4./SAGr. 126
4./Seeaufkl.Gr. 126
Unit Code: (D1 + )
Formation (Sep 1943)
Formed 24 September 1943 at Skaramanga (Salamis) near Athens/Greece (ex-2./SAGr.125) with Arado Ar 196 floatplanes.[1]
Greece - Aegean Sea (Nov 1943 – Sep 1944)
30.11.43: now operational after completing formation and work-up, Staffel ordered to transfer from Skaramanga to Constanta-Mamaia/Romania this date, with intermediate stop at Pola in Istria. [2]
4.12.43: above order changed - 2./SAGr.125 to move to Constanta-Mamaia instead, and 4,/SAGr.126 to take its place at Suda Bay/Crete. [3]
28.2.44: at Suda Bay and remained there until September 1944 - flew convoy escort and coastal reconnaissance around Crete. [4]
1.6.44: Staffel credited with shooting down 4 twin-engined RAF Beaufighters without losing any Ar 196s during a fierce battle over a small German convoy just north of Heraklion along the northern coast of Crete. 4./SAGr.126 was flying escort over the supply convoy, which consisted of 3 small coastal freighters, 4 torpedo boats, 3 anti- submarine vessels and 2 minesweepers. En-route from the Greek mainland to Crete, the convoy was attacked (according to the Germans) by 25 B-26 Marauders, 18 Beaufighters and 5 Spitfires, which succeeded in sinking two of the cargo ships and two of the anti-submarine vessels. [5]
10.9.44: Staffel ordered disbanded this date.[6]
11.9.44: transferred from Suda Bay to Travemünde/N Germany via Salonika, Belgrade and Vienna, the movement being completed by 15 September. The Ar 196s were turned in and the personnel divided between fighter training units and Flak units, while others were reassigned to the Army. [7]
FpN: 4./SAGr.126 (L 06608).
Staffelkapitän
Hptm. Paul Kriebel (Sep 43 - Sep 44)
Also see:
ABRAMOWSKI, Helmut, Lt.z.S.
BÖCKING (BOECKING? BÖCKLING?), ? , Lt.
BRANDT, Harro, Oblt.
BRANNATH, Hugo, Lt.
BRUNSWIG, Friedrich-Karl, Lt.
KELLNER (KRUKELLNER?), Friedrich, Lt.
KRUKELLNER (KELLNER?), Friedrich, Lt.
RICHTER, Heinz, Oblt.
SCHÄFER, ...?..., Oblt.
SINGER, Wolfgang, Oblt.
SPRINGER, Gerd, Oblt.
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2022).
(1st Draft 2022)
Additional Notes and Losses
10.12.43 – Strength 9 Arados (7 serviceable), 12 crews (10 ready).[8]
13.12.43 – Strength 8 Arados (5 serviceable), crews 11 (9 ready, of which 2 detached to Phaleron)[9]
14.12.43 – Strength 8 Arados (5 serviceable of which 3 detached to Rhodes), 11 crews (ready 9 of whom 3 on Rhodes and 2 Phaleron)[10]
15.12.43 – Air escort arangements for convoy. Staffel to transfer 4 Arados to Leros. Operations to be controlled by the Leros Staffel (3./SAGr 126)[11]
19.12.43 – Orders for 20.12.43, 2 aircraft transferring from Suda to Leros to be employed by Leros Staffel (3./SAGr 126?). These two aircraft to return to Suda the same day.[12]
24.12.43 - Midday strength report – aircraft 9 (8), crews 11 (Ready 9)[13]
31.12.43 – Strength return – 9 Arados all serviceable, 11 crews of which 9 ready. 1 Arado and crew detached to Kotor.[14]
References
- ↑ Kurowski:250; Tessin; Kannapin; Defieux.
- ↑ ULTRA.
- ↑ ULTRA
- ↑ NARA T-311:177/818, 178/701, 179/601 and 641, 180/433.
- ↑ Kurowski:2663; T-311:180 H.Gr.E KTB entry; CLs.
- ↑ ULTRA HP640; Defieux.
- ↑ Kurowski:267
- ↑ DEFE3/12 VL1808
- ↑ DEFE3/12 VL1848
- ↑ DEFE3/12 VL1925
- ↑ DEFE3/12 VL1973
- ↑ DEFE3/14 VL2391
- ↑ DEFE3/16 VL2813
- ↑ DEFE3/17 VL3050