3./NAGr. 4 (2nd)
3./NAGr. 4 (2nd Formation)
(Unit Code L8+)
Formation. (March 1944)
Formed on or about 1 March 1944 (7 March 1944?) in Germany (ex-2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 31) and equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109G single-seat fighters outfitted for reconnaissance missions. For reasons unknown, the Staffel was not entered in the Feldpost Directory until 21 April 1944.[1]
Central Russia and Poland. (March 1944 - December 1944)
2 March 1944: based at Orsha under NAGr. 4. It seems unlikely that the entire Staffel had arrived by this date. The front in Belorussia was relatively stable until 22 June.
1 April 1944: Staffel reported 15 Bf 109 G-8 on strength.
25 June 1944: ordered to transfer from Orsha to Mogilev for operations under NAGr. 10. The Soviet summer offensive in Belorussia had commenced on 22 June and quickly overran both Orsha and Mogilev, so it is questionable if the Staffel actually moved to the latter.
28 June 1944: at Minsk-Shodino under NAGr. 10.
July – September 1944: withdrew across Poland until the Soviet offensive halted east of the Vistula. Mentioned, but unconfirmed, are: Vilnius (to 6 July), Zamosc-Dub/south-east Poland (to 21 July), Turbia/79 km south-south-west of Lublin (to 25 July), Piastow/south-central Poland (to August), Naglowice/72 km north of Kraków (to September). During the withdrawal, 3./NAGr. 4 flew numerous missions each day, often with the front no more than 30 to 40 kilometers east of the airstrip it was operating from.
October – December 1944: at Rakowice/north Poland, a small strip near Gniezno/45 km east-north-east of Posen (Poznan), under NAGr. 15.
30 November 1944: had 10 Bf 109 G-6 and G-8, and 5 Bf 110 G-2 and G-3 on hand. During it existence from March through November 1944, 3./NAGr. 4 had 9 Bf 109 combat losses and at least 12 more non-combat losses.
c.1 December 1944: renamed 1./NAGr. 15, presumably at Rakowice.
FpN: 3./NAG 4 (L 28872).
Staffelkapitän:
Oblt. Johann Mauser ( ? - c.1 December 1944)
© 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; G.Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte (Osnabrück, 1980); N.Kannapin - Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945, 3 Bde (I – III) (Osnabrück, 1980-82); NARA WashDC: RG 242 (Microcopy T-311 roll 228/491); PRO London: AIR 40/1977; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 40/Kart; M.Holm-website ww2.dk.