KG200 Greece/Rhodes/Crete 1944-45

[Brian]

Hi guys

As far as I am aware, the last German aircraft shot down in the Aegean area fell on the night of 6/7 October 1944. Yet, after this date and almost until the end of war, fairly frequent supply flights to Rhodes and Crete were maintained by a variety of aircraft from KG200, 14./TG4 and II/KG4, these same aircraft evacuating the sick and wounded.

Since the German garrisons on Rhodes and Crete were practically non-combant and short of food etc, was there some sort of agreement on the Allies part not to shoot down these aircraft? Perhaps that is rather naive of me to suggest this, but considering the RAF had dozens of radar-equipped night fighters, Beaufighters and Mosquitos, in the area, surely interceptions could have been made.

Just a thought but comments would be appreciated.

Cheers
Brian

[Chris Goss]

This might be of interest

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...&highlight=252

[byron-]

Hello Brian,

there was a later los of Kommando Schumm (23.10.44)

6./KG 4 (Fp.Nr. 33 623)
ab Mitte Okt. 43 nach Polykastron zu Ewakuierungsmassnahmen (Kdo. Schumm)
St.Kpt., FF. Hptm. Hans Schumm mit BO. Ltn. Walter Dörfer, 23.10.44 beide (+) beim Flug nach Rhodos
am 31.10.44 unter Hptm. Weiler nach Agram verlegt
St.Kpt., ab 15.11.44, FF. Hptm. Willy Gembus


Regards


Byron

[Brian]

Thanks for that, Byron

I had the 108 Squadron claim but was not certain of the loss.

Cheers
Brian

[RT]

Hello Byron,

Quite new that one are you sure that these guys lost flying ???

3 more , at least 2 sure in the area , the third one...

21 10 44 6 KG4 Euböa/Fuböa Insel 60 km Östl, GRIECH, X HE111H-20 700028 5J+GP 100
14 10 44 6 KG4 X X HE111H-20 701697 5J+CP
12 10 44 4 II KG27 Iraklion 20 km N Notwasserung HE111H-20 701243 1G+BM

Rémi

[Matti Salonen]

According to NVM:
1944-10-21, 6./KG 4, He 111H-20, 700028, 5J+GP, 60 km östlich Insel Fuböa, Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.
F Hptm Schumm, Johannes, vermißt
Kb Uffz Geißler, Heinz, vermißt
Bf Fw Büker, Friedrich, vermißt
Bw Fw Mayer, Leonhard, vermißt
1944-12-24, 4./KG 4, He 111H-20, 701673, 5J+CM, Unbekannt. Bruch 100 %.
F Uffz Kiehling, Heinz, vermißt
Kb Lt Dörfer, Walter, vermißt
Bf Uffz Ritter, Egon, vermißt
Bw Uffz Marotzke, Heinz, vermißt
Bs Uffz Kaplanek, Werner, vermißt

Matti

[byron-]

Hello Matti,

Thanks for these exact Informations. I think the second plane was lost at the 24.10.44 and not 24.12.44, please take a look again. What means your saurce NVM ?? I think this plane was under the command of Kdo.Schumm (6./K.G. 6), than only parts of this Staffel participated at the Räumung von Kreta and Rhodos.

Hello Remi,

About the los you refear of He 111 H 20 (1G+BM), I have the 01.10.44 as follows:
01.10.44 4./KG 27 FF. Herbert Mittrach (+), He 111 H 20 (1G+BM , W.Nr. 701243) 100% Notwasserung 20 km nördlich Iraklion bei der Räumung von Kreta


Regards Byron

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, Byron and all

NVM means Namentliche Verlustmeldung, which is a document issued by the unit when there was either:

- a member of a unit wounded
- a member of a unit killed
- a member of a unit missing

See example for the cover page of one such document
Regards,
Andreas B

[RT]

Date for the 701243 hv to be the 12.Oct. because in an other doc. complement for the crew is given retaining the same Wn. oder....


Rémi

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, guys.

Would the summary loss record for the units be of interest for this period?

What units would you like me to cover?

I think Matti has the correct date for 701673. II./K.G.4 did not report a loss for 24th October 1944, but they did report an aircraft missing on 24.12.1944 (reported in the GenQu loss list of January 12th 1945)

Regards,
Andreas B