Bf110C-7 W.Nr 3593

[steve sheridan]

Hi can anybody clarify the correct unit of this a/c.
Aircraft code marked as 3U+PH usually 1/ZG26 but listed in the GQM lists as being with NJG4.

On 20.1.42 this a/c was involved in a mid air collision with BF110D-3 W.Nr 3678, its crew of Oblt Berndt Damman and his Bf Ofw Paul Barth both killed on the Eastern Front.

Again Bf110C-7 W.Nr 3635 3U+CH lost 19.3.42 is listed as NJG4 ??
Pilot of this a/c Lt Rolf Kettmann KIA.

Any help would be appreciated.
Rgs,
Steve.

[Rabe Anton]

Hallo Steve!

I have looked into the loss records for NJG 4 but found neither of the two Bf 110 losses that you have posted.

I think it's pretty clear what has happened in at least one of these cases. The Geschwader Truppenkennzeichen for NJG 4 was 3 C + , not too very different from the code for ZG 26 (3 U + ). It would seem that at some point, through clerical or typographical error, 3 C + crept into the records in place of 3 U + .

Reinforcing the above explanation is the fact that NJG 4 apparently was stationed in the West during 1942, more or less precluding a loss on the Eastern Front during this period. Conversely, I. and II./ZG 26 were on the Eastern Front during 1942, while III./ZG 26 was in Africa.

Of course, one could also suppose the possibility that former unit codes were not removed and replaced promptly after a reassignment of the aircraft.

RA

[thenelm]

There are about 30 losses in the Gen.Qu. loss reports attributed to I./NJG 4 during the first 4 months of 1942 in the East. Most, if not all, also mention the ZG 26 affiliation. This unit was apparently formed from I./ZG 26 for Nachtjagd operations over the SU.

Bf 110C-7, 3593, Damman, Oblt. Berndt, , 1., NJG 4 (ZG 26), , 3U+PH, , , 20-Jan-42, Crew killed due to midair collision with Bf 110D-3 WNr. 3678.WNr. 3678, '3U+FH' per Ring., VIII.Fl.Korps/Eins.Osten/Nachtjagd, Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (mfm #4)-Vol.7; Balss, Deutsche Nachtjagd, II, p.50; Ring, ZG 26 loss list, , (Bjeler-Gerbatschewka), 100%, F, Bf Ofw. Paul Barth, ,

[Marcel Hogenhuis]

Hello

During the conversion late 1941 of other ZG Gruppen into nightfighter units, it was also planned to convert I./ZG 26 and II./ZG 26 into I./NJG 4 and II./NJG 4 but developements on the East Front blocked these plans to become effective. Therefore I./ZG 26 and II./ZG 26 were kept in the Zerstörer role, though the Luftwaffe Gen.Qm. loss records does contain several losses for I./NJG 4 and II./NJG 4 whereas these flights were not during nightfighting at all.

This strange process is further supported by the knowledge that the first real nightfighter Gruppe of NJG 4 was in fact the III./NJG 4, errected in May 1942 of 1./NJG 1, 4./NJG 1 and 8./NJG 1. This makes only sense when there were already a I./NJG 4 and II./NJG 4 (these existed but only on paper).

All the best, Marcel Hogenhuis

[steve sheridan]

Many thanks for your explanation Marcel, it all seems clearer now.

Kindest Regs,
Steve.