Oblt Grassmann Stab III./KG 51

[Chris Goss]

Does anyone have anything on this Beobachter who was with KG 51 in 1940? Matti has nothing while nothing on Larry & Doug's lists

[Chris Goss]

Possibly Werner DoB 29 Jan 17?

[hucks216]

I don't have anything as such but he has 5 files in the German archives, including the NSDAP & SS/SA archives in Berlin-Lichterfelde.
His personnel file at Freiburg is:

PERS 6/241390
Grassmann, Werner
Bestandsbezeichnung - Personalunterlagen von Angehörigen der Reichswehr und Wehrmacht
Geburtsdatum - 29.1.1917
Amtsbezeichnung/Dienstgrad - Oberleutnant Kr.O.
Unterlagenart - Personalakte
Alte Signatur - LP/69355
Benutzungsort - Freiburg

[Andy Mitchell]

Chris,

RL10/652 III./KG 51 Einsatz Großbritannien Bd 1/1 Jul - Sep 1940.

29.7.40 flew in the following crew - Oblt. Rath, Oblt. Grassmann, Uffz. Böttcher and Gefr. Gallerman. 9K+AD departed 22.44 landed 02.48. Operated as part of the III./KG 51 Aufklärungsschwarm along with 9K+ED and 9K+BD. (0011.jpg)

12.8.40 same crew and aircraft again as part of the Aufklärungsschwarm along with 9K+CD, 9K+ED and 9K+BD. Raid was on Portsmouth. This time the name is Graßmann. (0015.jpg)

16.8.40 9K+AD, same crew. Part of the Aufklärungsschwarm along with 9K+CD. Target was Gatwick.(0021.jpg)

25.8.40 9K+AD, same crew. Part of the Aufklärungsschwarm along with 9K+CD. Target was Warmwell.(0033.jpg)

29.8.40 9K+AD, same crew. Part of the Aufklärungsschwarm along with 9K+CD. Target was Liverpool.(0037.jpg)

30/31.8.40 9K+AD, same crew. Sole aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm. Target was Manchester.(0045.jpg)

1/2.9.40 9K+AD, same crew. Sole aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm. Target was Bristol.(0051.jpg)

8/9.9.40 9K+CD same crew. One of three aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm (the others being 9K+DD and 9K+BD). Target in London.

9/10.9.40 9K+CD same crew. One of two aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm (the other being 9K+DD). Target in London. (0069.jpg)

10/11.9.40 9K+AD same crew. One of two aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm (the other being 9K+DD). Target in London. (0073.jpg)

15/16.9.40 9K+AD same crew. One of two aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm (the other being 9K+DD). Target in London. (0085.jpg)

16/17.9.40 9K+AD same crew. Sole aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm. Target in London. (0089.jpg)

19.9.40 9K+AD same crew. One of two aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm (the other being 9K+DD). Target in London. (0095.jpg)

23/24.9.40 9K+ED same crew. One of two aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm (the other being 9K+DD). Target in London. (0103.jpg)

25.9.40 9K+ED same crew. One of three aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm (the others being 9K+CD & 9K+DD). Target in London. (0107.jpg)

26/(?)27.9.40 9K+ED same crew. Sole aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm . Target in London. (0113.jpg)

27/28.9.40 9K+ED same crew. One of three aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm (the other being 9K+CD). Target in London. (0117.jpg)

29/30.9.40 9K+ED same crew. Sole aircraft in the Aufklärungsschwarm . Target in London. (0121.jpg).

It may be worth looking in RL10/653 through to RL10/665 as they cover III./KG 51 up to the end of May 1943.

[Andy Mitchell]

See Axis History thread A3343 post 20 Sep 2020 (https://forum.axishistory.com/viewto...1164&p=2289357 in that listing is this entry

Grassmann Werner(29/01/17) 0003-0038 Schupo

If the reference to Schupo is correct this Grassmann was a member of the Schutz Polizie

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Andy-I have all of this and the details of all of the crew apart from him. Of interest Rath was killed as Kommodore of KG 2 in an attack on Portsmouth in 1944.
Thanks also Hucks for the personnel file details which I already had. Trouble is without a confirmed DoB or christian name, I am shooting in the dark. As I said, no mention on Larry/Doug's list of as a casualty

[Stig Jarlevik]

Excuse my ignorance

Why did III./KG 51 have an Aufklärungsschwarm?
I can only assume this was for an immediate evaluation of the bombing effort, since why would
III./KG 51 compete with the regular recce-units?

Did all KG units have some kind of corresponding schwärme?

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

KG 51 called its Stab I, II and III Aufklärungsschwarm

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Chris

However it begs further questions

a) Was KG 51 alone in doing this?
b) What was the exact purpose of the Stab? I only assumed the above you know....

Cheers
Stig

[Nick Beale]

You should all read more ULTRA!

CX/JQ/268

31.8.40

22. Oblt. KUECHLE is attached to an Aufklärungsschwarm at Étampes which is connected to III./KG 51. (B)

25. The Aufklärungsschwarm of III./KG 51, Étampes, was informed on 30/8 that a/c marked 9K+ED would not be ready under a week. (A)