1.(F)/SAGr. 131
1. (F)/Seeaufkl.Gr. 131
Unit Code: (8L + )
Formation (July 1943)
Formed 15 July 1943 at Tromsø/N Norway (ex-3.(F)/Küstenfliegergruppe 406). This formation order was changed on 10 August 1943 and 3.(F)/406 replaced by 3.(F)/SAGr. 130. Equipped with Blohm und Voss BV 138C flying boats. [1]
Norway
10.8.43: (Lfl.5) - BV 138 (K6+FL) missing and probably shot down over the North Arctic, 100%, 5 KIA.
30.9.43: all of elements at Tromsø - Staffel had a total of 9 BV 138s on strength.[2].
6.10.43: now identified at Trondheim.[3]
10/43: the several Ar 196 losses that follow suggest the attachment of the so-called Arado-Kette Ostnorwegen to 1.(F)/SAGr.131. The Kette of Ar 196s was based at Aalesund on the Norwegian coast north of Bergen.
18.10.43: (Lf1l5) - Ar 196 crashed at Aalesund, 100%, 2 killed.
16.11.43: Staffel at Trondheim with 8 BV 138s. [4].
23.11.43: (Lfl.5) - Ar 196 crashed at Aalesund, 100%, crew safe.
23.11.43: (Lfl.5) - Ar 196 force landed at Hildre/l17 km NE of Aalesund in bad weather, 60%, crew safe.
12/43 - 1/44: Staffel departed Norway, with an intermediate stop in Germany to rest and refit.
South Russia - Black Sea and Bulgaria
19.2.44: Sevastopol/Crimea under Fliegerführer Schwarzes Meer - Staffel had just arrived from Germany with 7 BV 138s to reinforce 1.(F)/SAGr. 125 which was also based at Sevastopol. [5]
4/44: withdrawn from Crimea as the Soviets opened their offensive to retake the peninsula, and on 17 April was based at Varna/Bulgaria. [6]
15.5.44: Varna with 8 BV 138s on strength.[7]
24.5.44: reassigned back to Luftflotte 5 in Norway this date, but as noted below the Staffel did not return to Norway. [8]
31.5.44: ordered disbanded this date with all remaining aircraft to be handed over to 1.(F) and 2.(F)/SAGr. 130. [9]
25.6.44: identified at Ansbach/S Germany without aircraft and in process of disbanding.[10].
7/44: disbandment completed (FpN deleted 19 August 1944).
FpNs: 1.(F)/SAGr.131 (L 35396, L 34591).
Staffelkapitän
Hptm. Johannes Greve (1944 - 5.44)
Also see:
BARZEL, Rainer, Lt.
BAUER, Erich, Lt.
BAUER, Herbert, Lt.
KAUFER, Gerhard, Lt.
RISCH, Hans-Werner, Oblt.
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2022).
(1st Draft 2022)
References