Operation Paula - assignement of targets

[Franek Grabowski]

Hi
Does anyone know of any information on targets assigned for German units, both bomber and fighter, for operation Paula against airfield in Paris area on 3 June 1940?

Thanks to Nick's website I know that III./KG 76 was to attack aerodrome at Mory (S of Arras), with Crépy-en-Valois as the alternate, but ultimately attacked Noyon station.
The rest seems quite confusing.
TIA

[RudiS]

III./KG 54 attacked a/c related installations in the Paris area during operation Paula on June 3rd. Not sure exactly which airfield was attacked.

[Larry deZeng]

The Ob.d.L. Abt. Ic Lageberichten covering 1 to 5 June 1940 appears to be missing from the TsAMO 500 collection.

Hooten, E.R. Phoenix Triumphant: The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe. London: Arms & Armour Press, 1994. ISBN: 1 85409 181 6. Hb. Dj. 320p. Illus. Tables. Glossary and Abbreviations. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.

According to Hooten, there appear to be 2 French studies on Paula that may have some details that would be of use to you. Hooten does identify all of the factories and airfields attacked, but does not say by which Luftwaffe unit or which targets were supposed to be attacked.

L.

[edwest2]

More information:

http://www.ghostbombers.com/1940/Paula/paula_1.html

http://www.ghostbombers.com/1940/Paula/paula_2.html

http://www.ghostbombers.com/1940/Paula/paula_3.html

[Franek Grabowski]

Larry
There is the Lagebericht for 3 June, but unfortunately, the only information is assessment of damage inflicted, and no specifics of units involved. Those reports are a bit disappointing in general. I do not think that any French books provide that information, either, as the most recent one by Matt Comas does not include the information, and it would if available.

Rudi
All attacks were in Paris area, so more precise information is needed.

Ed
I am aware of the site, but again, except of III/KG 76 it does not provide specific targets.

[Nick Beale]

I suppose that another angle would be to think about where the information might still be found when the sitrep and ULTRA don’t help. My best guesses would be any surviving Flugbücher from participants, possible mentions in later PoW interrogations and British transcripts of bugged conversations between prisoners. Those last two sources are longshots though because of the gap between PAULA and the start of large scale operations against the British mainland. Also the British authorities were understandably preoccupied with Dunkirk while PAULA was happening.

[robert]

Hi,

from our reasearch draft (but it is still not verified and 100% confirmed version):
Fliegerkorps IV
KG4 airfield and aviation arsenal at Le Bourget in Paris
II./LG1 airfield and aircraft factory (Mureaux) in Meulan-les-Mureaux
III./LG1 airfield in Mantes-Gassicourt
Fliegerkorps I
KG1 and III./KG28 aviation arsenal in Paris-Nanterre
I./KG76 airfield Lagny
II./KG76 airfield Chelles
III./KG76 airfield Mitry-Mory
Fliegerkorps II
III./KG53 main arsenal in Velizy-Villacoublay
II./KG53 industry facilities and Breguet aircraft factory in Villacoublay
I./KG3 airfield in Melun
II./KG3 airfield in Ferte-Gaucher
III./KG3 airfield in Nangis
I./KG2 airfield in Corbeil/Courcouronne
II./KG2 and III./KG2 airfield and aviation arsenal Villeneuve-Orly
Fliegerkorps V
I./KG55 and II./KG55 airfield, vehicle park, arsenal and supply center in St.Cyr
III./KG55 hangars and runways of the airfield in Guyancourt
I./KG51 and II./KG51 airfield and arsenal in Etampes
III./KG51 airfield and arsenal in Chartres

Robert

[Larry deZeng]

A few additions:

II. and III./LG 1 bombed Le Bourget airfield between 13:00 and 15:55 on 3 June 1940.

Taghon, Peter. Die Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1: Dokumentation über Aufstellung, Ausrüstung, Einsatz und Ende eines Kampfgeschwaders der Luftwaffe, Zusammengestellt aus Kriegstagebüchern, Dokumenten und Berichten. Band 1: 1936 – 1942. Zweibrücken: VDM Heinz Nickel, 2004. ISBN: 3-925480-85-4. Pb with laminated cover. Oversize. 472p. Well illustrated. 11 appendices. Pages 96-97.

I./KG 27 and III./KG 27 bombed the aircraft factory and airfield at Les Mureaux/33.6 km NW of Paris city center on 3 June 1940.

Waiss, Walter. Boelcke Archiv, Band 2: Chronik Kampfgeschwader Nr. 27 Boelcke, Teil 1: 1934 – 31.12.1940. Neuss: privately published, 2000. Pb (oversize). 272p. Illus. with previously unpublished color photos. Page 157.

L.

[Franek Grabowski]

Thanks guys!

Silly me, I have somehow missed an appropriate table in Comas' book. I have therefore collated all the available data.
I wonder about the tactics. I guess Me 109s were flying sweeps in intervals in advance of the bombers, but how about Me 110s? Did bombers fly in separate formations or in bigger formations, and broke only to attack particular targets?

Fliegerkorps IV

St./KG 4 ?
I./KG 4 airfield and aviation arsenal at Le Bourget
II./KG 4 Paris

St./LG 1 ?
I./LG 1 ?
II./LG 1 airfield and aircraft factory (Mureaux) in Meulan-les-Mureaux / Le Bourget 13:00-15:55
III./LG 1 airfield in Mantes-Gassicourt / Le Bourget 13:00-15:55
Note - discrepancy could be due to confusion of primary and secondary targets

St./KG 27 ?
I./KG 27 aircraft factory and airfield at Les Mureaux
II./KG 27 Mantes
III./KG 27 aircraft factory and airfield at Les Mureaux

Stab/JG 26 North of Paris
I./JG 26 Le Bourget
II./JG 26 North of Paris
III./JG 26 North of Paris

Stab/JG 51 ?
I./JG 51 ?
I./JG 20 West of Paris

I./ZG 1 Escort to Le Bourget
II./ZG 1 ?
III./ZG 1 ?

Fliegerkorps I

KG 1 aviation arsenal in Paris-Nanterre
III./KG 28 aviation arsenal in Paris-Nanterre

St./KG 76 ?
I./KG 76 airfield Lagny
II./KG 76 airfield Chelles
III./KG 76 airfield Mitry-Mory, secondary target Crépy-en-Valois, ultimately attacked Noyon station

St./KG 77 ?
I./KG 77 Ministère de l’Air
II./KG 77 Industries Paris
III./KG 77 Paris

Fliegerkorps II

St./KG 53 ?
I./KG 53 ?
II./KG 53 industry facilities and Breguet aircraft factory in Villacoublay
III./KG 53 main arsenal in Velizy-Villacoublay / Versailles

St./KG 3?
I./KG 3 airfield in Melun
II./KG 3 airfield in Ferte-Gaucher
III./KG 3 airfield in Nangis

St./KG 2 ?
I./KG 2 airfield in Corbeil/Courcouronne
II./KG 2 airfield and aviation arsenal Villeneuve-Orly
III./KG 2 airfield and aviation arsenal Villeneuve-Orly

Fliegerkorps V

St./KG 55 ?
I./KG 55 airfield, vehicle park, arsenal and supply center in St.Cyr / Paris
II./KG 55 airfield, vehicle park, arsenal and supply center in St.Cyr
III./KG 55 hangars and runways of the airfield in Guyancourt

St./KG 51 ?
I./KG 51 airfield and arsenal in Etampes
II./KG 51 airfield and arsenal in Etampes
III./KG 51 airfield and arsenal in Chartres

Stab/ZG 26 ?
I./ZG 26 ?
II./ZG 26 Withdrawal Escort Nagis
III./ZG 26 Withdrawal Escort Nagis

Stab/JG 53 Escort of Do 17 South of Paris
I./JG 53 South of Paris
II./JG 53 South of Paris
III./JG 53 Escort of Do 17 South of Paris

III./JG 52 Sector Reims-Epernay

Stab/JG 2 Sector Cover Reims-Epernay
I./JG 2 Sector Cover Reims-Epernay
II./JG 2 Sector Cover Reims-Epernay
III./JG 2 Sector Cover Reims-Epernay
I./JG 76 Sector Cover Reims-Epernay

Stab/JG 77 Escort to Do 17 of KG 76 to Meaux Sector
I./JG 1 Escort to Do 17 of KG 76 to Meaux Sector
I./JG 3 Escort to Do 17 of KG 76 to Meaux Sector
II./JG 3 Escort to Do 17 of KG 76 to Meaux Sector
III./JG 3 Escort to Do 17 of KG 76 to Meaux Sector
I.(J)/LG 2 Escort to Do 17 of KG 76 to Meaux Sector

[robert]

Hi,

some additions: III./KG54 was attached to KG4.
75 Bf109s of I./JG26, II./JG26 and II./JG2 as well as 35 Bf110s of I./ZG26 and I./ZG1 escorted bombers of Fliegerkorps IV.
60 Bf109s of I./JG20, III./JG26 and II./JG1, 79 Bf109s of I./JG3, II./JG3, I.(J)/LG2 and I./JG1 as well as 40 Bf110s of II./ZG26 and II./ZG76 escorted bombers of Fliegerkorps I.
75 Bf109s of I./JG2, III./JG2 and I./JG76 were operating in the area of Reims Epernay in favor of Fliegerkorps II. 100 Bf109s of I./JG53, II./JG53, III./JG53 and III./JG52 were engaged in the area of Epernay-Paris.
I./ZG52 direct escort for Fliegerkorps V, I./ZG2, II./ZG1 and V.(Z)/LG1 were engaged in the area of Villeneuve-Versailles. The departing bombers should be protected by ZG26 and ZG76 (LF2) in the area of Creil-Compiegne-Villers Cotterets-Meaux-Creil.
III./ZG26 was ordered to fly a fighter sweep in the area of Reims.
Bf109s of I./JG52 and II./JG52 were waiting for returning bombers E of Reims.

Robert