I./KG27 & Stalingrad Air Supply

[Jim P.]

I don't have the time to do it now, but based on Brian's list I can provide more info for many of these losses per Waiss' KG 27 Chronik.

But in reviewing these losses, Brian, I'm curious where you found Hptm. Thiel associated with the WNr. 8207 loss? It's not mentioned in either Waiss' or Kaiser, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kampfflieger.

18-1-43 He111 7/KG27 8207 40% damaged following fighter attack Gumrak crew of Hpt. Thiel returned by Ju52

[Jim P.]

7-12-42 He111H 4/KG27 7844 crew of Fw. Mich missing.
He 111H-6, 7844, Mnich, Fw. Paul, , II., 4., KG 27, weiße H, 1G+HM, , , 07-Dec-42, MIA with crew due to Flak during return from attack on munitions near Pitomnik., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, IV, p.162, , (Pitomnik), 100%, F, B Uffz. Johann Hass, Bf Ogefr. Karl Zähringer, Bm Ogefr. Josef Bieniek & Bs Ogefr. Rudolf Fricke, ,

3-1-43 He111 3/KG27 crew of Fw Wunderlich missing, fell to fighters coming down in Soviet territory, crew and 8 Officer passengers captured.
He 111H-6, 7896, Hasselbach, Hptm. Bernhard von (B)/Wunderlich, Fw. Willi (F), , I., 3., KG 27, , 1G+AK, , , 03-Jan-43, MIA with crew due to Luftkampf with 2 enemy fighters., Wunderlich DKiG. 3./KG 27 per loss., Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.25, , 10km südlich Kalatsch, 100%, F, Bf Uffz. Siegfried Ost, Bm Ogefr. Hans Alles & Bs Ogefr. Gerhard Althuis, ,

3-1-43 He111H6 3/KG27 4591 45% damage following fighter attack Fw. Dieter safe 2 crew inj. and 2 + location Pl.Qu. 9836.
He 111H-6, 4591, Dieter, Fw., , I., 3., KG 27, , 1G+IL, , , 04-Jan-43, Notlandung due to Luftkampf with enemy fighters. B & Bm KIA, Bf & Bs WIA., 3-Jan per loss., Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.26, , 3km nördlich Paptschino (PlQu. 98 36), 45%, F, B Uffz. Herbert Mayerhofer, Bf Ogefr. Wilhelm Rinka, Bm Ogefr. Helmut Schade & Bs Ogefr. Ernst Gröning, 16.40,

4-1-43 He111 4/KG27 landed Novo. with 25% damage following fighter attack.
He 111H-6, 7702, n.n., , II., 4., KG 27, , , , , 04-Jan-43, Enemy fighters., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.26, , Nowotscherkassk, 25%, F, , ,

7?-1-43 He111 ?/KG27 4426 crashed on T/O Novo. Ltn Vachta plus 2inj. 2k.
He 111H-6, 4426, Valta, Ltn. Franz, , I., 2., KG 27, , 1G+FK, , , 07-Jan-43, Injured in crash due to striking the ground during take-off. B & Bm killed, Bf & Bs injured., Crew from 1.Sta., Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.28, , Nowotscherkassk, 80%, F, B Ogefr. Gerhard Posselt, Bf Uffz. Hans Dressler, Bm Uffz. Heinz Heiseler & Bs Ogefr. Fridolin Edeler, 19.43,

11-1-43 He111 1/KG27 Crash landing Pitomnik 40%

11-1-43 He111H6 4/KG27 4291 crash landing Pitomnik 60% Fw Erbinghaus plus 3 inj.
He 111H-6, 4291, Ebbinghaus, Fw. Wilhelm, , II., 4., KG 27, , 1G+EN, SK+IW, , 11-Jan-43, Crew injured in Bauchlandung., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.30, , Fl.Pl. Pitomnik, 60%, F, B Uffz. Heinz Schröter, Bf Ogefr. Friedrich Böttcher & Bm Fw. Hermann Petersen, 11.30,

11-1-43 He111H6 4/KG27 4553 crashed on approach to Pitomnik Oblt
Gropp plus 2 k, 2inj.
He 111H-6, 4553, Gropp, Oblt. Albert, , II., 4., KG 27, , 1G+FP, , , 11-Jan-43, Killed in crash during landing due to striking the ground. B & Bm also killed, Bf & Bs injured., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.30, , Fl.Pl. Pitomnik, 100%, F, B Uffz. Josef Dischl, Bf Uffz. Herbert Klein, Bm Uffz. Ernst Lenniger & Bs Uffz. Ludwig Decker, 11.40,

12-1-43 He111 4/KG27 crash landing Gumrak 25%
I have no KG 27 aircraft losses for this date.

12-1-43 He111 4/KG27 7670 30% in T/O accident Gumrak in poor visibility
WNr. 7670 a KG 53 aircraft lost on 1-Jan-43.
Right aircraft?
He 111H-6, 7868?, Vollmer, Ltn. Günther, , III., 7.(14.Eis.), KG 27, , 1G+DR, , , 13-Jan-43, Injured, struck ground. B also injured., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.32, , Ort unbekannt, b, F, B Ogefr. Schenzel, Bf Uffz. Schindler , Bm Uffz. Hirschmann, ,

13-1-43 He111H6 6/KG27 4978 crashed on T/O Novo. Crew of Ofw. Thiele all killed
He 111H-6, 4978, Thiele, Ofw. Herbert, , II., 6., KG 27, , 1G+GP, , , 13-Jan-43, Crew killed in crash during take-off., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.32, , Fl.Pl. Nowoscherkassk, 100%, F, B Uffz. Karl Larsen, Bf Uffz. Hans Tunger, Bm Uffz. Kurt Hichler & Bs Uffz. Erich Burger, ,
He 111H-6, 7881, Wenig, Ltn. Gottfried, , II., 5.(14.Eis.), KG 27, , 1G+GN, , , 13-Jan-43, MIA with crew, cause unknown., Passenger from Lg.Kdo.Rostow., Lw.Kdo.Don/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.31, , (Tschertkowo), 100%, F, B Uffz. Eduard Fojtik, Bf Uffz. Rudolf Welsch, Bm Uffz. Hermann Ruttloff, Bs Uffz. Kurt Farr & Gast Reg.Insp. Heinz Schindler, ,

15-1-43 He111H6 4/KG27 4869 shot down by fighters Pitomnik area crew of Oblt. Robbing all missing
He 111H-6, 4869, Röbbing, Oblt. Hans, , II., 5., KG 27, , 1G+MN, , , 15-Jan-43, MIA with crew due to Luftkampf with enemy fighters., F DKiG. Pitomnik per loss!, Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.34, , Rubeshnyj (PlQu. 39 661/44 Ost), 100%, F, B Ogefr. Fritz Gourlt, Bf Uffz. Kurt Baradoy, Bm Ofw. Erich Sommer & Bs Uffz. Heinz Witte, ,

18-1-43 He111 7/KG27 8207 40% damaged following fighter attack Gumrak crew of Hpt. Thiel returned by Ju52
He 111H-16, 8207, n.n., , III., 7., KG 27, , , , , 18-Jan-43, Enemy fighters., Written off per Waiss., Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.38, , Gumrak, 40%, F, , ,

23-1-43 He111H6 I/KG27 7360 Crashed on T/O Novo. Oblt.Herzog and 3 killed Bs Ofw Zimmermann inj.
He 111H-6, 7360, Herzog, Oblt. Johann, , I., 1., KG 27, , 1G+HU, , , 23-Jan-43, Crew killed in crash during landing. Struck ground., Bs injured per loss?, Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.13; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.46, , Nowotscherkassk, 80%, F, B Uffz. Georg Zwink, Bf Uffz. Richard Fink, Bm Ogefr. Helmut Bellmann & Bs Ofw. Willi Zimmermann, ,

24-1-43 He111 8/KG27 8220 landed Novo. with 40% damage due to AA fire
He 111H-16, 8220, Frank, Fw., , III., 8., KG 27, , 1G+BS, , , 24-Jan-43, Bauchlandung due to Flak., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.14; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.47, , Nowotscherkassk, 40%, F, B Fw. Heinz Nowak, Bf Uffz. Tillberg & Bm Uffz. Juhre, 15.45,
24-1-43 He111 9/KG27 hit by AA landed Novo. with 30% damage Ff Oblt. Gunther Schult w-+
He 111H-16, 8192, Schuldt, Oblt. Günther, , III., 9., KG 27, , 1G+FT, NI+JX, , 24-Jan-43, WIA due to Flak. DOW 28-Jan-43. Bauchlandung., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.14; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.47, , Nowotscherkassk, 30%, F, Ogefr. Helmut Voß & Ogefr. Moser, ,

31-1-43 He111 I/KG27 4688 crashed landed Taganrog 35 %
He 111H-6, 4688, n.n., , I., 1., KG 27, , , , , 31-Jan-43, Bruchlandung., , Lfl.4/Eins.Osten, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #8)-Vol.14; Waiss, Boelcke-Archiv, V, p.51, , Taganrog, 35%, F, , ,

[Brian Bines]

Jim, I got the info. partly from previous TOCH posts one referring to the loss of Ofw. August Herber dated 23-4-11 and one referring to Mjr. Erich Thiel dated 16-8-12. I am afraid I linked 8207 to Thiel as the only He111 of his unit I could find lost on 18/19th Jan in the GQM.

Regards

Brian Bines

[Jim P.]

Thanks Brian. I'll check those earlier entries.

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Larry deZeng

Almost all missions by I. and II./KG 27 from 21 November to 30 December were combat missions with bombs and armed reconnaissance against targets along the Don Bend in the breakthrough area Kletskaya-Oblivskaya-Kalach, the Chir River, in the Buturlinovka-Kalach area, Povorino, Chigla and Talovaya railway stations and against armor spearheads and troop columns wherever found. That was on the infrequent days they could fly because of the foul weather, fog and low-lying clouds.

06.12.42: 5./KG 27 flew a He 111 from its base at Millerovo into Pitomnik, the crew remained overnight in a bunker, and the next morning flew out Gen.Maj. Friedrich Schulz (RK mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern).
07.12.42: II./KG 27 flew rations and ammunition into Pitomnik and returned with wounded.
24.12.42: I. and II./KG 27, operating from Urasov and Millerovo, flew a re-supply mission to German troops surrounded at Chertkovo/52 km N of Millerovo.
30.12.42: H. Reif, a member of 3./KG 27, wrote: “Up to now, we had not participated in the catastrophic situation at Stalingrad. We were alerted early in the morning of 30.12. to transfer immediately to Novocherkassk. We landed there around 9:40 and then took off around 13:00 for our first supply flight to Pitomnik, where we landed about 14:20. For the entire following month we bomber crews dropped no bombs; only supplies.” Along with I./ KG 27, II./KG 27 also transferred to Novocherkassk on 30 December and flew the same missions for the next month.

So, to answer your question, I. and II./KG 27 flew supply missions to Stalingrad from 30 December 1942 to the city fell on 2 February 1943.

[Source: Waiss, Walter – Chronik Kampfgeschwader Nr. 27 Boelcke, Band IV, Teil 3: 01.01.42 – 31.12.42. Aachen: Helios Verlags- und Buchvertriebsgesellschaft, 2005. Pages 149-175.

Larry that is excellent!

Thank you very much indeed for your help with my question, that is exactly the information that I was looking for.

Regards Richard.

[Richard Mills]

Jim

The loss listings are an excellent source of info, many thanks indeed for taking the time to put the data up for all to see.

I must admit that the losses seem light for I./KG27 compared to their fellow KG27 Gruppen, with only 2 listed for 3./KG27, the unit I am most interested in during the Stalingrad airift.

Thanks again, Richard.

[Jim P.]

Richard, I only matched losses with Brian's list. There may be more.

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Richard,

On 24 December 1942 VIII. Fliegerkorps, to which Kampfgeschwader 27 was subordinated, was ordered to postpone supply operations to attack in front of Tatsinskaya and Morosovskaya with all available forces.

On 27 December 1942 a He 111 of K.G. 27 flew early morning reconnaissance in anticipation of a night bombing operation with a target 50 miles due west of Chernyshevsk. This raid was carried out by at least fourteen aircraft, but whilst it was underway K.G. 27's base was attacked by ten Soviet aircraft. K.G. 27 aircraft operating included: 1G + AH, LH, AK, GK, EK, HK, BL, KL, BM, UM, BN, ON, AP, BP.

Between 08:04 and 09:30 on 8 January 1943 six aircraft of I./K.G. 27 were operating a few miles north of Pavlovka and twenty miles east of Voroshilovgrad, presumably attacking the enemy between Sal and Don. Three more He 111s of I. and II./K.G. 27 were operating between 15:58 and 17:38, presumably on the same operations.

At 16:00 on 8 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was ordered to continue to supply 6th Army by all available means. Another order on that day stated that "VIII. Fliegerkorps will carry out the supplying of the 6th Army with all formations."

On 18 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was to continue to supply 6th Army with all resources, with all He 111s to land at Gumrak airfield.

On 21 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was to flying long-range bombing to support 6th Army, and to operate east of Kamensk in the event of bad weather.

On 23 January 1943 eight aircraft of K.G. 55 and three of K.G. 27 (including 1G + UL and EN) flew operations probably in support of 6th Army at Stalingrad between 08:20 and 15:33.

On the night of 27/28 January 1943 at least eleven aircraft of K.G. 55 and six of K.G. 27 (including 1G + IH, JL, BD) carried out bombing operations between 15:10 and 00:07, probably in the Stalingrad area.

On 29 January 1943 the primary task of VIII. Fliegerkorps was to supply the 6th Army at Stalingrad.

PS - Thanks for your recent email. I'll reply to it as soon as I can.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Jim P.

Richard, I only matched losses with Brian's list. There may be more.

Jim

Many thanks for that, looking at the small number of 3./KG27 losses, I did guess that there were almost certainly more to be had!

If anyone is able to provide details of the 3./KG27 losses in that period I would be very grateful.

Regards Richard.

[Richard Mills]

Originally Posted by Andrew Arthy

Hi Richard,

On 24 December 1942 VIII. Fliegerkorps, to which Kampfgeschwader 27 was subordinated, was ordered to postpone supply operations to attack in front of Tatsinskaya and Morosovskaya with all available forces.

On 27 December 1942 a He 111 of K.G. 27 flew early morning reconnaissance in anticipation of a night bombing operation with a target 50 miles due west of Chernyshevsk. This raid was carried out by at least fourteen aircraft, but whilst it was underway K.G. 27's base was attacked by ten Soviet aircraft. K.G. 27 aircraft operating included: 1G + AH, LH, AK, GK, EK, HK, BL, KL, BM, UM, BN, ON, AP, BP.

Between 08:04 and 09:30 on 8 January 1943 six aircraft of I./K.G. 27 were operating a few miles north of Pavlovka and twenty miles east of Voroshilovgrad, presumably attacking the enemy between Sal and Don. Three more He 111s of I. and II./K.G. 27 were operating between 15:58 and 17:38, presumably on the same operations.

At 16:00 on 8 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was ordered to continue to supply 6th Army by all available means. Another order on that day stated that "VIII. Fliegerkorps will carry out the supplying of the 6th Army with all formations."

On 18 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was to continue to supply 6th Army with all resources, with all He 111s to land at Gumrak airfield.

On 21 January 1943 VIII. Fliegerkorps was to flying long-range bombing to support 6th Army, and to operate east of Kamensk in the event of bad weather.

On 23 January 1943 eight aircraft of K.G. 55 and three of K.G. 27 (including 1G + UL and EN) flew operations probably in support of 6th Army at Stalingrad between 08:20 and 15:33.

On the night of 27/28 January 1943 at least eleven aircraft of K.G. 55 and six of K.G. 27 (including 1G + IH, JL, BD) carried out bombing operations between 15:10 and 00:07, probably in the Stalingrad area.

On 29 January 1943 the primary task of VIII. Fliegerkorps was to supply the 6th Army at Stalingrad.

Andrew

Thank you very much indeed for the additional information!

I must admit that it is fascinating reading about the Stalingrad airlift, I hope that a comprehensive book on the subject will be released one day.

Regards Richard.