Aufkl. Gr. 122 May 1940

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May 1940 – Towards the end of May 3(F)./122 transferred to Eindhoven/Holland, possibly from Stade.[1]

5(F)./122 reportedly moved to Münster after the start of the campaign in the west.[2]

1 May 1940 – One He 111 from 2.(F)/122 took off from Münster-Loddenheide at 05.58 hrs, this aircraft landed at 10.22 hrs.[3]

He 111s from 1(F)./122 found Vice-Admiral Cunningham’s naval force west of Namsos and Vice-Admiral Edwards-Collin’s units further south. As a consequence of this Cunningham’s ships were attacked by elements of II./KG 26.

An He 111 from 2.(F)/122 departed from Marx at 16.20 hrs.[4]

2 May 1940 – reported that 1.(F)/122 had 5 He 111 available at Stavanger-Sola.[5]

3 May 1940 – An aircraft from 1(F)./122 was sent out on a reconnaissance of the fjords but reported sighting nothing but a few small steamers.[6]

4 May 1940 – 2(F)./122 sent a single aircraft to look at RAF Coltishall – it reported no apparent occupancy and 5 hangers completed.[7]

1(F)./122 deployed 5 aircraft and 3./Ob.d.L. 7 aircraft. Take-off was from 04.00 to 15.20 hrs. Landing from 06.20 to 21.45 hrs. The mission was "Reconnaissance area west", morning and afternoon reconnaissance of fjords between 62° and 63° photo reconnaissance of railway and roads in the areas of Dombass - Andalenes, Molde, Christiansund and Aslesund.

Results: Sea reconnaissance.05.28 hrs at 06 East 4243 two cargo ships of 1500t each heading north. At 05.92 hrs at 06 East 4243 (Erdeysjden) a cargo ship also of 1500t on a course of 45°. At 06.40 hrs in position 05 East 1949 a cargo steamer of 3000 t heading southwest.

Of special interest at 06 East 111 and 112 were a series of regularly recurring white dots observed lying on water. (Net?)[8]

Fjord reconnaissance:Clear of shipping, the photo reconnaissance order was carried out.

On the road between Sundolsöra and Obdal at 06:00 hrs onward German troops were sighted at the bridge 40 km west of Obdal.[9]

5 May 1940 - Between 03.59 and 19.00 hrs 6 aircraft from 1(F)./122 and 3./Ob.d.L carried out photo reconnaissance sorties covering Bodö and Skonseng. Two Sunderlands were spotted in Bodö harbour.[10]

At 05.27 hrs two merchant ships of approx. 3,000 t were sighted in Qu.05 Ost 1947 on a course NE – SW.

At 06.25 hrs a fishing trawler was sighted.

One of the 1(F)./122 He 111s attacked the two Sunderlands in Bodö harbour. Approx. 1,000 rounds were fired at the Sunderlands so that they were unable to take off. A crew member of the 1(F)./122 He 111 was wounded when the two Sunderland flying boats returned fire.[11]

Between 18.00 and 21.40 hrs an aircraft of 2(F)./122 carried out a sortie over East Anglia covering the following airfields:- Marham; landing ground 5km south of Marham; Mildenhall; landing ground 4 km southof Mildenhall; Honington; Ipswich; Feltwell; landing ground 5 km northwest of Feltwell and Harwich. Reporting on the occupancy and number of hangers on the various airfields.[12]

On this day the photographic section of 3.(F)/122 relocated to Münster.[13]

At 21.36 hrs a He 111 of 2.(F)/122 landed.[14]

6 May 40 - 1(F)./122 was ordered to transfer from Stavanger-Sola to Trondheim-Vaernes, but the move appears to have been delayed for a few days.[15]

An aircraft from 2(F)./122 photographed the airfield at Skegness/Winthorpe.[16]

Fliegerführer Stavanger deployed 1.(F)/122 with 3 aircraft, and 3./Ob.d.L. with 2 aircraft. They were instructed to perform coastal reconnaissance up to 200 km from the shore between 59° - 65° North. The priciple mission was reconnaissance in the Narvik area in preparation for an attack by I./K.G.26.

At 05.12 hrs a merchant steamer 250 t. was sighted at 06 East 4273. While at 07.08 hrs the same steamer was seen at 06 East 3277, turning 180° on approach, the bombers set on it aborted due to bad weather.[17]

1.(F)/122, at Stavanger-Sola, reported 6 He 111s available in the afternoon.[18]

7 May 1940: 1(F)./122 was to perform reconnaissance of Tromso in conjunction with 1(F)./120.[19]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
7 May 1940 2(F)./122 He 111H-3 Crashed south of Münster while on a searchlight co-operation exercise. Obfw. Fritz Willuhn, Uffz. Ernst Wessoly, Uffz. Heinz Rucks and Uffz. Gottlob Simon all killed.[20]

8 May 1940 – 1(F)./122 sent, from 02[21].40 hrs, 3 aircraft on a reconnaissance of Narvik. However, they encountered bad weather and were unable to complete the reconnaissance of Narvik.[22]Two aircraft turning back due to the conditions with the third reaching the target but unable to complete the mission due to poor visibility.[23]

9 May 1940 – Two He 111s of 2(F)./122 flew a reconnaissance sortie over the Thames Estuary. Hurricanes of 56 Sqdn intercepted but were unsuccessful in their attacks.

1(F)./122 had two aircraft out on weather reconnaissance sorties - one departed at 02:32 hrs and the second took off at 06:25 hrs returning at 09:50 hrs.[24]

A Ju 88 of 4.(F)/122 took off from Münster before 07.05 hrs.[25]

At 15.54 hrs F6+CK from 2.(F)/122 aborted its mission as at 15.25 hrs one of the engines was damaged.

At 15.20 hrs at Pl. Qu. 15 W 1477 and at an altitude of 5800m the crew reported 10/10 cloud. (Location equates to to M.Qu. 7271 AN).[26]

10 May 1940 – 1(F)./122 was still at Stavanger-Sola under Fliegerführer Stavanger with 6 He 111Hs and 6 Junkers Ju 88As.[27]

2(F)./122 located at Münster-Loddenheide with 7 He 111Hs and 5 Ju 88As under Luftflotte 2 for the campaign in the West beginning this date. Evidence suggests that conversion to the Junkers Ju 88, which began in February 1940, was close to completion. Flew strategic reconnaissance over Belgium and northeast France.[28]

3(F)./122 at Münster-Loddenheide with 10 He 111Hs and 2 Ju 88As directly under Luftflotte 2 for the campaign in the West.[28]

4(F)./122 at Goslar with 7 He 111Hs and 5 Ju 88As directly under Luftflotte 2 (However, some or all operational missions were flown from Köln.)[29]

5(F)./122 located at Köln-Wahn with 11 Do 17Ps under I.Fliegerkorps/Luftflotte 3 for the campaign. A week later I.Fliegerkorps was reassigned to Luftflotte 2.[30]

A Ju 88 of 3.(F)/122 departed Münster on a sortie to England.[31]

11 May 1940 – 3(F)./122 lost a Ju 88 off the Dutch Coast to Spitfires of 19 Sqdn.

1.(F)/122 started with 2 aircraft at 02.25 hrs Z and one landed at 06.55 hrs Z, the other at 11.05 hrs Z. One aircraft reconnoitred near Henmesoy. Bad weather; no results. The other aircraft sighted 3 Allied warships in the Narvik area and looked at the airfield at Bardufoss.

The aircraft found 1 cruiser, course 45°, in 68° 08' N, 15° 15’ E at 05.10 hrs Z; and 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, 3 transports not moving, in 68° 30’ N, 16° 30' E, at 05.45 hrs Z; 1 Cruiser, 1 destroyer, 5 transports outside Harstad at 05.55 hrs Z; 1 heavy cruiser outside Narvik at 07.39 hrs Z; 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers and a merchant vessel, at 67° 15' N, 11° 40' E, course 260°, at 09.10 hrs Z. At 07.00 Hrs Z, the aircraft then reconnoitred the airfield at Bardufoss, and saw a biplane on the runway, also a small wooden hall at the edge and a large concrete hall, apparently being built. There were no fighters, but some light and medium A.A. fire.[32]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
11 May 1940 3(F)./122 Ju 88A-1 Port engine and radiator badly damaged in attacks by Blue Section of No.19 Squadron (F/L W.G. Clouston, F/Sgt H. Steere, and F/O G.W. Petre) during

reconnaissance sortie 30km off Great Yarmouth and ditched in the Waddenzee east of Terschelling 2.11 p.m. Uffz Hermann Kunze (Bm) drowned, the rest of the crew were picked up by the'Bavaria'. Lt Friedrich Meyer (BO) captured unhurt, both Uffz Reinhold Krulich (FF), and Uffz Walter Hobel (BF) were captured wounded. Aircraft 100% write-off.[33]

12 May 1940 1(F)./122 He 111H-3 F6+DH 5640 Flew into a mountain on island of Vanna (Troms) while on a dawn recce mission. Hptm. Edgar. Caesar (B and St.Kap) and crew (Uffz Georg Ableitner (Bw), Uffz Otto Karnapp (F) and Uffz Hans-Joachim Müller (Bf))[34] all killed.
13 May 1940 3(F)./122 Ju 88A-1 Failed to return from a recce over northwest Belgium, 100%.


14 May 1940 – Ju 88 from 3(F)./122 attacked by Hurricanes of 504 Sqdn, aircraft lost.

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
14 May 1940 3(F)./122 Ju 88 Shot down by Hurricanes of 504 Sqdn, crashed near Albert Canal. Uffz. Erwin. Maxrath and 2 of the crew (Fw. Freidrich Küttner (B) and Fw Eugen Lauterbach (Bf)) passed by Belgians to British as POWs. Uffz Willi Reißmann (Bm) killed.

16 May 1940 – 5(F)./122 sent Do 17 (F6 + JN) piloted by Fw. Werner Breese on a sortie to Namur, Brussels, Maubeuge – they encountered flak at Maubeuge. The plane left Wahn at 14.10 hrs returning there at 18.13 hrs.[35]

18 May 1940 – Two 1(F)./122 Heinkels on a sortie over Malangen encountered a Walrus launched from HMS Devonshire and shot it down.

A Do 17 coded F6+GN from 5(F)./122 left Wahn at 08.19 hrs for a sortie to Valenciennes, Cambrai, Arras, Tournon. Flak was encountered at Arras. Fw Werner Breese and crew returned to Wahn at 11.56 hrs.[35]

20 May 1940 – An He 111 of 1(F)./122 sortied over Narvik and escaped interception by Sea Gladiators, two transports were reported in Beisfjord. (Other sorties reported further shipping – the result was a series of strikes made by KG 26, KGr 100 and KG 30.

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
20 May 1940 4(F)./122 Ju 88A-1 F6+FM Aircraft force landed at Dülman/SW of Münster, 100%.Fw. Friedrich Bach (Bf), Lt Horst Doermer (B), Oblt Eberhard Gaul (F) and Ogfr. Karl Lessmöllmann (Bm) all injured.[36]
20 May 1940 5(F)./122 Do 17P Possibly shot down by Sgt Whitby of 79 Sqdn RAF south-east of Cambrai, crashing near Marquette, south-west of Denain. Uffz Karl Beyer (F), Uffz Herbert Franke (Bf), Uffz. Alfons Putz (B) all killed[37]

22 May 1940 - At 05.25 hrs 5(F)./122 despatched Do 17 F6+KN, piloted by Fw Werner Breese, on a sortie that took in Arras, Boulogne, Calais and Lille. The aircraft was hit by Flak near Lille and landed at Les Sept Ans at 09.44 hrs.[35]

23 May 1940 – 1(F)./122 operated a Heinkel over the Tromso-Harstad-Oforfjord-Skaanland area and as a result of this mission, and that of a Fw 200 of 1./KG 40, bombing sorties were flown by KGr 100, KG 26 and KG 30 throughout the day against the naval shipping identified by the reconnaissance missions.

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
23 May 1940 5(F)./122 Do 17P Shot down by German AA-fire over Arras, 100%.

Lt Hans-Hermann Bergner (B), Uffz Albrecht Geiser (F) and Uffz Johannes Singer (Bf) all killed.[38]

24 May 1940 – Following orders issued on 6 May 1940 1(F)./122 was now located at Trondheim-Vaernes with 8 x He 111s and 1 x Ju 88.[39]

5(F)./122 F6+GN (Fw Werner Breese) sortie to Zeebrugge, Calais and Lille, encountered flak.(Departed 12.20 hrs returned 16.35 hrs)[35]

25 May 1940 - 1(F)./122 Heinkel performed morning recce to Namsos, following which aircraft from KGr 100 and KG 30 arrived in the area to attack a reported target – an RN Special Service vessell was attacked by a KG 30 aircraft off Harstad.

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
25 May 40 2(F)./122 Do 17P Badly damaged in combat over Paris, 60%.
25 May 40 3(F)./122 He 111 100% Drontheim. Collision with another 3(F)./122 aircraft.[40]
25 May 40 3(F)./122 He 111 100% Drontheim. Collision with another 3(F)./122 aircraft.[40]

26 May 1940 – An He 111 of 1(F)./122 was despatched on a reconnaissance mission to Bodǿ and was attacked by Flt Lt Hull in one of the newly arrived Gladiators that was patrolling over Saitefjord, the He 111 crashed south of Mo.[41]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
26 May 1940 1(F)./122 He 111H Crashed south of Mo followiing an attack by Gladiators. Lt. Ulrich Meyer (F), Reg.Rat. Friedrich Hertzing (Met), Fw. Paul Pattloch (B), Gefr. Werner Pohl (Bf) rescued by German forces. Ogfr. Heinrich Singendonk (Bw) killed.[42]

27 May 1940 – At 06.34 5(F)./122 sent out a Do 17 (F6+CN) on an early morning sortie from Cambrai Nord to reconnoitre Lille, Dunkirk and Ostend, flak was encountered at Ostend[35]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
27 May 1940 4(F)./122 Ju 88A-1 Forced landed south of Calais. Badly damaged by fighters - probably in combat with F/Lt. Pearson of 54 Sqdn at 05.30. Uffz. Willi Becker (Bf) and Gefr. Jürgen Speck (Bm) slightly wounded, the rest of the crew were unhurt although the aircraft was a write-off.[43]


28 May 1940 – An He 111 of 1(F)./122 (in conjunction with a Condor of 1./ KG40) identified that a further British landing was about to take place at Ofotfjord.

29 May 1940 – Do 17 of 5(F)122 departed Cambrai Nord at 12.20 hrs for a reconnaissance of the Channel in the vicinity of Dunkirk. The aircraft piloted by Fw Werner Breese encountered enemy fighters and sustained damage, landing back at Cambrai Nord at 15.23 hrs on fire with Unteroffizier Willi Kade (Bf) wounded.[35]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
29 May 1940 5(F)./122 Do 17P-1 Shot down by a fighter over Dunkirk while on a reconnaissance sortie, crash landed south-west of Dunkirk. 100%. Uffz. Willi Kade wounded.[44]
30 May 1940 5(F)./122 Do 17P Reconnaissance sortie east of Dunkirk. Engaged and shot down by F/Lt Wight of 213 Sqdn. Crashed near Leisele, southwest of Furnes at 15.10. Lt Walter Endemann (B)Gefr. Hans Schmidt (Bf) and Uffz. Josef Stettner (F) killed. Aircraft destroyed.[45]


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References

  1. ↑ LdZ - AirMin summaries.
  2. ↑ LdZ - PRO/London: ADI(K) P/W interrogation summaries.
  3. ↑ RL29/1 Seenotzentrale Nord (Luft) via Peter Taghon.
  4. ↑ RL29/1 Seenotzentrale Nord (Luft) via Peter Taghon.
  5. ↑ HW5-1 via Remi Traconelli.
  6. ↑ T-1022 R-1756 Berichte zur Luftaktivität 3.5.40
  7. ↑ 500-12452-000094 Anlage 1 Lagebericht 242
  8. ↑ T-971 R-9 von Rhoden 1936-1944 frame 244 – X Fl.Kps Meldung 04.05.1940
  9. ↑ T-971 R-9 von Rhoden 1936-1944 frame 244 – X Fl.Kps Meldung 04.05.1940
  10. ↑ 500-12452-000094 Anlage 1 Lagebericht 242
  11. ↑ 500-12452-000094 Anlage 1 Lagebericht 243
  12. ↑ 500-12452-000094 Anlage 1 Lagebericht 243
  13. ↑ Edmund Dillschneider file 31.12.2011
  14. ↑ RL29/1 Seenotzentrale Nord (Luft) via Peter Taghon.
  15. ↑ LdZ-Maesel.
  16. ↑ Lagebericht Nr 248
  17. ↑ T-971 R-9 von Rhoden 1936-1944 frame 203 – X Fl.Kps Meldung 08.05.1940
  18. ↑ HW5-1 via Remi Traconelli
  19. ↑ T-971 R-9 von Rhoden 1936-1944 frame 206 – Meldung 07.05.1940
  20. ↑ Cornwell, Peter – The Battle of France Then and Now. P170 first names via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18
  21. ↑ Correction in T-971 R-9 von Rhoden 1936-1944 frame 191 – Abendmeldung von 09.05.1940
  22. ↑ Lagebericht Nr 246 Anlage 1.
  23. ↑ T-971 R-9 von Rhoden 1936-1944 frame 198 – Nachtrag zur Abendmeldung 08.05.1940
  24. ↑ T-971 R-9 von Rhoden 1936-1944 frame 190 – Meldung X. Fl.Korps 10.5.40
  25. ↑ RL29/1 Seenotzentrale Nord (Luft) via Peter Taghon.
  26. ↑ RL29/1 Seenotzentrale Nord (Luft) via Peter Taghon.
  27. ↑ LdZ - Balke-KG 2/v.1:406.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 LdZ - Balke-v.1:401.
  29. ↑ LdZ - ADI(K) interrogation summaries.
  30. ↑ LdZ - Balke-KG 2/v.1:404.
  31. ↑ Edmund Dillschneider file 31.12.2011
  32. ↑ HW5-1 via Remi Traconelli
  33. ↑ Larry Hickey from TOCH post 25 Mar 2011 – extract from EoE database
  34. ↑ Names and wk nr via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 Werner Breese Combat Sorties – compiled by Tim Oliver from Werner Breese's Flugbuchs.
  36. ↑ Names and code via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18
  37. ↑ Battle of France then and now – Peter Cornwell and Names via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18
  38. ↑ Battle of France then and now – Peter Cornwell and Names via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18
  39. ↑ LdZ - Maesel.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Luftwaffe Quartermaster returns 4 June 1940
  41. ↑ Alex Crawford, additional detail by e-mail 27 June 2005
  42. ↑ Names via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18
  43. ↑ Cornwell, Peter – The Battle of France Then and Now page 380 Names via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18
  44. ↑ Cornwell, Peter – The Battle of France Then and Now page 392: Names via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18
  45. ↑ Cornwell, Peter – The Battle of France Then and Now page 396; Names via Matti Salonen 122 personnel extract from database 03/01/18 






27 LdZ - ADI(K) interrogation summaries.

28 LdZ - Balke-KG 2/v.1:404.

29 LdZ - Maesel.

AC - Alex Crawford – additional detail by e-mail 27 June 2005

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