Ju 52. Any further details of KG z.b.V. S?

[peter.werry]

Larry deZeng has kindly given details of S-11, but Micheal Holm lists two others S-7 & S-13 without any further details. I assume that they were formed similarly to S-11, but perhaps Larry or others can confirm and perhaps add more details.
Thanks in anticipation,
Regards Peter

[Seaplanes]

To strengthen the transport capasity in the area of Oberbefehlshaber Süd, a total of five new transport units were formed on a temporary basis and for the first time reported on 10. November 1942. They were:

Transportgruppe z.b.V. S.7 (Neapel) assigned tactical code letter "N"
Transportgruppe z.b.V. S.11 (Reggio) assigned tactical code letter "R"
Transportgruppe z.b.V. S.13 (Brindisi) tactical code letter not known by me
Transportgruppe z.b.V. Frankfurt a.O. assigned tactical code letter "K"
Transportgruppe z.b.V. Wittstock assigned tactical code letter "W"

Most aircraft carried normal Stammkennzeichen on the fuselage and a tactiocal code letter on the fin. This tactical code was followed by the letter
"S" for Gruppenstab, and a number indicating the Staffel, 1,2,3 or 4.

It seems that the three units Neapel, Reggio and Brindisi disbaned at the
end of 1942 or early January 1943. Frankfurt and Wittstock lastet a couple of months longer.


I remember vagely that an article on this subject was published in the German Magazine "Jet & Prop" some years ago.

[Larry deZeng]

Here is all I have, Peter:

KGr. z.b.V. S-7
Kampfgruppe z.b.V. S-7
(Unit Code: ?)

also as: KGr. z.b.V. S.7

Formation. (Nov 42)
Formed on or about 9 November 1942 as part of KG z.b.V. "S" in response to the Allied invasion of North Africa and the German need to open a front in Tunisia. The Gruppe had a Gruppenstab and four Staffeln (1. – 4.). A few of the Ju 52s assigned to 3. Staffel came from KGr. z.b.V. 105 while the remainder bore factory codes and mainly came from various FFS C and BFS schools particularly FFS C 7 at Finsterwalde.

Central Mediterranean. (Nov 42 - Jan 43)
Nov 42: transferred immediately to Reggio di Calabria/12 km SE of Messina and assigned to KG z.b.V "S" for airlift operations to Tunisia. Shortly after arrival it was reassigned to KG z.b.V. “N” without a change of station, retaining Reggio as its permanent base until it was disbanded, although most of its transport missions were staged through airfields in western Sicily.
12 Nov 42: Ju 52 force landed in the sea off Trapani/W Sicily, 100%, crew safe.
13 Nov 42: Ju 52 (C6+AZ) reported missing on flight from Trapani to Tunis, 100%, 5 MIA. (Possibly an aircraft formerly belonging to KGr. z.b.V. 600).
19 Nov 42: Ju 52 reported by FFS C 7 bombed on the ground at Tunis, 100%, 2 WIA.
…………………….plus 11 more loss entries...………………….
Kommandeur:
Maj. Josef Grons (c. 9 Nov 42 - 11 Dec 42)
Maj. Herbert Heyer (12 Dec 42 - c. 31 Jan 43)


KGr. z.b.V. 13
Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 13
(Unit Code: ?)

Formation doubtful. The only reference to this Gruppe is in F.Morzik-German Air Force Airlift Operations, page 405. No mention of it has been found elsewhere. According to Morzik, it was ordered formed on or about 8 November 1942 as part of the provisional transport force assembled to haul troops, equipment and supplies from S Italy and Sicily to Tunisia and then disbanded in December. In all probability, the Gruppe’s formation was never completed or perhaps even started. The intended Kommandeur was a Hptm. or Maj. Müller. No entries for it were found in the GenQu.(6.Abt.) Loss Reports. Perhaps someone know more.


L.

[peter.werry]

Many thanks to 'Seaplanes' & Larry for their informative information. This fills in one of many missing details in my "Luftwaffe Transport Units" file. It is much appreciated.
Warm regards
Peter