Ju88 losses 1943 Med/Hs126 losses Yuoslavia 1944

[Brian]

Hi guys

I would appreciate details of the following Ju88 losses
in the Med 1943. Crews/fates/markings etc.

9/1/43 III/KG76
10/1/43 1(F)/122
14/2/43 1(F)/122
4/3/43 I/KG54

Also: Spits claimed a Fi156 (on 22/5/44) and two Hs126s on 26/5/44 over Yugoslavia. Any details of losses?

Cheers
Brian

[Brian Bines]

KG54 book has 4-3-1943 Ju88A-4 Trop. 141112 B3+BK 2/54 Motorbrand 100% by Marsalla. Crew Absprung Ff Uffz Rudolf Fischer gefallen - Schiffe und Hafen Philippville, aircraft damaged by Flaktreffer. On the same day Ju88A-4 141068 of 1/54 10% in crashlanding at Catania due to Flak damage crew unhurt.

[RT]

For the Hs126, sorry not ordonned..

25 5 44 Bosnia Nordostw, F J 249,squ, claim HS126
25 5 44 Bosnia Nordostw, F J 249,squ, claim HS126
25 5 44 Bosnia Nordostw, F J 249,squ, claim HS126
25 5 44 Bosnia Nordostw, F J 249,squ, claim HS126
25 5 44 Bihac FP A FJ spit HS126
26 5 44 Bihac raum Jugoslawien A FJ spit HS126
26 5 44 Bihac raum Jugoslawien A FJ spit HS126
26 5 44 Bihac raum Jugoslawien A FJ spit HS126
26 5 44 Bihac raum Jugoslawien A FJ spit HS126
26 5 44 Krajle b, A FJ spit HS126
29 5 44 Agram Raum Lutfangriff HS126 3194 Q6+GX 100
25 5 44 Bihac FP Tiefangriff Spit HW126 100

Remi

[Larry deZeng]

Below are translations from the Oberbefehlshaber Südost daily reports for the dates specified:

22 May 1944
Allied aircraft attacked Vrnograc and Slunj. A number of houses were badly damaged. (LXIX.AK daily report dated 23.5.44)
Numerous fighter patrols, with attacks on Kavaja, the bridge at Cetinje, Rogozina, Klis (5 km northeast of Split), R-R station at Drnis. Other fighters patroled roads in the Bihać area (here a German medevac Fi 156 was shot down). 8 Partisan supply sorties, some of which were over Kraljevo.
Own Luftwaffe: normal reece. Armed recce and Sehlachtfl. employment in Croatia, especially in the vicinity of Slunj. Air supply of own troops in the Sarajevo area. 2 mines destroyed by Mausi Ju 52s in the Danube between Pancevo and Budapest. (OBSO daily report 23.5.44)
[Comment: the medevac Fi 156 belonged to Sanitätsflugbereitschaft 5].


26 May 1944
Allied F-Bs destroyed 3 trucks NNO of Sibenik, wounding 2 men. 14 Lightenings bombed and strafed Zemunik (airfield?); 1 man wounded, but other damage not yet reported. In the 392.ID area, Allied F-Bs attacked assault boats between Rab and Senj, killing 1 officer. In the 373.ID area, there were 3 low level attacks and 1 heavy bombing attack on Bihać. 1 Hs 126 was shot down. (314:562/633). 15th AF 248 bombed troop concentrations at Bihać.
[Comment: the Hs 126 could have belonged to any of these units which were all operating in that exact area on this date: Nahaufklärungsstaffel Kroatien (had 15 Hs 126s in May and lost 13 of them to enemy action), III./Luftlandegeschwader 1 (had 23 Hs 126s in May and lost quite a few of them but the exact number is not known), 1./Schleppgruppe 1 (had 3 Hs 126s in May; losses unknown). However, in his fine article on "Rösselsprung" (“Der Luftwaffen-Einsatz beim ‘Unternehmen Rösselsprung’” in Luftwaffe im Focus 2/2003, pp.37-43), Georg Schlaug states the following: “On 26.5.1944, 1./NSGr. 7 lost two He 46s to ‘enemy aircraft fire’. The slow high-wing aircraft probably fell prey to Spitfires of 249 Squadron, which claimed to have shot down several “Hs 126” on that day, the pilots presumably mistaking the relatively unknown He 46 for the Hs 126.”

Numerous low level attacks throughout the entire day in the Bihać area, with several directed specifically at the airfield there, including one at noon by 36 4-engine enemy bombers (4 a/c totally destroyed, barracks totally destroyed, runway no longer usable until repaired). Harrassing attacks with bombs on Durazzo harbor. 50 Partisan supply sorties over Macedonia and the Bihać area.
Own Luftwaffe: armed recce and Sch1achtflieger employment in support of "Rösselsprung" with 201 aircraft. Fighters were used to escort our assault aircraft in the Drvar area, but without encountering any of the enemy. Lw. aircraft provided supplies by air drop to the SS parachute battalion. (OBSO daily report 27.5.44)

Bletchley Park Signals Intelligence Summary:
26.5.44 (Sunset #572): "For short-term operations against Tito's forces planned to begin 25 May, Luftwaffe in Zagreb area temporarily reinforced by 30 SEF from Austria, 30 SEF from Niš area and 30 Ju 87's from south Russian Front. Transfer intended to last about 5 days. Airfields at Bihać and Banja Luka expecting arrival of reinforcements. Gen.d.Flieger Fiebig, CG of Lw.Kdo.Südost, arrived Zagreb on 24 May and flew on to Bihać following day. Dispositions suggest intention to mop up Dalmatian hinterland with a view to forestalling Allied landings on Dalmatian coast, which were anticipated on 17 May after recce had established shipping concentrations in Bari."

HTH,

Larry

[kaki3152]

Larry,

The 30 SEF from Niš mnetioned above,was this II/JG-51?

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by kaki3152

Larry,
The 30 SEF from Niš mnetioned above,was this II/JG-51?

IV./JG 27 brought up from Skolpje* and operating from Zagreb-Lucko, and
II./JG 51 brought up from Nis and operating from Zirkle.

*Oops! I didn't read my own notes carefully enough. IV./JG 27 had been at Graz-Thalerhof, moved to Vat/13 km NE of Szombathely in western Hungary, and then on 24 May made a quick transfer to Zagreb-Lucko.

[Nick Beale]

Also you could look at: http://www.ghostbombers.com/NSG9/buss.html and http://www.ghostbombers.com/NSG9/249sqn.html

[Brian]

Hi guys

Thanks for the gen. The claims to which I refer in May 1944 were made by 253 Squadron, whereas mention is made only of those made by 249 Squadron.

Did both squadrons claim with regard to the losses shown?

Cheers
Brian

[Tomislav Haramincic]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

IV./JG 27 brought up from Skolpje* and operating from Zagreb-Lucko, and
II./JG 51 brought up from Nis and operating from Zirkle.

Hello Larry,

Just to add a small correction. It should be Skopje (today in FYR Macedonia) and Zirkle is probabley Cerklje (today in Slovenia).

best regards,
Tomislav

[Larry deZeng]

Yes, Tomislav, there are several spellings for both. I normally use the ones that were in use during World War II because of the need to standardize on one spelling or another to avoid confusion on the part of others. European place names are enough to drive a person nuts because of the different spellings. No matter how you spell it, someone - usually a nationalist - gets pissed off, especially when it's in eastern Europe. The Yalta Agreement affected so many, many places that it left bitter, hateful memories that are still fresh today in the minds of those impacted. During World War II, S K O P L J E was the spelling in use and the one that appears on the British General Staff maps and Army Map Service editions. That's also the spelling used by the Germans and the spelling used by the Vojnoistorijski institut in Beograd in the former Yugoslavia (to 1991). Today, it appears to be S K O P J E as you said. I am sure fervent Macedonian nationalists would like to kill anyone who spells it Skoplje!

Cheers,

Larry