Ghostbombers updates

[Siko54]

Cheers Nick! Brilliant job

[Nick Beale]

I've just posted another batch of updates and additions:

• New page: some II./JG 53 loss reports from Autumn 1944.
• ULTRA and »Adlertag«: addition about raids on Bomber Command airfields on 24/25 May 1940.
• JGr. 200: addition of a Bf 109 loss in May 1944.
• Geschwader Bongart: additions about 10./ZG 1 activity in March 1944; memorial card for Kurt Dommasch (courtesy of Christian Berring); addition about Kdo. Schäfer
• Bf 109 H: addition about Obltn. Kaiser’s promotion to Staffelkapitän.
• Operation Dragoon: addition about the fate of Obltn. Kramprich of 6../KG 77.
• Kampfflieger Vol. 4: a possible photo-reconnaissance of Paris on 27 August 1944.
• Kdo. Koch: additions about the sinking of Unione; wavelengths covered by German jamming transmitters; aircraft at Fosinone, Italy in 1943.
• Kdo. Rastedter: additions about Aphrodite decoys; the unit's Ju 188s and liaison with the Kriegsmarine; the establishment of Horch- .und Störstaffel 2 plus its activity in February 1944.
• Kdo. Kunkel: the loss of an aircraft on 21 February 1944 (thanks to Chris Goss and Matti Salonen)
• I./JG 4 heads home: additions about losses and newly allocated aircraft.
• Markings and camouflage: instruction of September 1943 to discontinue the use of certain colours on Luftwaffe rescue boats.
• Minor corrections etc

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Thanks so much Nick,

for your highly appreciated updates and information sharing.

Sincerely
Marc

[SES]

Hi,
This caught my eye.
9 SEP 1944:
5) Captured a/c in all Luftflotten:

A) Operating in the fighting, same as German a/c of the relevant Luftflotte.

B) Not operating in the fighting, outermost third of the underside of the wing yellow. Sea rescue a/c are to be marked as a/c operating in the fighting.

The first dokumented info that I have seen of captured a/c were used in combat. Does anyone have further info?
bregds
SES

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by SES

Hi,
This caught my eye.
9 SEP 1944:
5) Captured a/c in all Luftflotten:

A) Operating in the fighting, same as German a/c of the relevant Luftflotte.

B) Not operating in the fighting, outermost third of the underside of the wing yellow. Sea rescue a/c are to be marked as a/c operating in the fighting.

The first dokumented info that I have seen of captured a/c were used in combat. Does anyone have further info?
bregds
SES

Captured Italian types, perhaps? The Fiat CR 42 and Reggiane Re 2002 were used in combat by the Luftwaffe. Or those words might have been included to cover the possibility of captured types being used (some guy in a Berlin office trying to think of every eventuality, maybe).

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Nick,

A quick complement for II./JG 53 losses reported 4 November 1944: according to Prien, JG 53 (1998), III, p.1003; Prien, JG 53, III, p.1472, both Bf 109 G-14's in the 4 November 1944 intercept were actually lost 3 November 1944.

Bf 109 G-14 W.Nr. 462796 "Weisse 9", flown by Fw. Erhard Tahlheim, 7./JG 53, went missing in Raum St. Die/Rambervillers (PlQu. CO-6)

Bf 109 G-14 W.Nr. 462896 "Gelbe 8", flown by Uffz. Konrad Gallhofer, was shot down at Sobernheim, DOW 9 November 1944.

Cheers
Marc

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Keep up the good work Nick!

Edward L. Hsiao

[Nick Beale]

More new material posted to gohstbombers.com today:

• New article: 6,000 words about what ULTRA was telling the British in 1940 between the Franco-German Armistice and Eagle Day.
• He 111 torpedo operations in 1940: various small corrections, additions about Hptm. Hechler and the sinking of the Remuera.
• 1940 losses: additions for the late June–early August period.
• Markings and Camouflage: additions for 23 June, and 11 and 25 July 1940.
• Unternehmen »Paula«: new ULTRA material about preparations for the attack.
• Geschwader Bongart: background on Maj. Bongart's role in France in July 1940.
• Kommando Koch: more about Ju 52 NQ+AN and a correction regarding the Sportivo convoy.
• III./SG 4 in Normandy: information from the Allied side about the »Distelfink« radar station at Douvres-la-Délivrande.
• NSG 9: information and images from Larry Haitz about his relative, 2nd Lt. Lael M. Cheely, pilot of the 414th NFS P-61 lost on the night of 11/12 April 1945.
• Updated list of "complete works" to include "Arado Ar 234 Bomber and Reconnaissance Units", published four days ago.

[SES]

Hi Nick,
Interesting read as always.
Concerning the battle at Distelfink, it is my understanding that the commander Oberleutenant Kurt Egle recieved the RK for his leadership. One of only three RK awarded to JLos.
bregds
SES

[steve sheridan]

Hi Nick great updates as usual, your work is always commended.
Just one point on the additions, is it possible to either highlight the new information added to previous reports, or to add a " new " where the update is?
It is quite difficult to find the additions without going through all the reports and finding where its been included.

Best regs,
Steve.