Stab./KG26 - Page 2 - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

Seaplanes · #11 23rd March 2009, 10:11

The Stabsstaffel K.G. 26 left two aircraft at Vaernes airfield at the time of capitulation, Ju 188A-3 W.Nr. 190324 and He 111H-6 W.Nr. 7256. In addition III./K.G.26 left behind five Ju 88A-3 at Vaernes, W.Nr. 160064, 190332, 180475, 190311 and 190322.

Stig Jarlevik · #12 23rd March 2009, 21:43

Sorry Seaplanes

Can you repeat the TYPE left behind by III./KG 26?
They sound to me like Ju 188A-3 and not Ju 88A-3. I guess you missed the digit 1?

Cheers
Stig

edNorth · #13 23rd March 2009, 22:10

Thanks Seaplanes. Greatly appreciated. But huum... The Stabstaffel/KG 26 had 1H+?F in their codes (eight Ju 88 A-4´s taken on strength 10.44, one mishap <non-enemy-action in December>, seven remaining on strength 31.12.44), vs Stab./KG 26 presumably used 1H+?A (as seen on photograph) - two Ju 188 A-3 known still on strenght 31.12.44. The seven Stabstaffel/KG 26 codes indentified so far are:

1H+AF Ju 88 A-4 CRD 09.02.45 Norway (142497)
1H+BF Ju 88 A-4 DIT 02.05.45 off NE-Iceland (not verified; NOT 5028)
1H+CF Ju 88 A-4 MIS 06.02.45 Norway (JW.64) (821266)
1H+DF Ju 88 A-4 MIS 06.02.45 Norway (JW.64) (140291)
1H+FF Ju 88 A-4 SUR., pic./known at Lubeck? post 05.45 (unk)
1H+JF Ju 88 A-4 CRD 09.02.45 Norway (301532)
1H+KF Ju 88 A-4 CRD 09.02.45 Norway (140735)

So you must be referring to Stab./KG 26 (not Stabstaffel/KG 26 as in text)?

Best regards
ed

Seaplanes · #14 23rd March 2009, 22:40

The other planes left behind were all Ju 188A-3 of course.

anderbe · #15 23rd March 2009, 22:43

Thanks a lot for that info Ed and Seaplanes. As you can see there was a few Ju88's and 188 at the dump at the end of the war. At least one A-4 with w.nr starting with 801.

Anders

edNorth · #16 23rd March 2009, 23:18

Very interesting photo anderbe. This at left was possibly Ju 88 A-4 or A-17 801610 and (unk) 1H+FN next behind to that. Ju 88 or 188 in foreground is likely coded +G . Now knowing of these two photos of KG 26 planes at Vaernes, possibly there are others too - just waiting to be discovered! Many thanks.

edNorth · #17 23rd March 2009, 23:22

I might add, nearly all Ju 88 / 188 left at Vaernes must show in that second photo. I counted at least 10 or 11.

Doug Stankey · #18 24th March 2009, 05:10

It will take more than a week to make updates for the commanders of all the units but below is my new compilation for those of KG 26. I will make and post the other units as they progress. It will take a while.

The following is the latest determination of commanders within KG 26 based on the current version of our Luftwaffe officer career database. While it remains incomplete and not totally resolved, it does represent the “best guess” based on the available information at this time.

Comparing this against the commanders listed in “Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe”, there are few changes, none of them major.

Stab/KG 26
Kommodore: ( 1. formation)
Gen.Maj. Hans Siburg (1 May 1939 – c. 28 September 1939).
Oberst Robert Fuchs (RK) (29 September 1939 – June 1940)
Obstlt. Karl Freiherr von Wechmar (July 1940 – 19 November 1940) KIA
Oberst Robert Fuchs (RK) (c. 20 November 1940 – December 1940) –acting
Obstlt. Benno Kosch (RK) (25 November 1940 – February 1941) - acting?
Oberst Alexander Holle (December 1940 – June 1941?) acting, concurrently appt Fl.Fü. Nordost

Kommodore: (2. formation)
Oberst Ernst-August Roth (DKG) (2 December 1941 – 2 February 1942).

Kommodore: (3. formation)

Oberst Karl Stockmann (c. 15 November 1942 – 31 January 1943).
Obstlt. Werner Klümper (RK) (1 March 1943 – November 1944).
Major Wilhelm Stemmler (DKG, RK) (November 1944 – January 1945)
Obstlt. Georg Teske (DKG, RK) (February 1945 – 8 May 1945).

I./KG 26.

Kommandeur: I./KG 26 (1. formation 05.39 - 07.44)

Major Walter Loebel (1 May 1939 – September 1939)
Obstlt. Hans Ahlefeld (1 October 1939 – 10 April 1940) MIA
Obstlt. Herman Busch (c. April 1940 – 1 March 1942)
Obstlt. Kurt Dobratz (14 May 1941 - ?) acting?
Hptm. Bernd “Bert” Eicke (March 1942 – July 1942) –acting
Major Werner Klümper (DKG) (July 1942 – 31 January 1943).
Hptm. Herbert Vater (1 March 1943 – July 1943) - provisional
Hptm. Klaus Toball (July 1943 – August 1943) -acting
Hptm. Helmut von Rabenau (August 1943 – 11 November 1943) MIA
Hptm. Joachim Müller (c. 12 November 1943 – c. 20 July 1944).

Kommandeur: I./KG 26 (2. formation 07.44 – 02.45)

Major Willi Sölter (RK) (c. 20 July 1944 – February 1945).

II./KG 26
Kommandeur: II./KG 26 (1. formation 05.39– 05.45)
Obstlt. Joachim von Busche (1 May 1939 – October 1939)
Obstlt. Hans Hefele (October 1939 – 3 April 1940) POW
Major Martin Vetter (RK) (6 April 1940 – 20 August 1940)
Major Eckard Christian (21 August 1940 – 31 December 1940).
Major Helmuth Bertram (1 January 1941 – 17 January 1941) POW –acting
Hptm. Robert Kowalewski (RK) (18 January 1941 – 14 May 1941).
Obstlt. Horst Beyling (DKG) (15 May 1941 – 11 February 1943)
Major Georg Teske (DKG) (12 February 1943 – 10 August 1944)
Major Otto-Friedrich Werner (11 August 1944 – 2 December 1944)
Hptm. Rudi Schmidt (DKG, RK) (3 December 1944 – 8 May 1945).

III./KG 26

Kommandeur: III./KG 26 (1. formation 11.39 – 02.40)

Major Viktor von Lossberg (1 November 1939 – 31 May 1940)
Major Karl Wolfien (1 June 1940 – February 1941)

Kommandeur: III./KG 26 (2. formation) (02.40 – 12.41)

Major Viktor von Lossberg (February 1941 – 30 August 1941).
Major Waldemar Lerche (1 September 1941 – October 1941) –acting
Major Franz Böhme (October 1941 – 15 December 1941)

Kommandeur: III./KG 26 (3. formation 12.41 – 05.42)
Obstlt. Hellmut Schalke (15 December 1941 (15 January 1942?) – 31 May 1942)

Kommandeur: III./KG 26 (4. formation 06.42 – 05.45)

Hptm. Ernst-Heinrich Thomsen (DKG) (June 1942 – 21 July 1942) –accident
Hptm. Heinrich Möller (22 July 1942 – September 1942) - acting.
Major Karl-Ferdinand Hielscher (September 1942 – November 1942)
Major Horst Kayser (November 1942 – 19 December 1942) MIA
Hptm. Klaus-Wilhelm Nocken (DKG, RK) (1 March 1943 (20 December 1942?) – February 1944) – provisional
Major Ernst-Heinrich Thomsen (DKG, RK) (February 1944 – October 1944)
Major Wolrad Harseim (October 1944 – 8 May 1945).

IV./KG 26
Kommandeur:
Hptm. Fritz Gehring (7 October 1941 – February 1944)
Major Klaus-Wilhelm Nocken (DKG, RK) (18 February 1944 – 6 September 1944)

LdZ
DGS

ju55dk · #19 24th March 2009, 07:38

Hi Doug.

A small correction to this:

Kommandeur: I./KG 26 (2. formation 07.44 – 02.45)

Major Willi Sölter (RK) (c. 20 July 1944 – February 1945).

I/KG 26 did still exist may 1945, with Sölter in command, stationed at FlH. Vejle/DK.

Junker

Stig Jarlevik · #20 24th March 2009, 21:12

Doug

Thanks for the new KG 26 list!

Since your list of Roth career was the triggering point for my update request, I am still a bit puzzled regarding the man.

In your career description you say he was appointed Fliegerführer Sizilien on 11.12.1941 until he went back to KG 26 again on 13.1.1942. Was it possible for him to have both posts at the same time?

Junker
When you update I./KG 26 you say Sölter was commander up to Feb.45.
Immediately below you state that the unit existed in MAY 1945, still with Sölter in comdand. Both cannot be correct, unless you have someone else replacing Sölter in Feb 1945 and have him re-appointed later during the year. Comments please.

Cheers
Stig