Who Attacked Convoy UGS 30

[mjbollinger]

Convoy UGS 30 was attacked on 1 February 1944. Chris Goss writes that II/KG 40 (with the Hs 293) was involved in the attack, along with KG 26. He provides subtantial information to validate that position.

Ulf Balke writes that II/KG 100 (also with the Hs 293) was involved in the attack, along with KG 26 and other units of Fliegerdivision 2. Balke's statement is backed up by archival information on KG 100. (Since II/KG 100 was also deployed to Anzio at that time, I'm a little surprised about this. II/KG 40 had been withdrawn from Anzio.)

Did both II/KG 40 and II/KG 100 attack UGS 30 on the evening of 1 February? Can anyone shed light on this?

Thanks

Marty

[Nick Beale]

III./KG 26's He 111's were involved as well.

[Doug Stankey]

Checking with:
“The Allied Convoy System 1939-1945 Its Organization, Defense and Operation” by Arnold Hague; Vanwell Publications. December 2000. ISBN 1551250330.
I see that convoy UGS 30 departed Hampton Roads 14 January 1944 bound for Port Said with 66 vessels. This convoy was attacked by aircraft on 1 February 1944 and lost one ship: the “Edward Bates” (7176 GRT) loaded with flour.

Checking my copy of “Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe, A Reference Source”, the only possible units potentially involved in this attack at this time were:

I./ K.G.26 – attacked shipping off Anzio Nettuno
II./K.G. 26 – in East Prussia
III./K.G. 26 attacked invasion shipping during this time period (January to April), but no UGS convoys specifically noted.
I./K.G. 30 was in transit this date.
II./K.G. 30 attacked Anzio bridgehead this date.
III./K.G. 30 –not in region
I./K.G. 40 on Atlantic missions.
II./K.G. 40 ops against Anzio and Nettuno landings
III./K.G. 40 ops over Atlantic.
I./K.G. 100 - Steinbock missions
II./K.G. 100 – attacked UGS 30 near Oran on this date.
III./K.G. 100 – in SW France but inactive.
I./K.G. 54 - Steinbock missions
II./K.G. 54 - Steinbock missions
III./K.G. 54 in Germany rebuilding.
I./K.G. 77 in East Prussia.
II./K.G. 77 in East Prussia
III./K.G. 77 in S France to attack shipping, but no attacks noted on/about the time in question.
I./LG. 1 – attacked shipping off Anzio.
II./LG. 1 – attacked partisans near Adriatic.
III./LG. 1 – attacked Anzio beachhead.

Thus the only real candidates are III./K.G. 26 and II./K.G. 100 with the later being the most likely.

I hope this clears things up.

[mjbollinger]

Doug,

Many thanks. Looks as if that confirms the case for II./KG 100, which is supported both by Balke's book and by the Luftwaffe operations analysis of KG 100.

Chris: any way to resolve this? Your book quotes pilots with KG 26 and ZG 1 saying they were escorting He 177s of KG 40. Could they be mistaken? Or is this the only case where both II/KG 40 and II/KG 100 attacked the same convoy with Hs 293s.

Thanks.

MB

[Chris Goss]

Baumann of ZG 1 confirms the mix of aircraft attacking the convoy and although there could have been a mix of He 177s, 4/KG 40 lost Ofw Oskar Adam and his crew in operations over the Med that day; I have no other He 177 losses that day