4. Seenotstaffel
4. Seenotstaffel
(Unit Code: ??+ - assigned Mar 44)
Formation. (Dec 39)
Formed 1 December 1939 at Norderney in the West Frisian Islands (this is from a single secondary source, appears to be plausible, but needs corroboration. Another source states that it was formed in June 1940 at Wilhelmshaven.). In any event, the Staffel remained at Norderney throughout its entire existence. Equipped with He 59s. Subordinated to Seenotzentrale (L) Nord (to Jun 42).[1]
Northwest Germany. (Dec 39 - Aug 44)
20 Jul 40: He 59 shot down by an RAF Hurricane 5 km off Cherbourg, 100%, 4 MIA.[2] [Note: the Staffel was never based in western and northern France, but it may have sent a few aircraft and crews to reinforce 1. and 2. Seenotstaffeln that were based there.]
15 Aug 40: He 59 shot down by 6 Spitfires 19 km east of Deal in Kent, 100%, 1 KIA and 1 WIA.
10 Sep 40: Fw 58 damaged taxiing at Fp. Wesermünde (Blexen)/3 km W of Bremerhaven, 5%.
11 Sep 40: Fw 58 belonging to Sonderkdo. Wesermünde/Seenotflugkommando 4 damaged landing at Fp. Reims in France, 90%, 1 WIA. The Sonderkommando appears to have been a short-lived detachment since there is no further mention of it after this date.
2 Oct 40: He 59 landed in a minefield at sea and blew up (location not reported), 100%, 4 KIA.
4 Oct 40: He 59 force landed and then capsized while under tow, 100%.
28 Apr 41: Staffel had 6 He 59s plus several training aircraft with a total of 7 crews.[3]
13 Jun 41: at Norderney flying air-sea rescue missions over the North Sea area.[4]
8 Jul 41: Fw 58 crashed at Norderney due to pilot error, 30%.
1 May 42: Staffel reported 10 x He 59C, /D, /E, /N, 1 x Do 24T, 3 x Do 18D, 1 x He 115B and 1 x He 115 B-2 on strength.[5]
Jun 42: now under Seenotbereichskdo. V (ex-Seenotzentrale (L) Nord).
8 Jul 43: Do 24 shot up and destroyed by low-flying Allied aircraft at De Mook (not located, but possibly NE Holland), 100%.
27 Jul 43: Do 24 (KO+KB) reported missing north of Ameland Is. in the West Frisians off the Dutch coast, 100%, 6 MIA.
8 Sep 43: He 59 crashed near Hungerburg/40 km WNW of Flensburg in Schleswig-Holstein, 100%, 5 KIA.
Jul 44: had a Kdo. (detachment) at Amsterdam-Schellingwoude.[6]
19 Aug 44: renamed Seenotstaffel 80 of Seenotgruppe 80 at Norderney.[7]
FpN:(L 13783)
Staffelkapitän:
Lt.(d.R.) Karl Born (Dec 39 - Sep 41)
© H.L. deZeng IV, 2024
References
- ↑ Dierich-VdL:283-97; Luftwaffen-Revue magazine, Heft (issue) 4/1990:83; M.Holm-website ww2.dk, PRO London: ADM 223/OIC-SI (Operational Intelligence Centre - Special Intelligence), a daily intelligence report based on ULTRA and other signals intelligence that began about January 1942; PRO London: AIR 40 Air Ministry intelligence documents.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
- ↑ F.Kurowski-Seekrieg aus der Luft: Die deutsche Seeluftwaffe im Zweiten Weltkrieg:92.
- ↑ K.Born-Rettung zwischen den Fronten: Seenotdienst der deutschen Luftwaffe 1939-1945:84.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: Flugzeug-Bereitstellungen (Aircraft Availability Status Reports – FzB) in: M.Holm-website (ww2.dk).
- ↑ NARA WashDC: RG 242/T-971 roll 18 (Lfl.3 order of battle list for 10.7.44); T-321 (Lfl.3 order of battle list for 25.7.44).
- ↑ AFHRA Maxwell: decimal K113 Karlsruhe Collection, unpublished manuscript “Geschichte d. Seenotdienst 1939-45”; N.Kannapin-Feldpostübersicht; D.Jung/B.Wenzel/A.Abendroth-Die Schiffe und Boote der deutschen Seeflieger 1912-1976:195.
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