KG60 unit symbol ?

[Andre Chissel]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone provide me with details of the unit symbol for KG60 and or any photos of any aircraft of this unit please ?

I am researching convoy KMF-5 generally and from some ULTRA intercepts that I have recently managed to obtain copies of, KG60 attacked KMF-5 on December 21/22 1942.

Many thanks in anticipation

Andre

[Stig Jarlevik]

Andre

The only formed unit I./KG 60 is one of the more obscure bomber units in Luftwaffe. It's two operational Staffeln were formed from a training unit giving instructions to future Luftwaffe operational leaders in dive bombing. It seems like forming this operational unit was again one of Dietrich Peltz ideas since he was made the first commander of the unit, whose missions were to dive-bomb shipping with their Ju 88. It was formed in August 1942 and dissolved in Februari 1943.

I doubt very much that any unit marking(s) ever existed. Peltz does not seem to me being an individual who would encourage anything like it and the unit was too small and specialised to have any basic need of such an esprit-de-corp emphasizer...

Photos are probably few to find. I can only recall one photo of a Ju 88A P1+PK on its nose at Cagliari

Cheers
Stig

[Andre Chissel]

Thanks Stig,

Well this unit definitely took part in the attack on KMF-5, they threw KG26 and KG60 at it and wanted KG30 to attack it as well but they did not (I think because of the weather).

Thanks for your help, much appreciated

Andre

[Doug Stankey]

Photos of aircraft of KG 60 are very rare. The only one I know of is in Rosch’s Unit Codes book page 253. It clearly shows the code but no insignia.

As for operations, according to our Bomber Units book, it was certainly in the right position to attack convoys but off Algeria but no such attacks are cited for that time. However on, 7 January 1943 it did attack a convoy off Bougie/Algeria. By 16 January 1943, it was down to only 4 serviceable a/c so further ops were unlikely.


According to the authoritative “The Allied Convoy System 1939-1945 Its Organization, Defense and Operation” by Arnold Hague; Vanwell Publications. December 2000. ISBN 1551250330. We find the following convoy information:

KMF 5 departed Cyde/Scotland 12 Dec 1942 and arrived Gibraltar on 20 December 1942, and therefore could not have been involved in the incident in question BUT convoy


KMF 5A (departed the Gibraltar on 20 December 1942 and arrived at Algiers on 22 December 1942, losing one ship, the Strathallan (British registry - 23,722 tons) on 22 December carrying 4,691 troops but lost only 6! This loss is attributed to U-562 and not to a/c.

It looks to me like KG 60 had little or no involvement in this.



Hope this helps!

[Andre Chissel]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for taking the time to research this.

I have recently received a shed load of ULTRA decrypts for the time in question, hence my sudden interest in KG60 and KG30.

The decrypts positively state that KG60 attacked my convoy (KG30 being told to but weather prevented them) but they attacked the Cameronia, not the Strathallan.

In fact, KG60 formed two of the three aircraft (the other being a torpedo bomber from KG26) that simultaneously attacked the Cameronia. The Cameronia did not sink, but struggled to the port of Bougie and I believe that that explains the information that you have. The Cameronia was not lost like the Strathallan.

Yes strictly speaking KMF-5 ended at Gib and KMF-5A officially was formed for the ongoing journey to various ports in North Africa.

However, all of the official reports of the time that cover the outward leg of the journey (from the initial port of embarkation to the final port of dis-embarkation) simply refer to the convoy as KMF-5, KMF-5A does not get a mention.

I do point out in the book that I am writing that there is this difference between KMF-5 and KMF-5A but it is to all intents and purposes a distinction without a difference and like the report writers of the time I too have taken to refering to KMF-5 and KMF-5A as simply KMF-5.

Re the Strathallan, the losses onboard vary depending on who you talk to.

The actual official death toll is 16 (I have the names) but it is likely that the true death toll may run into many dozens - nevertheless the rescue of the troops onboard is probably one of the greatest rescue missions never told carried out by the Royal Navy.

Yup The U562 torpedoed the Strathallan, she fired a spread of four torpedoes, one hitting the ship.

Andre