1./(F)123 Losses 1943

[Marc-André Haldimann]

Dear John,

Why would you wish to usurp Nick ? No need to, as he addressed masterfully an issue clearly born out of a language issue, an issue which from time to time is overseen by the native english speakers here. The resulting answers given to Nick's tactful intervention are highly interesting in their own right.

Sincerely
Marc

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

Melvin -

Here are the 1943 losses that I have, but I do not pretend it to be complete:


Aufklärungsstaffel 1.(F)/123 (2d Formation)
(Unit Code 4U+)

Also as: 1.(F)/Aufklärungsgruppe 123
1.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 123

………………

1 December 1942: Staffel reported 7 Ju 88 D-1, 2 Ju 88 D-5, 2 Ju 88 A-5, 1 Bf 110 E-3, 3 Bf 109 F-4/R2, 5 Bf 109 F-4/R3, 1 Bf 109 F-4/Z, 1 Bf 109 G-2/R2 and 2 Bf 109 G-1/R2 on strength.
16 February 1943: Ju 88 FTR - believed shot down into the sea off the Isle of Wight by a Typhoon, 100%, 4 MIA.
18 February 1943: Ju 88 D-l damaged landing at Paris-Buc, 15%.
March – mid-June 1943: the Staffel enjoyed nearly 4 months of routine operations without a single loss to enemy action and only two incidents where aircraft received minor damage in accidents.
6/43: Staffel departed Paris-Buc in mid-June for reassignment to Stab/Aufkl.Gr.122 in Italy.

Mediterranean. (June 1943 - October 1944)
17 June 1943: now at Frosinone airfield in central Italy under Stab/Aufkl.Gr. 122.
15-30 June 1943: the Staffel too delivery of 6 Ju 88 T-2, which was a new, significantly faster high altitude version of the Ju 88 that was specifically outfitted with aerial camera installations.
26 June 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+AH) FTR from a recce of the Algiers area, 100%, 3 MIA.
7 July 1943: Ju 88 D-l (5M+E) FTR from a recce east of Malta, 100%, 4 captured. This aircraft originally belonged to Westa 26.
8 July 1943: Ju 88 (4U+BH) shot down by a USAAF Spitfire at c.8,225 meters (27,000 feet) 80 km west of Mateur/north Tunisia while on a recce of the coastal area west of Bizerta, 100%, 3 KIA and 1 captured.
23 July 1943: Frosinone - flying recce between Sicily and Malta.
15 August 1943: Ju 88 (4U+CH) FTR from recce over Algiers, 100%, 3 MIA.
17 August 1943: Ju 88 A-4 (4U+DH) FTR from the Algiers area, 100%, Oblt. Hugo Diebold (observer) + 2 MIA.
20 August 1943: a Klemm Kl 35 belonging to the Staffel was rammed by an Italian aircraft at Pisa, 80%. The Klemm was probably used to courier spare parts, pick up mail and related chores.
22 August 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+GH) shot down by 4 Spitfires while flying an early morning recce around Malta in search of shipping, 100%, 3 captured.
24 August 1943: a Ju 88 T-l that had just been assigned to the Staffel was destroyed by bombs during an Allied air raid on the aircraft park/depot at Villacoublay-South near Paris, 100%. Evidently, it was about to be ferried to Italy for delivery.
27 August 1943: Ju 88 T-l (4U+JH) FTR from recce over Malta, 100%, 1 KIA and 2 MIA.
30 August 1943: Ju 88 D-2 (F6+EK) FTR - no details, 100%, 4 MIA. Aircraft originally belonged to 2.(F)/Aufkl.Gr. 122, also based at Frosinone.
3 September 1943: Frosinone – flew day recce of the Straits of Messina.
3 September 1943: Ju 88 T-l (4U+KH) FTR from recce over eastern Sicily, 100%, Hptm. Eduard Dirchner (observer) + 2 MIA.
7 September 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+NH) FTR from recce over Malta, 100%, 4 MIA.
9 September 1943: transferred from Frosinone to Guidonia/north-east of Rome.
7 October 1943: transferred from Guidonia to Perugia in north-central Italy and remained there through April 1944.
8 November 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+UH) missing in bad weather north-east of Pescara and believed shot down by two USAAF P-38s, 100%, 3 MIA (all from Stab/Aufkl.Gr. 122).
26 November 1943: Ju 88 T-l (4U+LH) FTR from recce in the Naples area, 100%, 2 KIA, 1 MIA.
26 November 1943: Ju 88 T-l (4U+BH) shot down by Spitfires during a reconnaissance of the harbor and airfields at Naples, 100%, Hptm. Hermann Ludwig (observer) + 3 captured.
1 December 1943: Staffel reported 4 Ju 88 D-1/CLi and 3 Ju 88 T-1 on strength.
22 December 1943: Ju 88 D-l (4U+UH) FTR from recce of the Corsica-Sardinia area, 100%,4 MIA.
24 December 1943: Ju 88 D-l FTR from over the Adriatic and believed shot down by a fighter, 100%,4 MIA.

Larry

That really is excellent information on 1./(F)123.

I have a Wehrpass to a Flugzeugfuhrer KIA on 06-04-1944 from 1./(F)123, do you by chance have any continuing information in this format of the Staffel from February 1944 through to April 1944?

If so, that really would be a great help in the research of this man.

Thank you as always. Regards Richard.

[Matti Salonen]

1944-04-06, 1.(F)/123, Ju 88 T-1, 881131, 4U+JH, 20 km südwestlich Anzio, Luftkampf um 15.15 Uhr mit Spitfires. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer Uffz Holeschowski, Hans, +
Beobachter Lt Saalecker, Werner, vermißt
Bordfunker Uffz Thumm, Heinz, vermißt
Bordschütze Uffz Schulz, Gottlieb, vermißt

Matti

[Richard Mills]

Matti

Thank you as always for your help with the information on loss returns.

I made a mistake, when in fact it is the Beobachter, Salecker of whom I have the Wehrpass, and the details of his crew and aircraft are most welcome.

Another question concerns an entry in his Wehrpass for the award of a Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz awarded on 10-?-44, the month seems unreadable unfortunatly. Are you able to help with any loss returns which corresponds with Salecker at all?

Any help whatsoever will be very well received indeed.

Regards Richard.

[Matti Salonen]

Sorry, no other info on him in my database.

Matti

[Richard Mills]

Thank you for looking Matti, it is much appreciated.

Regards Richard.

[Tony Kearns]

Originally Posted by Andreas Brekken

Hi.

I have details of 22 losses recorded for the 1.(F)/123 during 1943.

If you are interested I can post a list of links for the records here.

Regards,
Andreas B

Please do, I am very interested in this unit and thank you.
Regards
Tony K

[Larry deZeng]

Richard -

This is all I have on the 6 April 1944 loss:

6 April 1944: Ju 88T (4U+JH) attacked by 4 Spitfires at an altitude of 10 meters and shot down into the sea off Anzio while on day recce along the coast, 100%, 1 KIA and 3 captured.

But as you can see, it adds little to what Matti S. has already provided. This is from ADI(K) report 162A/44, and there should be more details therein.

L.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Matti Salonen

1944-04-06, 1.(F)/123, Ju 88 T-1, 881131, 4U+JH, 20 km südwestlich Anzio, Luftkampf um 15.15 Uhr mit Spitfires. Bruch 100%.

Matti

About 25 years ago I ordered 1.(F)/123 NVMs from WASt for the June-July 1944 period and they didn't send me that one! The only one I received was for Ju 88 T-1 W.Nr. 430913, 4U+GH. It was shot down by Spitfires of No. 451 Sqn. on 8 June, south east of Chiusi. Crew:

Ofhr. Heinz-Arnold Scherpf (B) (died of wounds on 4 July)
Uffz. Heinz Rutter (FF)
Uffz. Paul Hoffmann (Bd) [sic]
Uffz. Manfred Malachow (Bf)

[Melvin Brownless]

Thanks to everyone who contributed regarding the losses of 1./(F)123 during 1943. The information has been very useful but did not expect war to break out among fellow forum members!

Kind regards,

Melvin

www.aircrewremembrancesociety.co.uk