Bomber Unit Redesignation

[Chris Goss]

Can somebody (probably Larry!) confirm that Kuestenfliegergruppe 606/806 were redesignated KGr 606/806 in Oct/Nov 39. Also, why was KGr 806 lumped with KG 54 and sometimes known in 1941 as KGr 806/III/KG 54 when according to some records its redesignation to III/KG 54 did not occur until Sep 42?

[Larry deZeng]

Hi Chris,


606: change in designation effective 1 November 1939.
806: change in designation effective 8 July 1940.


KGr 606

Kampfgruppe 606
(Unit Code 7T+)

Formation. (Nov 39)
Formed 1 November 1939 at Kamp/15 km WSW of Kolberg on the Baltic in Pomerania with a Gruppenstab and 1. – 3. Staffel, all new. Originally intended as a Küstenfliegergruppe, the comprehensive reorganization order for the entire Küstenflieger arm that was issued on 25 October 1939 directed it to begin conversion to the Do 17 effective 1 November as an intended Kampfgruppe, thus changing its mission and classification. Moved to Kiel-Holtenau very shortly after assembling at Kamp to be equipped and begin training, which lasted until the beginning of April 1940.

North Germany - Occupation of Denmark and Norway. (Apr 40 - Jul 40)
28 Mar 40: 2. Staffel Do 17Z crashed near Kiel, 100%, Oblt. E. Euler, Oblt. Oesterbelung + 2 KIA.

[Sources: S.Neitzel-Einsatz der deutschen Luftwaffe über den Atlantik und der Nordsee 1939-1945:67, 75, 109, 135; F.Kurowski-Seekrieg aus der Luft:77, 146-47, 259, 293-94].


KGr 806

Küstenfliegergruppe 806 (10/39 - 7/40)
Kampfgruppe 806 (7/40 – 8/42)
(Unit Code M7+)

Formation and Organization. (Oct 39 - Jul 40)
Formed 25 October 1939 at Dievenow/Pomerania on the Baltic coast with Stab (ex-Stab/Kü.Fl.Gr.506), l.Staffel (ex-l.(M)/Kü.Fl.Gr.506), 2.Staffel (ex-3.(Mz)/KüF1.Gr.506) and, a few weeks later, 3.Staffel (ex-l.(M)/Kü.Fl.Gr.306). Equipped with a mixed complement of Heinkel He 111J-l twin-engined bombers and He 60 and He 114 floatplanes, but the latter were gradually replaced over the next several months with He lllJs. Much confusion persists concerning the designation of this formation, specifically when it changed from being Küstenfliegergruppe 806 to being Kampfgruppe 806. The effective date of this change was 8 July 1940 when it was reassigned from the operational control of the German Navy (Skl/OKM) to the operational control of Luftflotte 3/ Ob.d.L. It is also the approximate date that it completed conversion from the He 111 to the Junkers Ju 88.

[Sources: Kurowski-Seekrieg: 57, 161, 292-98; Radtke-KG 54:51; Neitzel:58].


806 re-designated III./KG 54 on 1 September 1942 (Radtke-KG 54:154). This re-designation was planned several months before so there are a few citations in documents for “KGr. 806/III./KG 54”. Any use of that designation prior to June 1942 would not be found in documents but it might be found (erroneously) in the minds of Air Ministry wonks at the time as well as postwar authors.

Why was 806 lumped with KG 54 and 606 with KG 77? Because of their quasi-maritime role, i.e., anti-shipping, mine-laying, usw. The “fit” was far better than trying to match them with KG 1, KG 2, KG 3, KG 53 and others at that time (mid-1942).

I might note, as you have so often done in your posts, that this is all cover in our books on the Luftwaffe bomber units, which we and our publishers believed to be indispensable, cutting-edge references on the subject:

deZeng, Henry L. IV and Douglas G. Stankey, Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945, 2 volumes, Chevron/Ian Allan, 2007 and 2008.

Cheers,

Larry

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Larry. I have your books but they are in UK whilst I am in the Balkans and I am taking advantage today to get on with my next book. Of interest, Luftflotte 3 first refers to III/KG 54 in Feb 41 and the first mention of III/KG 54/KGr 806 is 7-8 Mar 41

[Larry deZeng]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Thanks Larry. I have your books but they are in UK whilst I am in the Balkans and I am taking advantage today to get on with my next book. Of interest, Luftflotte 3 first refers to III/KG 54 in Feb 41 and the first mention of III/KG 54/KGr 806 is 7-8 Mar 41

That's indeed interesting, Chris. Is that from original Luftflotte 3 documents? If so, then the planned transformation/re-designation predates anything I've seen before. The Gruppe's losses continued to be charged to Kampfgruppe 806 right up to the end of August 1942, to wit:

30.8.42: (Süd) - Ju 88A-4 (M7+FL) shot up and severely damaged by Beaufighters, evidently while flying convoy escort in the Gulf of Taranto area, 1 WIA.

It was only from 1 Sep 42 on that they were charged to III./KG 54.

Perhaps the Ia Abt./Luftflotte 3 knew something the Führungsstab/Ob.d.L. didn't know? You know what a bunch of independent cusses those Luftflotten-Chefs were (Hugo Sperrle, in this case)!

Larry

[ju55dk]

606 was still called a Küstenfliegergruppe end may 1940.
Source: KTB 606 and KTB. Gen. d. Lw. beim OB der Marine.

Junker

[Chris Goss]

Junker: Out of interest, what dates does the KTB cover?

[ju55dk]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Junker: Out of interest, what dates does the KTB cover?

KTB 606 april-may 1940.
KTB Gen. d. Lw. beim OB Marine 1939-1944.

Junker

[RudiS]

Chris,

according to Radtke's book page 51, KGr 806 came "under the command" of KG 54 on Sep 11th 1940 (in German: "unterstellt). The reason was that KG 54 didn't have a third Gruppe at the time.

When I & II./KG 54 moved to the eastern front june-july 1941 (under V Fliegerkorps), KGr 806 moved to the Ostsee area under the command of Fl Fü Ostsee.

I./KG 54 came to the Mediterranean theatre december 1941 while II./KG 54, who was transforming to Ju 88 A-4 at Landsberg, went back to the eastern front untill november 1942.
KGr 806 & KGr 606 came also to the Mediterranean theatre december 1941 under the command of KG 54 (Radtke page 100).

Hope this is usefull.

Kind regards,
Rudi.

[JoMe]

Hi all

KFGr.606 was redesigned in KGr.606 in May 1941.

JoMe

[Chris Goss]

Thanks all-just goes to prove nothing is ever simple