Luftwaffe bombings of Vis island in 1944.

[danijel.frka@gmail.com]

I am researching the WW2 history of Vis island in the Adriatic, which was the only Allied-held territory in the Adriatic in 1944. I am preparing a book on Vis airfield and I would need some help regarding Luftwaffe bombings of this island. These bombings occured on 24th March, 28th March and 11th May 1944, and I would like to find out which German units were involved, which aircraft etc. As a matter of fact I would appreciate any details regarding these raids on Vis.

[hangar300]

Maybe it will be here:
http://www.znaci.net/
http://www.znaci.net/00003/7xx.php?bk=804

Kris

[Laurent Rizzotti]

From the translated War Diary of the German Naval Staff Operations Division, March 1944 (https://archive.org/details/wardiarygermann551944germ):

"During the night of 23 March, 36 Ju 88s attacked the town and harbor of Vis and recognized good bombing in the town and port area. Two planes were lost." (page 356)
Our Luftwaffe losses specialists may have the details of these losses.

"During the night of 28 March, intruder missions were reported from the area of Venice - Padua - Milano - Bologna - Forli. Bombs were dropped on the main station of Milano. Thirty-eight planes of Ju 88 type attacked Vis in this night." (page 429)

The corresponding document for May 1944 is not online.

I have no OOB for Luftflotte 2 in March 1944 but in May it had three Ju 88 Gruppen (I./LG 1, II./LG 1 and II./KG 76). To send 36-38 aircraft at this time of the war required at least two and probably three of these groups.