II/StG 3 17 Oct 40

[Chris Goss]

Luftwaffe records record that at 1405 hrs on 17 Oct 40, 8 Stukas from II/StG 3 led by Hptm Nöller, attacked a British submarine off Le Havre at 1435 hrs. Can anyone throw any light on this action from either sides?

[robert]

Hi,

8 SC500 bombs were dropped: a large oil patch and underwater explosion was observed but it had been later reported that they attacked an old wreck.

Regards

Robert

[Chris Goss]

Thanks I have that too. Do we know any more about Hptm Nöller?

[Matti Salonen]

Possibly this guy:
1941-02-05, 4./St.G 2, Ju 87 R-2, 5677, T6+AM, 30 km östlich Cap Carbonara, Notwasserung infolge Motorschaden. Bruch 100 %.
Flugzeugführer (Staffelkapitän) Hptm Nöller, Rolf, +
Bordfunker Ofw Thieme, Gerhard, +

Matti

[Chris Goss]

Thanks Matti so it looks like StG 3 was a typo for StG 2 as I thought the former was formed much later?

[Stig Jarlevik]

All

Any idea what the unit was doing in Italy at the time? Is Cap Carbonara the one located at Bari?

Cheers
Stig

[Jim P.]

Loss was reported under X.Fl.Korps.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Ah yes, Sicily of course.

But Bari is a long way from 'home'. Crew on their way to or back from Germany?

Cheers
Stig

[Chris Goss]

How far is it from Trapani which is where they were based before North Africa

[Stig Jarlevik]

Good question Chris

It depends on if my assumption that Cap Carbonara is the one at Bari or not.
If it is, it is pretty far away since Trapani is basically on the western tip of Sicily while Bari is on the east coast of mainland Italy.

Trapani itself is a very good base if you want to cut off shipping moving through the Meds...

Cheers
Stig