KGr z.b.V. 300

[AndreasB]

This unit was established in late 1941 with 50 Ju 52, and on 4 December 1941 had 35 of these serviceable, based in Tatoi.

I have looked up the usual sites through Google, but was wondering if anyone had more information on it, such as where the planes came from, confirmation of reason for establishing it (I suspect emergency requirements in North Africa), losses, during late 1941/early1942, and other interesting items.

Many thanks in advance.

All the best

Andreas

[byron-]

Established 23.11.41 at Hörsching, End 11.41-01.42 Tatoi, Transports to Afrika
03.12.41 Arrived airfield Tatoi: Stabsstaffel with 10 Ju 52, 1.St. with 11 Ju 52, 2.St. with 8 Ju 52, 4.St. with 10 Ju 52

[Larry deZeng]

Here is a little more to add to what Byron provided:

KGr. z.b.V. 300
Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 300
(Unit Code: ?)

Formation. (Nov 41)
Formed 23 November 1941 at Hörsching/12 km SW of Linz in N Austria on the orders of Chef des Ausbildungswesens/Ob.d.L. for service in North Africa. Initially equipped with 53 Ju 52 transports, most of which came from the multi-engine training schools.

North Africa, South Russia, Germany. (Dec 41 - Apr 43)
1 Dec 41: entire Gruppe transferred from Hörsching to Athens-Tatoi on or about this date and assigned to X. Fliegerkorps. On arrival, KGr.z.b.V. 300 began flying fuel, supplies and personnel to Derna/Libya with intermediate refueling stops on Crete.
3 Dec 41: in addition to those listed below, the Gruppe lost a further 4 Ju 52s in crashes and another to a fighter at Athens-Tatoi, Athens-Kalamaki, Derna, Benina/Libya and Crete between 3 and 18 December.
8 Dec 41: 2 Ju 52s bombed on the ground at Fp. Derna during an enemy air attack, both 100%, 1 WIA.
11 Dec 41: Ju 52 (TA+QA) reported missing in the Derna area, 100%, 3 MIA.
12 Dec 41: Ju 52 (KB+HO) believed shot down near Heraklion (Iraklion)/Crete, 100%, 4 MIA.
18 Dec 41: Ju 52 crashed at Athens-Tatoi, 100%, 4 KIA.
4 Jan 42: 2. Staffel alerted for movement to Kiev – Post Volinski in Ukraine, and elements of the Staffel began arriving there on 17 January.
17 Jan 42: Ju 52 damaged while taking off from Kiev – Post Volinski, 40%.
10 Feb 42: the rest of the Gruppe moved from Hörsching to Kraków/S Poland and then left there on 11 February for Kiev – Post Volinski.
................etc., etc., etc.

L.

[AndreasB]

That's brilliant, many thanks to both of you. Fairly brutal loss rate, 9/53 in just two weeks.

All the best

Andreas

[byron-]

...and some more losses during a very short time

25.11.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 5142) 25% Rollschaden Kastelli,
03.12.41 Ju 52 (VB+U1) 25% Zusammenstoss mit Lkw bei der Landung Iraklion
03.12.41 Ju 52 (BV+OW, W.Nr. 7348) ? bei Landung auf Kreta beschädigt, Besatzung unverletzt,
03.12.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 5316) 100% Bruchlandung, Besatzung unverletzt, Fl.Pl. Derna,
05.12.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 7277) ? Notlandung bei Chania,
07.12.41 Ju 52 (CE+GB) 100% Absturz ins Meer 8 km NO Maleme,
08.12.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 7339), und (3139) FF. Ofw. Walter Wobst (+), Bombenwurf Fl.Pl. Derna,
11.12.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 6970) 50% Landung Fl.Pl. Araxos,
11.12.41 Ju 52 (GA+VC) 25% Maleme,
17.12.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 7231) ? Bombenwurf Fl.Pl. Benina, BF. Gfr. Josef Kagener (vw.),
18.12.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 5749) 100% Bodenberührung bei Piräus,
18.12.41 Ju 52 (CH+HP) 100% auf dem Flug von Fl.Pl. Tatoi nach Derna Absturz im Hemettos-Gebirge,
18.12.41 Ju 52 (OK+TI, W.Nr. 5464) 15% Fahrwerkschaden Fl.Pl. Iraklion, kein Personenschaden,
18.12.41 Ju 52 (DK+TJ) 25% Iraklion,
18.12.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 5031) 30% Iraklion,
19.12.41 Ju 52 (W.Nr. 7212) 100% Bruchlandung infolge Motorstörung bei Iraklion, Besatzung unverletzt,
19.12.41 Ju 52 (CK+GJ) 100% kurz nach Start vom Fl.Pl. Maleme ins Meer abgestürzt, Besatzung
geborgen,
20.12.41 Ju 52 (KB+RD) 10% bei Landung im Boden gesunken, 2 Km. ostw. Argos Süd

[Paul Thompson]

Andreas,

Thank you for pointing out an interesting unit. I have sent you a PM with a question related to the Crusader project.

Larry,

Thanks for the usual encyclopedic extract, these threads can't do without you

Warm regards,

Pail

[AndreasB]

Hi Byron

The '?' at Benina I would suspect to have become 100% if it wasn't already, since the airfield was lost within a week after this happening.

Paul, thanks for the compliment, got the PM, and will reply.

All the best

Andreas

[byron-]

You are probably right Andreas, 100%.

There is an other question i have: An emergency landing of a Ju 52 occurred 07.12.41 near Crete FF…………………. Ju 52 (W.Nr. 7202) 100% with BF. Gfr. Roderich Okunek,
BM. Gfr. Karl Hockibrink


Who knows the pilot and the BO?

[AndreasB]

Afraid I cannot help on that. One other observation, KB+HO, lost 12 December, may have been a victim of the Maryland 'fighters', sent out to intercept the Ju 52 supply flights.

All the best

Andreas

[byron-]

Hi Andreas,
I have a different place of it`s crush landing, as following

FF. Fw. Heinz Mende, Ju 52 (KB+HO, W.Nr. 5591) 100% m. BF. Uffz. Kurt Hempel, BM. Uffz. Rolf Hofmann, BS. Flg. Kurt Augustin, alle vermisst, Feindbeschuss 12.12.41 Derna,


am i mistaking??