Aufkl. Gr. 122 Aug 1942

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From Aug 1942 sorties were flown as far as Gibraltar, the Ju 88A-4s of FAGr 122, carrying two auxiliary fuel tanks, operated from Trapani or Cagliari and flew a direct route operating to the south of Malaga at a height of between seven and eight thousand metres. Results from these sorties were considered to be good. However, there were quite a few failures due to engine problems that lead to aircraft returning early from their mission. For that reason two machines were sent out two hours after the first sorties had commenced, they received instructions from ground control to return if it was clear that the earlier aircraft were going to complete their mission.[1] A Ju 88A of FAGr 122 was the first Axis aircraft to spot the convoys of Operation Torch.

In the late summer of 1942, six He 111s of Kőthen Signals Research Establishment (Maj. Koch) were attached to FAGr. 122 for night ASV trials using a captured British Radar together with Rostok and Lichtenstein “S”, these were eventually supplanted by FuG 200 Hohentweil. Koch’s Kommando trained all of the current crews of the Italian based elements of FaGr 122 in its use.

Aug 1942 – 4(F)./122 was transferred to Fp.Samorsk/28 km NW of Kerch.[2]

4 Aug 1942 – 3.(F)/122 based at Creil operated the following flights to the English East Coast:-

(a) F6+BL departed Creil at 02.51 hrs Z on a shipping reconnaissance sortie between Scarborough and Southwold. The aircraft was “in area” between 04.05 and 04.45 hrs Z – no shipping was sighted. F6+BL landed back at Creil at 05.33 hrs Z.

(b) F6+LL left Creil at 03.30 hrs Zto cover the coast between the Thames Estuary and Happisburgh, this aircraft was “in area” between 03.58 and 05.00 hrs Z, no shipping was sighted. The crew were instructed to land at Schiphol due to bad weather at Creil, the landing took place at 06.55 hrs Z.

(c) F6+LL’s second sortie was from Schiphol at 16.58 hrs Z for the evening sortie covering the area from Happisburgh to the outer Thames Estuary. The aircraft was “in area” between 08.35 and 19.15 hrs Z. Fighters were reported at 18.41 hrs Z. No shipping was sighted and the aircraft landed back at Creil at 21.00 hrs Z.

(d) F6+BL’s second sortie was an early evening flight that encompassed the Thames Estuary all the way to Flamborough Head. The plane departed Creil at 18.00 hrs, was “in area” between 19.00 and 19.45 hrs Z, reported being attacked by fighters at some point during the flight, at 19.45 hrs Z the crew reported sighting 3 ships on a northerly course approx 60 km east of Bridlington/Flamborough Head. F6+BL landed at Soesterberg at 20.10 hrs Z.[3]

5 Aug 1942 – At 06.25 hrs a recce plane from 4(F)./122 flying at 2500 m reported a fast patrol boat at 85550/34 Ost and then later (06.50 hrs) when flying at 2700m reported a small freighter.[4]

An aircraft of 3(F)./122 flew the unit’s 1500th Feindflug.[5]

3.(F)/122 1500th Feindflug

6 Aug 1942 – At 04.42 hrs and aircraft of 4(F)./122, while flying at 5000m, reported a torperdo boat on course 120 degrees.[6]

At 06.15 hrs an aircraft of 4(F)./122 reported the sighting of a 400 ton vessel and minesweeper at 94110/34 Ost while flying at 2000m.[7]

At 06.20 another aircraft of 4(F)./122 reported sighting a fast patrol craft.[8]

At 0635 hrs an aircraft of 4(F)./122 flying at 1500m reported a fast patrol boat at 75698/34 Ost.[9]

At 16.10 hrs an aircraft of 4(F)./122, flying at 4500m, reported infantry at a bridge in Gradnetze 96812/34 Ost.[10]

Between 03.00 and 14.30 hrs Z 1(F)./122 had five Ju 88s (F6+AH, F6+BH, F6+EH, F6+HH and F6+NH) out patrolling the Sicilian Straits.[11]

9 Ju 88s from 2(F)./122, including several from Westa 26, were out from approximately 03.00 hrs Z until 14.30 hrs Z. They were searching the western Mediterranean between the N. African Coast and 39º N as far as Pl. Qu. 13 W 27 in order to try and locate the aircraft carrier groupreported to have left Gibraltar on 5 Aug.[12]

07 Aug 1942 – Three Ju 88s of 1(F)./122 (including F6+EH and F6+KH) flew sorties out of Trapani and were down by 17.15 hrs Z.[13]

08 Aug 1942 – At 06.25 hrs a reconnaissance sortie operated by 4(F)./122 reported the following:-

Altitude 5000m, Gradnetz 76851/34 Ost, a column of 60 vehicles heading south, a further column of 12 vehicles towards the south and another unit in the same direction.[14]

An aircraft of 4(F)./122, while flying at 300m, reported at 07.30 hrs the sighting of German troops.[15]

A Bf 109 of 1(F)./122, with escort, was over Valetta Harbour early morning to perform a photo reconnaissance of the harbour.[16]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
8 Aug 1942 1(F)./122 Ju 88D-1trop Crashed and burned near Grottaglie/Italy, aircraft destroyed. Hptm. Cherubinn (Sta.Kap.) + 3 killed.

9 Aug 1942 – At 10.45 hrs and 11.40 hrs an aircraft of 4(F)./122 reported back to ground control. Then at 18.50 hrs another aircraft of 4(F)./122 flying at 3000m reported sighting a small ship.[17]

A Bf 109 of 1(F)./122, with escort, was over Valetta Harbour at midday carrying out its allotted task.[18]

10 Aug 1942 – 2(F)./122 sent out aircraft to search for the "Pedestal" relief convoy en-route from Gibraltar to Malta. The staffel lost a Ju 88 damaged by Fleet Air Arm carrier aircraft during this operation. The convoy had in fact just reached the Straits of Gibraltar.

Six Ju 88s of 2(F)./122 arrived at Elmas from Trapani and were refueled. Elmas reported at 2030hrs this left only 16m3 of B4 fuel remaining.[19]

For the next few days FAGr 122 flew 4 or 5 sorties per day to keep in touch with “Pedastal” and it’s escorts. The usual routes were parallel to the North African Coastas far north as the line Cagliari-Cartegena and as far towards Gibraltar as 1° West. Good weather and a lack of Allied fighter interference enabled a complete picture of the sea activity in the area to be maintained.

11 Aug 1942 – 1(F)./122 spotted and reported the location of the "Pedestal" relief convoy as it moved east from Gibraltar, and continued to shadow the ships over the next several days leading to repeated strikes by Axis bombers and torpedo aircraft against the convoy.[20] 2(F)./122 continued to provide aircraft for the search/shaddowing operation.

At 0400 hrs the six Ju 88s of 2(F)./122 (F6+IK, F6+KK, F6+NK, F6+BK, F6+DK and F6+KH)[21] departed Elmas to carry out a preliminary sea reconnaissance as far as 02Deg West. They were searching for Force F which was taking part in Operation Pedestal.[22] On completion of their mission the aircraft landed back at Elmas prior to returning to Trapani.[23]

At 0615 Force F located by one of the Ju 88s of 2(F)./122 at 03E 1825. The shadowing operation continued throughout the day, being performed by a total of 12 recce Ju 88s all sending beacon signals on 406 kilocycles – one was shot down.[24]

The shadowing aircraft passed navigational instructions to the dive and torpedo bombers as they approached to attack the ships of the convoy.

1(F)./122 had a Bf 109, together with a large escort, over Valetta Harbour at approximately 08.45 hrs Z. Another Bf 109, with an escort of another 3 Bf 109s, was over Valetta in mid-afternoon. This reconnaissance was successful apart for the fact that Valetta was partially obscured by cloud.[25]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
11 Aug 1942 2(F)./122 Ju 88 F6+FK Shot down by Sea Hurricanes from HMS Indomitable while shadowing the "Pedestal" convoy.

12 Aug 1942 – 1(F)./122, 2(F)./122 and Westa 26 had 11 Ju 88s out throughout the day searching for or shadowing the British convoy, and it’s protective screen of warships, in the western Mediterranean. These aircraft reported various sightings between 04.20 hrs Z and 23.38 hrs Z.[26]

13 Aug 1942 – 2(F)./122 and Westa 26 operated a total of 14 sorties (including those by F6+BK, F6+KK, 5M+Q and 5M+B) from Trapani at various times throughout the day, tracking elements of the “Pedestal” convoy and its escorts, reported sightings included:-

1. Heading towards Malta.

(a) At 00.12 hrs Z – 5 ships in Pl. Qu. 13 E 08453.

(b) At 02.00 hrs Z – 14 ships in Pl. Qu. 13 E 1756.

(c) Also at 02.00 hrs Z – 1 sinking tanker on fire (Ohio?) and 1 freighter on fire in Pl. Qu. 13 E 1845.

(d) At 05.20 hrs Z – 1 motor vessel on fire in Pl. Qu. 13 E 1745.

(e) At 05.35 hrs Z – 2 destroyers, 1 battleship, a ship and 5 motor vessels in Pl. Qu. Pl. Qu. 13 E 2759.

(f) At 06.45 hrs Z – 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers in Pl. Qu. Pl. Qu. 13 E 2773.

(g) At 09.05 hrs Z – 2 motor vessels with fighters in Pl. Qu. 13 E 2785.

(h) At 11.00 hrs Z – 2 destroyers and 2 motor vessels in Pl. Qu. 13 E 2783.

(i) At 15.50 hrs Z – a tanker, a motor vessel, 1 destroyer and 2 other escorts in Pl. Qu. 13 E 2783.

(j) At 17.25 hrs Z – a battleship, 4 ships and 4 destroyers travelling at high speed in Pl. Qu. 13 E 2645.

(k) At 18.05 hrs Z – a single motor vessel in Pl. Qu. 13 E 2783.

2. Returning to Gibraltar.

(a) At 05.40 hrs Z – a battleship course west in Pl.Qu. 13 E 1765.

(b) At 08.40 hrs Z – A battleship, 1 cruiser and 4 destroyers on course 270º in Pl. Qu. 03 E 6862.

(c) At 12.25 hrs Z - two destroyers in Pl. Qu. 03 E 9862.

(d) At 13.40 hrs Z – two destroyers on a westerly course travelling at high speed in Pl. Qu. 03 E 9857.

(e) At 14.50 hrs Z – two damaged destroyers in Pl. Qu. 03 E 885.

(f) At 15.08 hrs Z – an aircraft carrier in Pl. Qu. 03 E 9845.

(g) At 16.00 hrs Z – 2 heavy cruisers, travelling at high speed, on course 270º in Pl. Qu. 03 E 8871.

(h) At 17.15 hrs Z – 1 Battleship, 4 destroyers and 4 other ships moving at speed in Pl. Qu. 13 E 2645.

Aircraft on the above sorties encountered fighters between 06.25 – 06.40 hrs Z and 09.20 – 09.33 hrs Z.

There were other sighting which included: wreckage, coloured patches on the water and a submarine submerging.[27]

7 Ju 88s (F6+MH, F6+NH, F6+PH, F6+BH, F6+EH, F6+KH and F6+DH) from 1(F)./122 at Trapani were out looking for the convoy from the morning until 20.50 hrs Z. Between 11.22 hrs Z and 17.20 hrs Z they reported sightings of aircraft carriers, grounded and stopped ships, burning motor vessels etc.[28]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
13 Aug 1942 2(F)./122 Ju 88 F6+KK Shot down by Malta-based Spitfires c.150 km west of Malta while tracking the "Pedestal" convoy.

14 Aug 1942 – Throughout the day 14 Ju 88s from 2(F)./122 and Westa 26 were sent out to search the western and central Mediterranean for British naval forces. The following tasks were assigned to the crews – photo reconnaissance, shipping reconnaissance and shadowing. Known results were as follows:-

(a) At 05.13 hrs Z in Pl.Qu. 03 E 8862 seven warships were reported on a course of 270º at between 20 and 24 knots.

(b) At 07.20 hrs Z in Pl. Qu. 03 E 7856 naval vessels on a westerly course.

(c) At 08.23 hrs Z in Pl. Qu. 03 E 7852 naval vessels on a westerly course.

(d) At 11.10 hrs Z in Pl. Qu. 03 E 6837 naval vessels on a westerly course.

(e) At 13.00 hrs Z in Pl. Qu. 13 E 3646 one large and two small ships on a heading for Malta.

(f) At 16.30 hrs Z in Pl. Qu. 03 E 3641 one large and two small ships on a heading for Malta.

At 18.02 hrs Z ground control ordered three aircraft to search squares 36 and 46 fo rthe reported ships. At 19.00 hrs Z ground control repeated the order for aircraft to search 4617 until 20.00 hrs Z. It appears that these searches were unsuccessful.[29]

A Ju 88 from 1(F)./122 was heard by the British “Y” service operating a shipping reconnaissance sortie between 05.20 and 07.00 hrs Z, probably operating in the central Mediterranean.[30]

A Bf 109 from 1(F)./122 was sent, in the late afternoon with a large fighter escort, to photograph Valetta harbour.[31]

15 Aug 1942 – The tanker “Ohio”, with 10,000 tons of oil on board, was towed into Valetta Harbour (Malta) by British warships. This was the last of 6 surviving ships of the original 14 merchant ships that made up the “Pedestal” convoy.

(F)./122 had an aircraft over La Valetta at about 13.00 hrs Z.[32]

6 Ju 88s from 2(F)./122, flying from Trapani, together with a further four from Westa 26 operated in the central Mediterranean, one of the aircraft going as far east as Pl. Qu. 23 E 35. No sightings were recorded from these flights. The aircraft had landed by 12.40 hrs Z.[33]

1(F)./122 had 2 Ju 88s (F6+NH and F6+MH) flying an early morning patrol over the Straits of Sicily, landing by 05.50 hrs Z.[34]

Later that day 1(F)./122 had five Ju 88s (F6+LH, F6+MH, F6+TH, F6+HH and F6+IH) operating in the vicinity of the Straits of Sicily as far as Pl. Qu. 13 E 26. One of these crews reported the sighting of a submerged submarine at Pl. Qu. 13 E 2733 at 15.30 hrs. All of these aircraft were down by 18.25 hrs Z.[35]

16 Aug 1942 - Russian air attack took place on Fp.Samorsk. 4(F)./122 ground echelon lost 1 KIA and 4 WIA during this attack.

2(F)./122 and Westa 26 had 8 Ju 88s up by about 05.00 hrs Z - 3 operated in the western and 5 in central Mediterranean. Three of those operating in the central Mediterranean landed on Crete by about 14.00 hrs Z. No sightings were reported by any of the crews.[36]

4 Ju 88s (F6+KH, F6+LH, F6+MH and possibly F6+CH)from 1(F)./122 were up in the morning, probably operating in the Straits of Sicily. All aircraft had landed by 12.50 hrs Z. [37]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
16 Aug 1942 4(F)./122 Ju 88D-1 Damaged it’s undercarriage at Fp.Samorsk, 10%.

17 Aug 1942 – In the morning 1(F)./122 sent out 4 Ju 88s to the central Mediterranean (F6+MH, F6+KH, F6+AH and F6+LH). This was most likely in relation to the “Pilo” convoy heading from Trapani to Tripoli. All aircraft had landed by 12.15 hrs Z.[38]

2(F)./122 sent out 4 Ju 88s together with another from Westa 26 on an evening sortie to the central Mediterranean in connection with the “Pilo” convoy. At 14.00 hrs Z “Pilo” had come under attack at Pl. Qu. 13 E 162 and was on fire. 2(F)./122‘s Ju 88s had landed by 22.00 hrs Z.[39]

18 Aug 1942 – 3(F)./122 still reported at Creil.[40]

19 Aug 1942 - 4(F)./122 Gotha Go 145 courier/liaison plane crash landed at Lvov in SE Poland with 30% damage. It was probably there picking up critically needed aircraft parts since Lvov was the location of the main aviation parts and spares depot for the southern front in Russia.

A Ju 88 of 2(F)./122 was sent on a reconnaissance sortie to the western Mediterranean at least as far as Pl. Qu. 03 E 7847, this was probably in relation to the sighting, by Italian aircraft, of three British destroyers at 06.45 hrs Z at Pl. Qu. 03 E 98. Apparently this crew did not sight anything and the aircraft was down by 13.05 hrs Z.[41]

20 Aug 1942 – operating under Luftflotte 1 an aircraft of 5(F)./122 photographed north east Leningrad.[42]

3(F)./122 - 1 Ju 88 (started at 06:15 hrs) sea reconnaissance in the Gravelines area - Qu.05 East / 1230 - 3480 - 1320 - 1220 - Ostend. Weather Report. No naval forces or merchant ships found.[43]

3(F)./122 - Ju 88 (departed at 06.30 hrs) sea reconnaissance in area Ostend - Qu.05 Ost / 3480 - 15 W / 1560 - 05 East / 1380 and weather report. No shipping traffic observed.[44]08.05 hrs flame and smoke sighted at 05 Ost / 3424 – the cause of the fire could not be determined even by flying over it several times.[45]

3.(F)/122 2 Me 109 (take off 19.35 hrs) convoy reconnaissance between the Thames Estuary and Great Yarmouth. At 20.05 hrs a convoy was sighted at 05 Ost/2354. This consisted of 47 vessels of varying sizes – sailing in line astern on a northerly course at low speed.

At 20.15 hrs a single ship was sighted, in Pl. Qu. 05 Ost/1224, the course ands speed of which was not recorded.

At 20.23 hrs in Pl. Qu. 05 Ost/1254, five warships were sighted.[46]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
23 Aug 1942 4(F)./122 Ju 88D-1 F6+MM Failed to return from sortie - no details currently available, 100%,4 MIA (but later returned).

29 Aug 1942 – 5(F)./122 recce sortie to Aprakssin-Gorodok (59.50.00N /31.19.20 E) south of Lake Ladoga.[47] The same unit also photographed the railway at Chotja (Khottsy) (33.07.00E/59.09.00N)[48]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
29 Aug 1942 4(F)./122 Ju 88D-1 Aircraft crash landed at Fp.Odessa, 15%.

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References

  1. ↑ Air 20/8534 page 3.
  2. ↑ LdZ - T-312-op cit.
  3. ↑ HW13/100 via Remi Traconelli.
  4. ↑ 500-12452-000442.pdf pg 36
  5. ↑ Image celebrating this supplied by Adam Thomson see email 08.01.21
  6. ↑ 500-12452 -000441 Luft. 4 Funksprüche 42-07-30 to 08-08 pg 25
  7. ↑ Wwii.germandocsinrussia.org 500-12452-000442.pdf pg 38
  8. ↑ 500-12452 -000441 Luft. 4 Funksprüche 42-07-30 to 08-08 pg 25
  9. ↑ 500-12452-000442.pdf pg 42
  10. ↑ 500-12452-000442.pdf pg 53
  11. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  12. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  13. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  14. ↑ 500-12452 -000441 Luft. 4 Funksprüche 42-07-30 to 08-08 pg 31
  15. ↑ 500-12452 -000441 Luft. 4 Funksprüche 42-07-30 to 08-08 pg 28
  16. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  17. ↑ 500-12452-000442.pdf pg 77 and 100
  18. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  19. ↑ HW13/26 via Adam Thompson
  20. ↑ LdZ - Shores-op cit.
  21. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  22. ↑  HW13/26 via Adam Thompson posting to the www.forum.luftwaffedata.co.uk
  23. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  24. ↑ HW13/26 via Adam Thompson posting to the www.forum.luftwaffedata.co.uk
  25. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  26. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  27. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  28. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  29. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  30. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  31. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  32. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  33. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  34. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  35. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  36. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  37. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  38. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  39. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  40. ↑ LdZ - PRO/London: ADM 223 – OIC/SI Sigint summaries.
  41. ↑ HW13/107 via Andrew Arthy
  42. ↑ J Calvin - Aerial Leningrad\Photographed\60N3020E
  43. ↑ RL 7-3 749 – 20 Aug 1942
  44. ↑ RL 7-3 749 – 20 Aug 1942
  45. ↑ RL 7-3 749 – 20 Aug 1942
  46. ↑ Einzelmeldung Nr 20, 20.8.42 (RL7-III-749)
  47. ↑ http://www.wwii-photos-maps.com/targetrussia/citynamesbeginninga/citynames-arc-bak/slides/Aprakssin-Gorodok%20%20009.html
  48. ↑ http://www.wwii-photos-maps.com/targetrussia/citynamesbeginningc/citynames-carn-czyz/slides/Chotja%20%20029.html
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