Werner Baumbach ship destroyer

[Larry deZeng]

[quote=Jim P.;217119]

Like with most LW flying units and pilots, little is known or has been published about 1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 120 to this day.

Ouch, Jim! Granted, the 4 books Doug Stankey and I authored on the Kampfflieger-, Sturzkampfflieger- und Schlachtfliegerverbände were relatively brief summaries, such is not the case with the works of Jochen Prien, Eric Mombeek, Ulf Balke, Wolfgang Dierich and a good dozen others who have researched and written Luftwaffe unit histories!

I have a summarized 4 page unit history on Aufklärungsstaffel 1.(F)/120 and here are the primary non-published sources I used in the event anyone wants to research this unit:

NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-312 roll 1033/1206, roll l070/59l and 969); (T-971 roll 19); AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 512.619 British AirMin P/W interrogations, ADI(K) series, microfilm rolls A5400-05, interrogation ADI(K) 127/44; AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 512.625S (British Air Ministry) OKL document; PRO London: AIR 40 Air Ministry intelligence reports and lists based on ULTRA, “Y” Service intercepts, captured documents and PoW interrogations; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 9/35 and Signatur RL 40/Kart; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs); BA-MA Freiburg: Flugzeug-Bereitstellungen (Aircraft Availability Status Reports – FzB) in: M.Holm-website (ww2.dk); K.Maesel correspondence with author; H.Löhr letter to W.Horst of 16 May 1993; web site forum.12oclockhigh.net.

L.

[Stig Jarlevik]

He, he Larry

And those of us who have your four books, can we pursuade you to write a fifth about the recce units??

Cheers
Stig

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

He, he Larry

And those of us who have your four books, can we pursuade you to write a fifth about the recce units??

Cheers
Stig

It's all written, Stig. I completed the research and finished the manuscript about 4 years ago. I am still trying to decide whether to make a book out of it or put it up on the internet. I don't think any publisher would touch it because only about 2% to 4% of the Luftwaffe fans have any interest in the reconnaissance units, and the cost of self-publishing and marketing say 1,000 copies could run to $25,000 to $30,000. But most importantly, there would be no photos or other illustrations and I am now too old to go through the considerable, stressful and time-consuming work of proofreading, editing and publishing more books. The procurement of say 250 photos could well cost twice that amount and take several years to accomplish. Frankly, publishing a book all by oneself is a gigantic pain right in the butt unless you are affluent, relatively young and have the time to devote to it. But, yes, it would be great to have a series of books that cover the basics and essentials for all Luftwaffe units, both fliegende- und Boden-, big and small.

L.

[Stig Jarlevik]

What a pity Larry

I can understand your 'wrestling' days are over. The publications I have made myself was also back in my youth and admittedly I had more stamina back then.

I cannot understand this 'mania' with fighters, fighters and again fighters.
Surely it is the whole picture that is important.

Of course if you can't publish it, the internet is second best, even if I myself belong to the generation who gets a pleasure just holding a good book in one's hand. No internet in the world can compare with that....

Good luck with your decision Larry.

Cheers
Stig

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

It's all written, Stig. I completed the research and finished the manuscript about 4 years ago. I am still trying to decide whether to make a book out of it or put it up on the internet. I don't think any publisher would touch it because only about 2% to 4% of the Luftwaffe fans have any interest in the reconnaissance units

Larry

Well I am in that 2% to 4% and I would definatly buy a book of yours on the Aufklärungsgeschwader.

A similar book on the ZG units would also be welcome too! I live in hope!

Regards Richard.

[Clint Mitchell]

Below are the photos I have collected that show Werner Baumbach and a Ju88. There is nothing in the photos that confirms that they are Ju88s that Baumbach flew. Only one shows a code, an early Ju88 with the code ??+FN or ??+FM which appears to have black out paint applied. There are other blacked out Ju88s in the photos below which could be the same aircraft, but again nothing to confirm. The others appear to be later versions. One might presume that the crew shots would have been taken in front of their assigned aircraft, but that is not confirmed either... At least one crew member remains consistent in the photos.

Attachment 13389 Attachment 13390 Attachment 13391 Attachment 13392 Attachment 13393 Attachment 13394

[Clint Mitchell]

Here are the other three:

Attachment 13395 Attachment 13396 Attachment 13397

[Clint Mitchell]

The aircraft possibly coded 4D+FN would fit nicely with the earlier period for when he was with 5./KG30 from 01.01.40. Unless anyone else knows any different?

[Jim P.]

Clint, presume you meant code '4D+FN'?

Knusel/Michael, while the Brütting book is a nice book to have in one's library, it has been superseded by a two-volume set by Jochen Kaiser entitled "Die Ritterkreuztrager der Kampfflieger" published on 2011 by Luftfahrtverlag Start - the same publisher as the LW in Focus series.

[Clint Mitchell]

Yes Jim, thanks. Corrected earlier.