3./KG 6 - late July 1944

[hucks216]

Hello all,
Is it possible to find out if 3./KG 6 lost any aircraft on the nights of 25/26 & 26/27 July 1944 while conducting night bombing/mining operations against the Allied invasion forces?
In Doug & Larry's Bombers Of The Luftwaffe vol 1 it mentions that the records are incomplete for that period of operations, and when covering the Steinbock Raids the book The Blitz Then & Now vol 3 mentions that most if not all of the Luftwaffe's loss reports for the year of 1944 are missing so any information supplied is much appreciated.
I ask because I have a wehrpass to an observer (Uffz Gustav Dargatz) in 3./KG 6 who was killed on 27th July 1944 with Volksbund listing his place of death as being near Villaroche.
As an aside, can anyone also supply me with the name of the Staffelkapitan of 3./KG 6 for late July 1944.
Thank you in advance.

[Brian Bines]

The KG 6 history shows 27-7-44-3/KG6-Villaroche-Feindflug Crash due to fighter attack, Ju188 A2 180496 3E+CL ff Uffz Arno Juckel, b Uffz Gustav Dargatz, Bf Ogef Heinrich Schafer, Bs Ogef Walter Dornbrack, Bs Gef Heinrich Heldberg all killed.

[hucks216]

That is great - thanks Brian, it is much appreciated.
Can anyone tell me how would I go about trying to find out the Allied squadron that the A/C that shot them down came from?

[Doug Stankey]

A search of our personnel files reveals the following for the Staka of 3./KG 6:

Hptm. Günther Erbs (c.01.09.42 - 17.01.43 KIA).
Hptm. Helmut Waldecker (DKG, RK) (c.26.07.43 - 16.10.43 POW).
Oblt. Paul Diermann (c.16.10.43 - 01.45) - Stafü, at least initially
Hptm. Hans-Wilhelm Bertram (DKG, RK) (? - 14.01.45 - ?).

Thus, to answer your question, it would appear that Paul Diermann was the Staka in July 1944.


HLdZ
DGS

[Brian Bines]

The KG6 book says the Junkers was shot down by a N/F in the landing pattern at 0220hrs (27th). The claims list in the book MOSQUITOPANICK shows 26/27-7-44 a claim by F/O Pringle with F/O Eaton of 29 Sqd. for a Ju188 at Melun(Melun-Villaroche).

[Chris Goss]

NVM matches what Brian says-night fighter at Villaroche airfield and I have a note that it matches Frank Pringle's claim

[hucks216]

Thanks very much guys for all your help - it is really appreciated.