Tracking an unknown Recce-unit during the Western Campaign

[Heuser]

Dear all,

I recently stumbled across a photo album from a member of an unknown Nahaufklärungstaffel during the Battle of France. There are only a very few photos with visible a/c, all without any visible markings.

The basic data are:
-Operations in the Saar palatinate in Autum 1939
-Attached to 6th Army in the Masstricht area during "Fall Gelb"
-later attached to 4th Army for operations in Flanders.
-Attached to 6th Army again during the beginning of "Fall Rot"
-Attached to 9th Army during the battles in the Marne/Seine area.
-and finally to 12th Army for operations in the Côte-d’Or and Isère areas.

Mentioned operational airfields:
-Unknown, between Tongeren and Maastricht
-Boneffe/Bounéfe in Belgium
-Verzy/Marne in France

Mentioned Officers:
-Hptm. Rhumpter
-Lt. Baulle

My "favorites" are 4. (H)/22 or 1.(H)/23...

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Heuser

[Xerumbe]

I think this unit could be Aufklärungsgruppe 123 (Stab., 1. or 2.)

I find also : BAULE, Rudolf. 01.11.41 Oblt., 1.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 23 MIA - Hs 126 B-1 vic Golodaevka. 20.12.41 Oblt.,
(Beobachter) awarded the Ehrenpokal.

Is it the same man ? Not the same ranking ...

[Jaap Woortman]

Heuser,

This survey of the Koluft in Heeresgruppe B I have made in the past for my own research.
It's the situation at May 10th, 1940 unless mentioned otherwise.
Maybe this can help to find the unit you are looking for.

Jaap

[Heuser]

Dear Xerumbe and dear Jaap,

thank you very much for your assistance!

Xerumbe: "My" Feldwebel belonged to a (H)-Staffel with Hs 126; but he was posted to 5.(F)/123 during the later stages of war.

Thanks for the hint to Lt. Baule - a possibility...

Jaap: your survey is very interesting! Now I am sure that the unit must have been 4.(H)/22 or 1.(H)/23, as only these units operated under 1. Armee of Heeresgruppe C in the Saar palatinate in September 1939 and were attached to the 6. Armee of Heeresgruppe B for "Fall Gelb" in May 1940.

One of the pics in the photo album shows the wreck of a 1.(H)/41 a/c in Waremme on 12th of May (Crew Poller/Meyer), captioned with "...one of us.", but I belive this means rather "a German a/c" than "an a/c of our unit". The few other pics of crashed or damaged Henschels are not of great help, as there is neither a date nor a location available.

Unfortunatley I do not own this albums, so I can't post these photos here...

Kind regards,

Heuser

[edwest2]

Let's start with 1.(H)/23


http://www.asisbiz.com/Luftwaffe/aufklg23.html


4.(H)/22 -- scroll down


https://www.asisbiz.com/Luftwaffe/aufklg22.html




Additional information:

http://www.asisbiz.com/Luftwaffe/kol6.html



From an old post here:

25/05/1940
Arc-Wattripont airfield Belgium
He-126
4.(H) 22
Oblt Niggel H ( KIA )

More detail:

4.(H)/22 Henschel Hs126B-1. Badly damaged by fighters near Courtrai and abandoned over Wattripont airstrip, south-west of Ronse, 8.15 a.m. Pilot baled out unhurt, BO Oberlt Hans Niggel (Staffelbildoffizier) killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.




Ed