When did 7./NJG 6 arrive at Neubiberg in 1945?

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

I am trying to find out during which time frame 7./NJG 6 arrived at Neubiberg in spring 1945 coming from Hungary. According to ww2.dk they were stationed there already from February 1945.

However, according to a logbook they left Hungary already in December 1944 and were based at Wiener Neustadt in Januar 1945 and then moved to Schleissheim at the beginning of February, then Leipheim mid-February and only at the beginning of April 1945 to Neubiberg.

I tried to get hold of a copy of Werner Kock's 'Kriegstagebuch NJG 6', but only found two copies, the cheaper one for 200 Euro. Does anybody have a copy of this book and could look up the movements of III./NJG 6 in 1945?

For my 'Captured Eagles Vol. II' I am currently researching the history of one of their Bf 110 Gs coded 2Z+GR, which was found at Neubiberg.

Thanks!

Roger

[SteveR]

I don't have a copy of Kock's book (sorry!) but I did just find a copy on Abebooks for $159, which I think works out to about 137 euros. Still expensive but a little better.

[Roger Gaemperle]

Thanks Steve. It is a better price, but still quite expensive if I only want to know when the Gruppe arrived at Neubiberg. Still, I may go for it if nobody has a copy of that book.

[John Manrho]

I have a copy....will check tomorrow.

[RodM]

Hi Roger,

the ww2.dk site has many errors regarding airfield deployments and the data concerning III./NJG6 is no exception.

The Gruppe did NOT transfer from Hungary to Neubiberg... The bulk transferred from Hungary to Leipheim in early February 1945 and flew its first nightfighting sorties from there on the night of 21-22 February 1945, as evidenced by the KTB of Stab NJG6 and many FBer. Firstly, the KTB:

18-19 January 1945 :-
"Gemäß 7.J.D. - Ia Nacht - Nr.. 17076/45 g.Kdos vom 18.1.45 verlegt III./NJG 6 von Wiener-Neustadt nach Leipheim. Eintreffen der fliegenden Teile voraussichtlich am 18.1.45. Nach Rücksprache Major von Reeken mit Kommandeur III./NJG 6, Hptm Fellner, am 18.1., soll Hptm Johnen am 19.1. nach Leipheim fliegen, um dort den Platz zu erkunden, vor allen Dingen betr: Aufklärungsmöglichkeiten".

2-3 February 1945 :-
"Eintreffen des Haupttransportes der III./NJG 6 in Leipheim".


4-5 February 1945 :-
"Eintreffen des zweiten Transportes der III./NJG 6 und der fliegenden Teile in Leipheim".

13-14 February 1945 :-
"Gem 7.J.D. - la - Nr. 17144/45 g.Kdos ist beabsichtigt, III./NJG 6 für Nachtschlacht abzugeben. Abgabetermin und neuer Einsatzort noch nicht bekannt. Gute Nachtjagdbesatzungen werden in verbleibende Gruppen versetzt, dafür nachtjagdmäßig aussichtslose Besatzungen in III./NJG 6 abgegeben. Austausch des Personals ist vorzubereiten.

"Hptm Fellerer verbleibt beim Geschwader als Kommandeursreserve. Gruppenkommandeur für die III./NJG 6 wird voraussichtlich zugewiesen.

"Ausrüstung III./NJG 6 reinrassig mit Bf 110, sonst möglichst kein Austausch von Flugzeugen".

21-22 February 1945 : -
"19.51 - 21.09 Uhr, 1 Ju 88 und 2 Bf 110 der III./NJG 6 nach FuF Möve, Antreten über Mannheim nach Worms".


In looking at FBer, one 8./NJG6 crew flew from Wiener-Neustadt to Schleissheim on 4 February 1945, on then on to Leipheim on 16 February 1945. As indicated in the KTB, Wim Johnen flew from Wiener-Neustadt to Schleissheim to Leipheim on 20 January 1945.

The Gruppe (reduced to 7./NJG6) abandoned Leipheim in early April 1945 and transferred directly to Neubiberg. This movement was part of the mass Nachtjagdverbände exodus from bases threatened by the Anglo-American advance.

Cheers

Rod

[Roger Gaemperle]

John,

thanks for taking the time to check.

Rod,

thank you very much for the KTB and FB extracts. That's exactly what I was looking for. In the logbook the transfer flight from Hungary to Wiener Neustadt is on 20 Dec 1944, the transfer to Schleissheim on 4 Feb 1945, to Leipheim on 16 Feb 1945. We may have the same FB (Galinsky) as the dates matches with your dates. It's interesting that this crew first stayed at Wiener Neustadt and then flew to Schleissheim instead of Leipheim, before they transferred to Leipheim on 16 Feb. The bulk of the III.Gruppe already arrived two weeks earler at Leipheim according to the KTB. I wonder if this was an exception.

Bf 110 G-4 2Z+GR was an aircraft of 7./NJG 6 and was left behind at Neubiberg.

Cheers,

Roger

[Roger Gaemperle]

Rod,

I have one more question after studying the information you provided from the KTB. You mentioned the order from 13 (or 14?) February that stated that it was planned to use III./NJG 6 for Nachtschlacht duties. But it is not mentioned when exactly this reorganization should happened.

Was it with the order on 29 March (see below)? Or was this an independent order?:

„Gemäß 7.J.D. – Ia – Nr. 17326/45 g.Kdos. vom 29.3. wird zur Verringerung auf je eine Staffel befohlen: [...] 2.) Reinrassige Ausrüstung der I. und III./NJG 6 mit Bf 110, der II. und IV./NJG 6 mit Ju 88 4.) Überzähliges Personal ist sofort abzugeben, desgleichen Flugzeuge und Gerät."

Cheers,
Roger

[RodM]

Hi Roger,

the order relates to the reduction of the entire Nachtjagdverbände ordered on 29 March 1945, immediately before the units began retreating to airfields well away from the front lines.

For most Nachtjagdgeschwaders, the Geschwaderstab Staff were retained, but each Gruppe was reduced from a Gruppenstab and three Staffeln to a single Staffel with 16 aircraft and crews. Obviously, this meant each disbanding Gruppe suddenly had 34 or so surplus aircraft and a similar number of surplus crews.

Thus, Stab III, 8. and 9./NJG6 were disbanded and 7./NJG6 was retained.

The particular order you quoted talks of each remaining Staffel using only one aircraft type (Ju88 or Bf110) instead of two. Despite this, each of the NJG6 Staffeln continued using both Ju88s and Bf110s until the end of the war.

Regarding the 13-14 February 1945 order, I don't think it was carried out as planned. All Gruppen of NJG6 ended up flying Nachtschlacht sorties (from late March 1945 onward) while III./NJG6 flew Nachtjagd sorties (from 21-22 February 1945 onward).

Cheers

Rod

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hi Rod,

Thank you very much for the additional information and clarification. I have now all I need to complete the article.

Cheers,

Roger

[Karsten]

Hi Roger,
i have the Kock book twice.
we can made an Exchange one kock for one of your book

KG Rüdigr