nightfighter doing recce?

[jim norton]

hi,

on 27./28.9.1944 10./njg 3 lost two ju 88 g-1 (d5+fv and d5+pv). both were flying recce. does anybody know what they were looking for?

all the best
jim

[Nick Beale]

Security recce over the North Sea, i.e. looking for Allied shipping that might be carrying a landing force.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Interesting Nick

But why night fighters and not regular recce 88s? Nothing available?

Did the German High Command fear another Western European front at this stage?

Cheers
Stig

[Carsten Petersen]

Hi Jim
Where do you have that information from ??
Carsten

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Interesting Nick

But why night fighters and not regular recce 88s? Nothing available?

Did the German High Command fear another Western European front at this stage?

Cheers
Stig

I don’t have my references to hand but reconnaissance Ju 88s also carried out the job: it seems to have depended on who had any fuel. Fear of seaborne landing persisted to the last (ditto in Italy).

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Nick

Cheers
Stig

[jim norton]

hi,

thanks for you replies. i´ve heard, that some of the nightfighters should also look after der v-1. could that be true?

@ carsten: the lossreport says sea-recce for the crew of d5+fv. but i didn´t heard of it before. i thought this would the job of regular recce-units...

all the best
jim

[Carsten Petersen]

It was quite common for a squadron to search for their own airplanes that went missing over the sea. Besides that, I have nightfighters from NJG 3 that took part in weather recce over the North Sea in the winter of 1944/45. Normally pre-recce before bigger allied penetration of German air space, but to get an idea of the weather over the North Sea. It was normally very experienced crews that participated in these tasks.

[jim norton]

hi carsten,
yes, i have heard about the rescue-missions for own unit-members. what about the v-1? is it possible, that nightfighters hat to take a look after these missles?
all the best
jim

[RodM]

Like Nick, I don't have the references on hand but IV./NJG3 carried out shipping recce over the North Sea circa August - September 1944 because the German High Command believed the Allies may mount a seaborne invasion along the northern coast. In any event, the Allied offensive was around Arnhem...

I know the task is covered in ULTRA decrypts from the period.

Cheers

Rod