Information sought on 5. Staffel, Minensuchgruppe 1

[Tim O.]

Hi all

I am researching a Flugbuch to a Bordmechaniker who flew with 5./MSG 1. There seems little information available on this unit and I wondered if anyone else has researched this Staffel.

'My' man is Bordmechaniker Oberfeldwebel Werner Petersen, who served with KGr. 126 in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain, then moved to KG 53 for Barbarossa, being awarded the Ehrenpokal (11th May 1942) and DKiG (14th November 1942). In July 1943 through to April 1945 he was with Minensuchgruppe 1. Most of his time was with 5. Staffel flying over the Baltic. (detonating his last mine on his last recorded flight on 13th March 1945).

During his time with MSG 1, Petersen flew regularly with pilot Oberfeldwebel Brauneis but I have been unable to find further details for Brauneis. My spelling of his name may be a bit away as Petersen's writing is not always easy to read.

One point of interest I have noted is that at least one collector has award documents to a crewman from MSG 1 and he was awarded Operational Flying Clasps for Reconnaissance Crew but Petersen was awarded the Operational Flying Clasp in Gold with 200 Hanger for Bomber Crews while with 5./MSG 1 (5th November 1944). I wondered whether this unit was something of an anomoly and therefore crew continued to be awarded whatever type of Clasp (i.e. Bomber or Recce) that they had when they transferred into MSG 1.

Any information on 5./MSG 1 will be gratefully received. I am happy to exchange information.

[JoMe]

Hi Tim

The 5./MSGr.1 was set up in 1942 and renamed on 01.03.44 to 5./MS-Staffel.
I know the following bases:

-16.05.44-23.07.44 Vaerlöse/DK
23.07.44-18.08.44 Aalborg-West/DK
18.08.44-28.09.44 Stettin-Altdamm
28.09.44-07.10.44 Vaerlöse/DK
07.10.44-15.10.44 Rygge/N
15.10.44-28.10.44- Oslo-Fornebu/N
- .12.44-23.03.45 Aalborg-West/DK

best wishes
JoMe

[Tim O.]

Thanks Jochen.

I would be very glad to find out more names of crew and to see if Petersen flew with any of them. There seems to be very little reliable information on 5./MSG 1.

[edwest2]

I have only a fragment.


https://www.asisbiz.com/Luftwaffe/msgr1.html


A bit more about Oberfeldwebel Petersen.


https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/...sen-Werner.htm




Best,
Ed

[Tim O.]

Thanks Ed.

I provided the information to Traces of War, so I have that already. Thank you anyway.

Thanks for the information on MSG 1. It is interesting to see the number of aircraft available. Petersen certainly flew in a lot of aircraft carrying different codes!

[edwest2]

Originally Posted by Tim O.

Thanks Ed.

I provided the information to Traces of War, so I have that already. Thank you anyway.

Thanks for the information on MSG 1. It is interesting to see the number of aircraft available. Petersen certainly flew in a lot of aircraft carrying different codes!

You're welcome, Tim.


Best,
Ed

[Larry deZeng]

The numbers 1 to 13 following the entries are for footnotes, but my rotten no-good Libre Office 5 crummy free software would not allow me to transfer them to TOCH.

5./MSGr. 1

also as: 5. Minensuchstaffel (after 29 Feb 44)


Formation. (Dec 42)
Formed 1 December 1942? There is a near-absence of information on this Staffel prior to January 1944, although strength returns indicate that the Staffel first took delivery of aircraft in May 1943 when 6 Ju 52 “Mausi” were received. Therefore, it is doubtful if it was formed much prior to that date. There is no verifiable information concerning the place of formation, although one researcher has suggested Cognac in SW France which, if true, would suggest that it may have been a spin-off from 1./MSGr. 1.1

Denmark. (May 43? - May 45)
Oct 43: according to the strength returns, the Staffel had an average of 14 to 21 Ju 52s on hand between October 1943 and at least the end of 1944.2
Jan 44: based at Vaerløse/S Denmark.3
6 Apr 44: all or elements at Copenhagen-Kastrup.4
14 Apr 44: 2 Ju 52s shot down by RAF Mosquitos near Vaerløse.5
15 May 44: Staffel at Vaerløse with a Kdo. (detachment) at Stettin-Altdamm.6
Jun 44: moved to Aalborg (Ålborg)/N Denmark during late May or early June and responsible for the area north to Norway and east to the Baltic.7
28 Jun 44: Staffel had 2 Ju 52s deployed at Vaerlose, 4 at Kiel-Holtenau, 3 at Danzig and 3 at Stettin.8
Jul 44: sent a Kdo. to Budapest-Budaörs/Hungary to relieve elements of 1. Minensuchstaffel based there and assist in the removal of mines from the Danube; the Kdo. remained there until at least October.9
25 Oct 44: at Vaerløse with a Kdo. at Oslo-Fornebu. The main body of the Staffel remained at Vaerløse until it surrendered in May 1945.10
8 Dec 44: at Vaerløse and Copenhagen-Kastrup with a Kdo. at Aalborg-West.11
11 Dec 44: lost a Ju 52 and crew while detonating mines magnetically at low altitude off the northern tip of Denmark. The explosion tore a large hole in the rear of the Junkers and it plunged into the sea.12
28 Apr 45: Vaerløse - surrendered a week or so later.13

FpN: (L 52409)

Staffelkapitän:
Hptm. Ernst Rabe von Pappenheim (May 43? - Aug 44)
Oblt. Kolossa (Aug 44 - ? )

Sources: there are lots of sources on MSGr. 1 and its 5. Staffel, e.g., a book by H.J. Nowarra, a 1997 article in Jet & Prop magazine, 5 ULTRA DEFE 3 intercepts, additional ones in HW 5, Air Ministry intelligence material in PRO AIR 40, etc. You just have to dig for it.

L.

[Tim O.]

Thanks for this Larry; it adds some very useful detail.

[ju55dk]

Beware that the Nowarra book it filled with errors. Probably the worst of his writings.

5/MsGrp 1 arrived at Kastrup Denmark june 1943. End 1943 it moved to Värlöse. In june 1944 the unit was split up between Vaerlöse and Aalborg-West. The StKptn went permanently to Aalborg from august 44. This situation was the same 5 may 1945 as the war ended. During this time different Kdo were sent out to other locations, but the parent unit stayed in Denmark.

Send me a PM if you wish to learn more.

Junker