Bougie, 11.XI.1942

[crolick]

Hello,

can anyone would be so kind and would provided me with information about Luftwaffe units which were operating over Bougie on 11th November, 1942?!

I'm not only interested in the name of the specific unit but also in the number of planes which were involved in the action as well as the estimated (by the German side) results of the air raids.

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Andrzej

[obdl3945]

Hi, Andrzej...

Luftwaffe Aerial Torpedo Aircraft and Operations in World War Two by Harold Thiele (Hikoki publications) provides the following information:

On the nights of 10th and 11th November, 1942, missions were flown at twilight by a small group of He111s with airborne torpedos against shipping of the Algerian coast. Two Heinkels from KG26 were lost off Bone, with a further one lost off Bougie. A further two apparently landed back at their base with torpedos still attached. On evening of 12 November, twenty-one torpedo-equipped aircraft - fifteen Heinkel He111s, eleven of which were from 1. Staffel/KG26, and six Junkers Ju88s - also attacked shipping off the Algerian coast, but no hits were claimed.

The book is a great source of information of Luftwaffe maritime operations - if you're interested, the ISBN No is 1-902109-42-2.

Hope this helps...

Regards

[crolick]

Hi,

thanks for the info obdl3945.
Some information is always better then none!

Do you think that only KG26 was operating in the area or it might be possible that Italian units took part as well?!

Cheers

[obdl3945]

Andrzej...

Will try and confirm tomorrow for you. Don't have any information to hand at present.

Regards

[obdl3945]

Andrzej...

Apparently on 9 November, 1942, there were some Italian airforce units in action against the Allied landings off the coast of Algeria. The Italian involvement was in conjunction with Luftwaffe machines, using both conventional bomber and torpedo-bomber aircraft, with little success. A total of fourteen German and Italian machines were lost off Bougie on this day, including the machine of Gruppenkommandeur and RKT Hauptmann Karl Barth, II.Gruppe/KG26, along with two Junkers Ju88s and possibly a further Heinkel from III.Gruppe/KG26.

I have no information as to the particular Italian units or aircraft used, but perhaps someone else on the forum could assist with that information.

Regards

[crolick]

Hello once again obdl3945!

So according to your sources there were only 2 air raids over Bougie between 11 and 12.XI [by 15 He111 + 6 Ju.88] and no other Italian ones?!
Thanks once again!

Regards