1./NAGr. 5
1./NAGr. 5
(Unit Code U2+)
Formation. (August 1943)
Ordered formed in August 1943 at Herzogenaurach/Bavaria (ex-2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 21) and equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109G single-seat fighters outfitted for reconnaissance missions. The Staffel’s Feldpost number was first assigned on 13 October 1943, which would give it an effective date of formation of approximately 1 October 1943.[1]
Germany, Norway, North Russia and Latvia. (October 1943 - May 1945)
(See Stab/NAGr. 5 for more information.)
October – December 1943: formation and work-up at Herzogenaurach.
January 1944: still at Herzogenaurach on 6 January, then evidently ordered to Norway around 10-12 January for reasons unknown.
20 January 1944: listed as being in Norway with 12 Bf 109Gs “taken from schools”. It is unclear from the contemporary documents whether the aircraft accompanied the Staffel to Norway or whether they were being picked up in Norway. At any rate, this rather strange detour to Norway is well documented.
10 February 1944: in transfer from Norway to join NAGr. 5 in North Russia.
1 March 1944: Staffel reported 16 Bf 109 G-6/U3 on strength.
31.3.44: now at Idritsa near the border between Russia and Latvia under NAGr. 5 with 13 Bf 109Gs.
May 1944: heavy losses - 3 Bf 109 G-6/U3 lost in action and another 6 Bf 109G lost in non-combat crashes and accidents. This was the Staffel’s worst month to at least the end of September.
June 1944: elements of 1./NAGr. 5 sent to Immola/Finland around 17 June for temporary assignment to Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey and remained there until about 15 July; the Kuhlmey force was used against the Russian offensive in the Karelian Isthmus north of Leningrad that began on 8 June.
26 June 1944: the main part of the Staffel was still at Idritsa under NAGr. 5.
July – September 1944: probably at Welonen (Viläni, Vileni or Viljane) to 26 July, then Jakobstadt (Jekabpils) in August and then Riga-Skulte to about 22 September with Stab/NAGr. 5.
27 September 1944: transferred to Talsi (Talsen)/north-west Latvia with NAGr. 5 and then to Nemaksciai/south-west Lithuania the same day, remaining there to about mid-November.
30 September 1944: the Staffel had a total of 12 Bf 109 combat losses from February to the end of September 1944 and a further 16 to non-combat causes.
27 November 1944: returned to north-west Latvia and now at Saldus (Frauenburg) under NAGr. 5 with 8 Bf 109s.
12 December 1944: still at Saldus.
January 1945: moved to Cirava/68 km west of Saldus in January or February.
23 February 1945: Bf 109 G-8 crashed due to engine failure - location not reported, 80%.
26 February 1945: Fi 156 C-3 damaged in Russian air attack on Cirava, 40%.
14 March 1945: Staffel ordered disbanded this date by Luftflotte 1.
15 March 1945: Bf 109 G-6 crashed taking off from Cirava, 100%, Oblt. Wolfgang Schulze injured.
28 April 1945: still operational in Latvia under NAGr. 5 and remained so until the surrender on 8 May.
FpN:1./NAGr. 5 (L 08160).
Staffelkapitän:
Oblt. Rudolf Fischer ( ? - 8 May 1945)
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress).
(1st Draft 2022)
References
- ↑ W.Dierich - Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935-1945: Gliederungen und Kurzchroniken – Eine Dokumentation; N.Kannapin - Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945, 3 Bde (I – III) (Osnabrück, 1980-82); K.Köhler - “Der Einsatz der Luftwaffe im Bereich der Heeresgruppe Nord von Ende Juni bis Mitte Oktober 1944”, in Meier-Welcker, Hans (ed.), Abwehrkämpfe am Nordflügel der Ostfront 1944-1945 (Stuttgart, 1963), p.37; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (Microcopy T-321 roll 10); AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 512.625S (British Air Ministry) OKL document; PRO London: AIR 40/1978, 1983; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs); BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 4 II/32; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 2 III/728; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 40/Kart; M.Holm-website ww2.dk.