Losses I./KG66 – April 1944

[Henofred]

Bonjour,

I shall like to know if the I./KG66 has suffered planes losses (Ground) during the bombing of Avord airfield, France on April 28th, 1944. If the answer is positive, is it possible to have some details?

All the best,
Frederic

[RT]

Just found these 2

FFS B15 Avord FP Bombenw, HE177A-1 5235 100
FFS B15 Avord FP Bombenw, HE177A-1 5246 10

but losses for front units for 1944 are badly known, worst if no casualties

Remi

[Henofred]

Hi Remi,

Thanks a lot. I know that it is difficult to have information about losses regarding 1944. The list of the former German 'Heldenfriedhof' of Bourges don't have soldiers losses for this day there.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Judging from photos of I./KG66 aircraft catching fire during the bombing, at least 1 and probably 2 Ju 88 S-1's.

Hope this helps,

Marcel

[ju55dk]

Originally Posted by Henofred

Bonjour,

I shall like to know if the I./KG66 has suffered planes losses (Ground) during the bombing of Avord airfield, France on April 28th, 1944. If the answer is positive, is it possible to have some details?

All the best,
Frederic

According to Summarischen Verlustmeldungen I/KG 66 RL 2 III 848, none destroyed/damaged on that date.

Junker

[Marcel van Heijkop]

Hi Jörn,

Interesting observation....I have however a whole series of photos of presumably that particular attack (definitely Avord at least) taken by one of I./KG66's 1. Warte. Photos show giant smoke columns, Allied skymarkers and clearly recognisable I./KG66 S-1's.

Is it maybe possible that I./KG66 reported losses at a (much) later date or maybe there was another heavy attack on another date?

Marcel

Originally Posted by ju55dk

According to Summarischen Verlustmeldungen I/KG 66 RL 2 III 848, none destroyed/damaged on that date.

Junker

[Henofred]

Thanks a lot for your answers.

Avord A/D is again attacked on May 23, June 4 and June 25.
Marcel : I make a historical research work about Avord airfield and I will be very interested to see your pictures. I have primarily an “American point of view” of the bombardment.

Frederic

[Brian Bines]

NVM's show 3 groundcrew killed on 28th.April another 13 more injured with two of these dying of their injuries. K report for POW's (1/KG66) from a crew shot down on 11th June only mentions aircraft losses from bombing at Avord on June 4th, when hangers and three Ju.188's of the 2nd Staffel were destroyed. This crew had joined 1/KG66 in mid-March from 8/KG2.

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi,

ground losses for I./KG 66:
July 14th 1943 - 1 aircraft damaged due to bombing
October 24th 1943 - 1 aircraft total loss due to bombing
January 30th 1944 - 1 aircraft total loss due to bombing
March 15th 1944 - 1 aircraft total loss due to bombing
April 5th 1944 - 1 aircraft total loss due to strafing
May 4th 1944 - 2 aircraft total loss due to bombing
June 4th 1944 - 6 aircraft total loss due to bombing
June 12th 1944 - 2 aircraft damaged due to bombing
July 7th 1944 - 2 aircraft total loss due to bombing
September 9th 1944 - 1 aircraft total loss due to strafing
December 24th 1944 - 1 aircraft damaged due to strafing

Regards,
Andreas B

[Henofred]

Hello,

Merci beaucoup for all these answers. And I take back what I said about “no soldiers losses” because I made some researches since my response and I found indeed in our archives 3 killed for 1. Flughafenbetriebskompanie KG66 and 3 more for leichte Flak-Abteilung 673 (v).

All the best,
Frederic