most likely WNr 750686, StKz PL+CC