Unit ID on He45 or 46 Photos for Polish Campaign

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Trying to ID a batch of photos: they show He45 or 46s (I don't know the difference) during the Polish Campaign. The only code that is really clear is +DM, which may have a "?2" as the unit code. Obviously this is the 4th Staffel of some unit. Does anybody have any ideas on which recon unit this was?

One of these may be a color profile a/c for the EOE PC book, if we can ID the unit.

Thanx,

[Don Pearson]

Larry,

I have an OOB for the Polish campaign showing He 45/46 with 4.(H)/21, 4.(H)/12, 4.(H)/23, and 4.(H)/31.
I found also that (H)/21 used the code P2.

HTH

Don

[Larry Hickey]

Don,

I've studied these photos under strong magnification and the code on them could be C2+CM & C2+DM. Does the C2 code relate to any of the above units?

Regards,

[Andy Mitchell]

Larry,


C2 = Aufkl.Gr. (H) 41

See Luftwaffedata Wiki

[Don Pearson]

Originally Posted by Andy Mitchell

Larry,


C2 = Aufkl.Gr. (H) 41

See Luftwaffedata Wiki

The chart I referenced shows 3(H)/41 flying that type, but as per Rosch, 4 staffel was not formed until 1940.

Don

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

With the location of another photo we now know that these aircraft were coded 6K+CM and 6K+DM. They still look like they are associated with the Polish Campaign, so either Rosch is wrong about when this unit was formed or these photos date to the Western Campaign of 1940. Don't know which is right. The codes on these He45/46s have been repainted over another unit's codes, which is why they are so difficult to read. The 4th staffel code of "M" is very clear, however, on one of the photos. No doubt about it.

Soooo. Any way to date 4.(H)/21 photos on He45/46 aircraft back to 9.39, or do these just have to be from the May-June Western Campaign of 1940? One has just landed with what appears to be flak damage, so these were taken during a period of combat ops. I await the verdict.

Regards,

[Don Pearson]

6K would be 4(H)./23

[Larry Hickey]

Don,

That works! Now we've got another AGr Staffel nailed for a color profile. Thanks!

[Don Pearson]

[quote=Larry Hickey;116176]Hello,

Trying to ID a batch of photos: they show He45 or 46s (I don't know the difference) quote]

BTW, He 45 had an inline engine and a straight winged biplane, while the He 46 was radial-engined with a swept wing.

Don

[Larry Hickey]

Don,

THanks for that note. I should now be able to tell these apart in my photos.

Regards,