ID of Do17P with Z5 Unit Code

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

To what unit would a Do17P belong (Probably WC of 1940) with a Z5 code?

Regards,

[Marc BENOIT]

Hello Larry,

It could be a typo for 5Z , Wekusta 76, formed in december 1940 ?
Regards
Marc

[Larry Hickey]

Marc,

Good suggestion, but I've gone back and reviewed the photos and the first letter is clearly "Z" and the second almost can only be a "5." The third code letter is a "B" so we have Z5+B? and the photos are of a crash supposed to be in France during the 1940 Blitzkrieg. One suggestion from one of our EOE members is that this is a "Flakkorps" a/c, although I'm not really familiar with such a unit. I don't find any listing for a "Z5" code in any of my standard references.

Regards,

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Larry

Just another long shot, you are certain it is a war time photo and not a pre-war code 25+Bxx?

Cheers
Stig

[Larry Hickey]

Stig and Marc,

Someone has communicated with me directly that the Do17P in question was coded Z5+BH (confirmed by photography). He also sent a photo of a Fi156 with the code Z5+FH clearly on it. Z5+BH was shot down during the Western Campaign of 1940, probably in France. The source thinks that this could be the "Aufkla.Staffel of Flakkorps I" because this unit lost at least two Do 17s with this code. Does anyone have any other evidence for this unit having such a code? What was "Flakkorps I," what did they do, and why did they need Do17Ps?

Regards,

[Don Pearson]

Rosch does list this unit on page 150, indicating it formed 12/39 and disbanded 7/40.


From Wikipedia:
The Flak Corps is a wartime organization, and constitutes an operational reserve of the commander in chief of the German Air Force. It combines great mobility with heavy fire power. It can be employed in conjunction with spearheads composed of armored and motorized forces, and with nonmotorized troops in forcing river crossings and attacking fortified positions. It can also be deployed as highly mobile artillery to support tank attacks
see also
http://www.ww2.dk/ground/hq/iflak.htm

Don

[Larry Hickey]

Don,

Thanks. I checked Rosch and you're right, although there is almost no info about it, and no unit codes. What was a "Flakkorps" and what did they do? It appears that we may be in some pioneering ground here as far as identifying a new unit code is concerned. Needs further work to ID this code with this unit.

Regards,

[obdl3945]

Hi, folks...

From the LEMB website on 07/07/2011, where Peter Evans has supplied some excellent e-bay listings...

These three link to a Do17 which clearly shows a 'Z5' code. Is this perchance the machine in question?

http://cgi.ebay.de/Orig-Foto-Flugzeu...-/140573668992

http://cgi.ebay.de/Orig-Foto-Flugzeu...-/130542391787

http://cgi.ebay.de/Orig-Foto-Flugzeu...-/140573669007

Regards,

Paul

[Larry Hickey]

Paul,

This is the same a/c which prompted my query. We have another photo of this a/c in the EOE Photo DB with the last code letter, "H," clearly visible, giving us Z5+BH.

Regards,

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

In a direct email to me, Peter C. has provided his usual insightful comments on this matter, which I thought I would share with you all:

"Larry, Good progress in establishing Z5+ as the unit codes for this unit. The Flak were considered the elite of the Lw and great faith placed on them as a strategic element in the Wehrmacht as a whole. The Flak Korps were highly mobile AA units usually accompanying advance ground units to defend key positions from air attack but equally well applied as conventional artillery when the need arose. They had their own air-transport and air-liaison facilities rather than have to rely on the TGs etc. There was one other loss on 16 May 1940 but on balance the best match for your photos would seem to be this:

20 May 1940: Aufklärungsstaffel I Flakkorps Dornier Do17M-1. Lost during reconnaissance sortie, details not recorded. BO Lt
[ ] Engel and one other crewman believed captured wounded, another unhurt – all later released. Aircraft 100% write-off.

It looks like it suffered flak damage but some French fighters carried heavy weapons. And is that a nose band ?"

I should note that Peter C. misplaces the credit for this to me, when the credit should go to Robert, who frequently posts on this board and is one of our most productive EOE researchers. It is his research which suggests the "Z5" code for Aufklärungsstaffel I Flakkorps. I still don't consider this yet confirmed and I encourage anyone who has further photographic data or information that might connect the Z5 code to this unit to contribute to this discussion. I would also like to nail down the specific circumstances and location for this FL and the names of the other temporary PoW crewman.

Who can help further with this one?

Regards,