Hptm. Kamp - IV./NJG 5

[Henofred]

Hello/Bonjour,

I am looking for more information about Hptm. Kamp who was Kommandoführer at the time elements of IV./NJG 5 had been sent in Western France Early 1943. I would like also to know the duties of Hptm. Bonow and Hptm. Fenske at the time? Were they each one Staka of a Staffel? 10./NJG 5 for the first one and 11./NJG 5 for the latter. [On a picture in the book “Die Deutsche Luftwaffe: Eine Bilddokumentation der Luftwaffe von 1935 - 1945, Zerstörer- und Nachtjagdverbände – Teil 3" Hptm. Bonow is seen with NJG 5 members at Rennes airfield probably in May 1943.]

Best regards,
Frederic

[Johannes]

Hallo FrederiWalter Erich Fenske born 22nd June 1911 was Staffelkapitän of 11./NJG 5 from 1st December 1942 until at least 28th July 1943, but mortally injured flying for 3./NJG 10 on 26th March 1944.

Not sure that Kurt Bonow ever flew for NJG 5. Certainly with 1./NJG 100 on 21st July 1943, but I think NJG 5 became NJG 100, and his rank as Hauptmann was enough.

Pretty sure that Hans-Karl Kamp born 9th January 1918 never flew for NJG 5. In fact he was the Staffelkapitän of 7./NJG 4 from 1st May 1942 until 23rd June 1943 when he became the Kommandeur of III./NJG 4.

Kind Regards

Johannes

[Henofred]

Hallo Johannes,

Thank you for your detailed answer. About Hptm. Kurt Bonow it is troubling to see him - surrounded by NJG 5 members - on a picture taken by Lt. Josef Pützkuhl (a 10./NJG 5 pilot) with the caption […] probably in May 1943, in Rennes […]. In its book “German Night Fighter Force”, Gebhard Aders gives Kurt Bonow to the NJG 5. Now, I perhaps made a mistake with Hptm. Kamp.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Martin388]

Bonow and Pützkuhl meet again in early April 1945, when the later made 4-5 training flights on the Ar234B-2 WNr.140608 (T1+GL) at Oranienburg at the operational base of Ar234NF EKdo Bonow.
Evidence/Source: Flugbuch (copy) Josef Pützkuhl sold recently via EBay

[Henofred]

Hello/bonjour Martin388,

Thank you for your answer and these additional details.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Rasmussen]

The flight log from Lt.Pützkuhl is stamped on 09.April 1943 in Rennes and signed by "Bonow, Hptm. u.Schwarmf.".

[Henofred]

Hello/Bonjour,

Great!

Thank you Rasmussen for this precious detail.

Best regards,
Frederic

[Larry deZeng]

11./NJG 5, Nachtjagdschwarm Saporoshje ans Nachtjagdstaffel/ZG 1 all appear in the KTB of Gen.Kdo. I. Flakkorps operating from airfields at Zaporozhye, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov and Stalino during the period April to July 1943. How these fit together is not defined in the documents but they may be just one unit that was expanded and renamed during that period.

L.

[Henofred]

Hello/Bonjour Larry,

It seems that only a few Schwärme (four planes per airfield – right?) were sent to the west. Rennes, Dinard, Morlaix and Nantes airfields. The rest of the Gruppe/Staffeln could very well operate on the eastern front.

Extracts below (Source: Marinegruppenkommando West der Kriegsmarine -BA-MA Freiburg.)

"January 1943: Creation of nightfighter areas (Nachtjagd-Gebieten) to protect submarine bases of Lorient and Saint-Nazaire."

"Since February 20, 1943, XII. Fliegerkorps has actived the nightfighter area "Bussard II" which extends over an 80 km radius around the Plounerin radar position (20 km east of Morlaix) with Morlaix as duty (Einsatz) airfield.”

"XII. Fliegerkorps ensures that nightfighter area "Bussard I" extending over a 60 km radius around Plaintel radar position (9 km south-southwest of Saint-Brieuc) will probably be operational around 22 to 23 February 1943. Duty (Einsatz) airfield for the 3. Schwarm of 10./NJG 5 is Dinard's."

Best regards,
Frederic

[Larry deZeng]

Hi Frederic,

Your hypothesis certainly sounds very likely. The back and forth between Luftflotte 4 and Gen.Kdo. I Flakkorps states that it was "helle Nachtjagd" and the big issue was obtaining enough 60 cm Scheinwerfer for Zaporozhye, Poltava, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov and Stalino to get the system working. I will continue to keep an eye open for any of the names you mentioned and for any mention of France.

L.