More Help with Flugbuch Please

[Tim O.]

Hi Guys

Herr Gaul's writing is testing me again! I would very much appreciate help in translating the comments written against the following three flights on this page of Oberleutnant Willi Gaul's Flugbuch:

20.3.42 flying from Brest 15:27 to 16:30 (just above the KG40 stamp)
14.7.42 flying from Merignac
26.7.42 flying from Merignac

The latter two flights follow Gaul's transfer from 2./906 to III./KG 40 and were flown in an Fw200, the first flight is with 2./906 and in a He115.

Any help appreciated.

Best wishes
Tim O.

[Nordpol54]

Tim,

as far as i was able to decipher

20.3.42 - ???? geborgen (??? rescued/recoverd)
14.7.42 - Feuergefecht mit Whitley (gun fight with Whitley)
26.7.42 - Fühlung gehalten (holding contact)

Hope this is of help.

Best Regards
Norbert

[Chris Goss]

The only recorded combat with a Whitley on 14 Jul 42 was D/58 Sqn which damaged a Ju 88 off the SW Approaches at 2133 hrs

[Nick Beale]

I think 20.3.42 is: Harlinghausen geborgen [Oberst Martin Harlinghausen]

[Tim O.]

Thank you Norbert. That is a tremendous help.

A word that appears during training is 'Verbandsflug'. I had thought this meant 'formation flight' but now I am not so sure! Can you guide me on this one?

Thanks again

Best wishes
Tim O.

[Tim O.]

Thanks Chris and Nick. That is helpful and intriguing information.

Best wishes
Tim O.

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

I think 20.3.42 is: Harlinghausen geborgen [Oberst Martin Harlinghausen]

Nick - just been checking and from what I can see, Harlinghausen had been relieved from his role as Fliegerführer Atlantik in January 1942 and put in charge of torpedo training at this time. Could this be Harlinghausen making a visit ('returning')?

Tim O.

[Tim O.]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

The only recorded combat with a Whitley on 14 Jul 42 was D/58 Sqn which damaged a Ju 88 off the SW Approaches at 2133 hrs

Hi Chris

I hope all is well with you.

More from hope than evidence-based but on this day Gaul was flying with Major Robert Kowalewski as pilot. Although Gaul's flugbuch shows the aircraft as an Fw200, Kowalewski did at least on occasion fly a Ju88, as I think is shown by these two photos from Gaul's album if my aircraft I.D. is up to scratch (which it may not be!).

Clutching at straws, I know but the mission that day was a patrol of the Bay of Biscay lasting 8 hours 21 minutes, which could have put them in the right place perhaps. Then again, the duration perhaps suggests it must have been a Fw200. I guess the Whitley could have mis-identified the aircraft - but in July it was not yet dark at 21:33, which might have explained why a Condor was reported as a Ju88. Maybe, maybe, maybe….

Best wishes
Tim O.

[Nick Beale]

[quote=Tim O.;180713Could this be Harlinghausen making a visit ('returning')?

Tim O.[/QUOTE]

No idea what Harlinghausen was doing that day but "geborgen" means that he was recovered, e.g. from the sea or some kind of mishap. (You could use the same word for recovering a bogged down vehicle, for instance).

[Tim O.]

Thanks Nick