Aufkl. Gr. 122 May 1942

From Luftwaffedata Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

May – Jun 1942 – 4(F)./122 nowto be found at Saki/Crimea under VIII.Fliegerkorps - supported the recapture of eastern Crimea and the siege of Sevastopol’ while maintaining close surveillance of enemy forces in North Caucasia and the Black Sea.[1]

1 May 1942 – Stab./122 reported 2 Ju 88D-1 on strength.[2]

An aircraft of 5(F)./122 photographed various facilities, including docks and railyards, in and around Leningrad.[3]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
1 May 1942 5(F)./122 Ju 88D Crash-landed between Tschudovo and Luban, Fw Reuter wounded.[4]

2 May 1942 – II Fl.K. orders for 3 May 1942 were for 1.(F)/122 to provide close protection for a northbound convoy on the “Eastern” route. This was to include 1 aircraft at dawn and 2 aircraft then to continue to provide cover. 1.(F)/122’s reconnaissance orders were unchanged. [5]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
3 May 1942 2(F)./122 Ju 88D F6+MK 0165 Lost on a combat sortie – 100%

Lr Fritz Pinaker (F), Oblt. August Pfab (Bf, Uffz Erich Fischer (Bf) and Uffz. August fischwer (Bs) all MIA|}

4 May 1942 – Ju 88 F6+AL of 3.(F)/122 (Montidier) departed at 02.35 hrs Z. It’s mission may have been to perform a photo reconnaissance of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, this was not carried out as there was 10/10 cloud over the target. At 04.25 hrs Z this crew reported the sighting of a convoy off South Shields (this could have been either FN97 or FS 93). At 05.00 hrs Z, in the Bridlington Bay area, the crew reported that a fighter had made an unsuccessful attack. The aircraft landed at 06.40 hrs Z.[6]

A Ju 88 (F6+AL) of 3.(F)/122 made the late afternoon/early evening soretie to the coast of East Anglia. It departed Montidier at 16.25 hrs Z and was in area between 17.19 and 18.00 hrs Z. The crew reported the sighting of convoy FN 99 east of Lowestoft at 17.19 hrs Z. The aircraft had landed back at Montidier by 19.46 hrs Z.[7]

5 May 1942 – Final dissolution of Erg.(F)/122.

Ju 88 (F6+CL) of 3.(F)/122 flew an early morning sortie to the east coast of England (Humber – Aldeburgh) from Creil. The crew reported the sighting of convoy FN 99 NW of Sheringham at 05.40 hrs Z and three ships east of Aldeburgh at 06.15 hrs Z. This aircraft landed at 08.03 hrs Z at Creil.[8]

A second sortie by F6+CL departed Creil at 16.25 hrs Z to cover the area between the Thames Estuary and Lowestoft. The crew did not sight any shipping and the aircraft had landed by 19.52 hrs Z.[9]

6 May 1942 – Ju 88 (F6+IL) of 3.(F)/122 departed Creil at 02.54 hrs Z for a sortie to the English East Coast as far as the Tyne. At 06.00 hrs Z the crew reported a convoy (FN 89) 21 miles NW of Cromer (Pl. Qu. 05 E 13), they also reported a single ship at 06.10 hrs Z (Pl. Qu. 05 E 1389 – ESE of Orford). The aircraft landed at Schipol at 06.56 hrs Z.[10]

A Ju 88 (F6+CL) from 3.(F)/122 was sent out from Creil for the early evening sortie to the East Anglian coast. The crew reported ships on several occassions – 1 ship at 17.40 hrs Z east of Southwold (PL. Qu. 05 E 2359); 4 ships at 18.45 hrs Z (Pl. Qu. 05 E 2358) again east of Southwold; 2 ships at 19.30 hrs Z south-east of Lowestoft (Pl. Qu. 05 E 1365). British intelligence analysis believed that these reports related to HMS Mackay, HMS Meynell, HMS Southdown and HMS Cottismore which were patrolling between Orfordness and Cromer at this time. Indeed at 19.36 hrs Z the aircraft was shadowing HMS Southdown east of Orfordness.[11]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
6 May 1942 1(F)./122 Ju 88D-1 430157 Fl.Pl. Trashani (? - Trapani?) crashlanded, 40% damage.

7 May 1942 – Three sorties by 3.(F)/122, operating from Creil, were recorded by British intelligence, they were:

(a) Ju 88 (F6+BL) took off at 02.54 hrs Z for a sortie to the English East Coast (Thames Estuary to Scarborough). At 05.52 hrs Z this crew shadowed convoy FN 95 and reported it and FN 1 as one convoy heading north some 30 miles off the coast adjacent to Withernsea (Pl. Qu. 05 E 0442). The aircraft landed back at Creil.

(b) Ju 88 (F6+GL) operated the afternoon sortie between the North Foreland and Scarborough but made no sightings and landed back at Creil at 16.11 hrs Z.

(c) Ju 88 (F6+CL), the evening sortie. The crew reported and shadowed convoy FN 2 off Lowestoft between 17.10 and 17.15 hrs Z. They then shadowed HMS Cattistock off Orfordness at 19.19 hrs Z. At 19.25 hrs Z the crew reported 8 ships close to the coast of Leiston, Suffolk (Pl. Qu. 05 E 1382).[12]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
8 May 1942 ?(F)./122 Ju 88D F6+OL 430002 Lt. H. Hahn made a belly landing at Schiphol airbase after substaining damage. Ogefr. H. Jung was the BF.
8 May 1942 4(F)./122 Ju 88D-1 1207 Engine damage at Burdunduk. 15% damage. Fw Reichander (BM) injured.
9 May 1942 4(F)./122 Ju 88D-5 430007 Damaged engine at Saki, 30%, 3 injured. - Fw. Mallik (F), Ofw. Baer (B) and Ogfr. Markus (Bm)

10 May 1942 – 1(F)./122 now based at Catania/Sicily, retaining this as its main base until December 1942.[13]

2(F)./122 located at Trapani with 12(6) Ju 88s directly under Luftflotte 2.[14]

12 May 1942 – A Ju 88 (F6+GL) departed Creil at about 02.55 hrs Z for a photo reconnaissance/sea reconnaissance flight to the East Coast of England between the Thames Estuary and St Abbs Head. British Intelligence analysed the flight and suspected that the crew were under orders to photograph a target between Belford and the coast, possibly the RDF station at Bamburgh. The aircraft was flown north from a position about 50 miles east of Clacton at about 5,000 ft but gradually losing height as it flew north. The aircraft was kept a good distance from the coast and continued it’s flight until just off St Abbs Head. There the aircraft was turned south, making a brief landfall over Belford at 06.10 hrs Z at about 5,000 ft. It is not known if the crew managed to take any photographs. The aircraft then flew off to the east. At 06.15 hrs Z the crew reported the sighting of a convoy (FN 4) near the Farne Islands.[15]

13 May 1942 - There is no mention of the 5(F)./122 in the surviving records from this date until Sep 1942. This suggests that it may have stood down following the heavy fighting around the Demyansk Pocket so it could refit and grant home leave to its personnel.

3.(F)/122’s normal early morning East Coast reconnaissance flight did not take place as the aircraft was unable to take off due to fog at Creil.

At 07.53 hrs Z a Ju 88 (F6+DL) of 3.(F)/122 departed only to turn back almost immediately due to a technical issue. The aircraft landed at 08.03 hrs Z.

At 08.20 hrs Z another aircraft from 3.(F)/122 (Ju 88 F6+BL) departed Creil for a reconnaissance flight that covered the Thames Estuary up the East Coast of England as far as the Humber. At 09.47 hrs Z the crew reported a convoy sighting (possibly FS 100) east of Orford (Pl. Qu. 05 E 2378). This aircraft was sighted 5 m south of Orforness at about 09.48 hrs Z crossing the coast at 1,000 ft. It then recrossed the coast at Leiston. During the sortie the crew also reported other isolated shipping.[16]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
13 May 1942 5(F)./122 Ju 88D-1 1608 Damaged by AA-fire and belly landed at Fp.Gostkino, 30%.
13 May 1942 4(F)./122 Ju 88D-5 F6+AM 430036 Lost on combat sortie – 100%. Fw. Rubba (F), Fw. Müller (Bf) and two others all MIA.

14 May 1942 – 3.(F)/122’s early morning sortie was flown by Ju 88 F6+LL which took off from Creil at 02.57 hrs Z. This sortie extended from the Thames Estuary via the Humber and Flamboro’ Head to the Tyne. The aircraft was “in area” from 03.40 to 05.08 hrs Z. The aircraft flew from the outer Thames Estuary about 12 miles off the coast until reaching Yarmouth whereupon it turned away to the east and continued its flight (probably at a greater distance from the coast). T some point during the sortie the crew reported shipping off Spurn Point. At 06.06 hrs Z the aircraft landed at Schiphol.

Ju 88 (F6+EL) of 3.(F)/122 departed Creil at 15.45 hrs Z for the afternoon sortie to the East Anglian Coast. At 16.45 hrs Z the crew reported sighting a convoy (FS 1) off Dunwich and was attacked by Spitfires off Lowestoft. The aircraft landed back at Creil at 19.30 hrs Z.[17]

15 May 1942 – Ju 88 (F6+GL) of 3.(F)/122 took off from Creil at about 03.15 hrs Z, this is presumed to have been the usual early morning sortie to the East Coast of England. Unfortunately, this aircraft had to turn back on reaching the French coast due to a technical defect. It landed back at Creil at 04.00 hrs Z.

F6+DL took off from Creil at 04.50 hrs Z and landed back there at 05.06 hrs Z.

Ju 88 (F6+LL) of 3.(F)/122 departed Creil 06.04 hrs Z on a reconnaissance sortie to the East Coast of England (Harwich to Whitby). Two Whirlwinds patrolling between Yarmouth and Southwold may have encountered this aircraft after 06.17 hrs Z about 15 miles off-shore – the Whirlwind pilots claimed to have attacked and damaged the Ju 88. This crew reported a convoy off Harwich at 07.15 hrs Z and other isolated shipping during their patrol. The aircraft had landed by 09.45 hrs Z.[18]

16 May 1942 – Ju 88 (F6+EL) of 3.(F)/122 performed the early morning sortie to the East Coast of England. (Thames estuary to the Whitby area). The crew reported shipping south-east of Harwich at 03.55 hrs Z. The aircraft made a brief landfall at Flamboro’ Head. The crew reported a convoy (FS 3) in the Whitby area at 05.55 hrs Z. and the aircraft had landed by 08.10 hrs Z.

Ju 88 (F6+EL) made another sortie to the East Anglian Coast, departing Creil at about 16.09 hts Z. This aircraft approached it’s target area soon after I./KG 2 had made an abortive attack on shipping in the vicinity of Yarmouth and Southwold. The crew reported the sighting of a convoy (FN 9) off Yarmouth at 17.00 hrs Z – they approached the convoy at sea level and were attacked by Spitfires that were escorting the convoy. The Spitfires claimed the aircraft as damaged. However, it landed at Schiphol at 17.45 hrs Z. [19]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
16 May 1942 1(F)./122 Ju 88D-5 430162 Crashlanded at sea – 100% damage. Lt Karl-Heinz Aln (F), Uffz. Heinrich Martens(B), uffz, Friedrich Schäfer (Bf) and Uffz. Josef Fletner (Bs).

17 May 1942 – 1(F)./122 lost a Ju 88 while on an early morning reconnaissance mission to Malta. The aircraft approached Malta from the north at approx. 0700. Spitfires of 249 Sqdn intercepted the Ju 88 over Valetta.

Ju 88 (F6+FL) of 3.(F)/122 left Creil at 03.53 hrs Z for the morning reconnaissance sortie to the Thames Estuary and the East Coast of England, operating as far as Scarborough. The crew reported shipping off Southwold at about 04.12 hrs Z.[20]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
17 May 1942 1(F)./122 Ju 88 F6+LH Shot down by Spitfires over Valetta/Malta during an early morning recce mission, 100%. Oblt Gunter Steppmacher and his crew were all killed.

18 May 1942 – Ju 88 (F6+DL) of 3.(F)/122 left Creil at 02.50 hrs Z on the early morning reconnaissance sortie to the East Coast of England. The crew reported sighting a convoy approximately 15 Km off the Essex coast ( Pl. Qu. 05 E 1227 - 51°47`30“ N 1°34`60“ E), this was possibly FS 4. The aircraft is likely to have been attacked, and claimed damaged, by Spitfires south-east of Felixstowe. The aircraft landed back at Creil at 04.54 hrs Z.[21]

At 15.27 hrs Z a Ju 88 (F6+AL) departed Creil on the afternoon reconnaissance sortie to the Thames Estuary and the East Anglian Coast. At 17.20 hrs Z the crew reported sighting a ship in the Thames Estuary. This flight may have extended as far as the Lincolnshire coast before turning back and flying as far as Yarmouth. The crew reported the sighting of a convoy at 18.48 Hrs Z (FN 10?) and at 18.51 hrs Z the aircraft may have been spotted by HMS Southdown which was on patrol east of Yarmouth.[22]

19 May 1942 – 3.(F)/122’s early morning sortie was flown by F6+FL which departed Creil at 03.10 hrs Z. This aircraft operated in the area extending from the Thames Estuary to possibly as far as Scarborough. The crew reported the sighting of a northbound convoy off Scarborough (FS 6?). At 05.10 hrs Z. The aircraft was chased by Spitfires of 306 Sqdn which were on a shipping patrol – the Spitfires were too far away and so were unable to attck the Ju 88. F6+FL landed back at Creil at 07.15 hrs Z.[23]

20 May 1942 - at Creil – 3(F)./122 reported 15(10) Ju 88s and Bf 109s on strength under IX.Fliegerkorps.[24]

The following units, ultimately controlled by Luftflotte 2, operated under II Fliegerkorps:-

Stab (F). /122 based at Trapani with 3 (2) Ju 88.

1(F)./122 based at Catania with a strength of 13 Me 109 and Ju 88 of which 10 were available for operations.

2(F)./122 based at Trapani with 13 (6) Ju88.

Ju 88 (F6+LL) of 3.(F)/122 left Creil at 02.20 hrs Z presumably to perform the early morning east coast reconnaissance patrol. Unfortunately, the aircraft suffered from engine problems and the crew broke off the sortie afte 50 minutes. They landed at Schipol at 04.05 hrs Z.[25]

A further Ju 88 (F6+FL) then left Creil at 02.54 hrs Z to perform the early morning East Coast sortie covering the area from the Thames Estuary to Whitby. No shipping was sighted and the aircraft landed at 08.10 hrs Z.[26]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
20 May 1942 4(F)./122 Ju 88D-5 1716 Saki – 25% damage on landing..

22 May 1942 - VIII.Fliegerkorps / Ic. Instructed 4(F)./122 to ensure important messages were transmitted by radio. Also Staffel was to be used for sea recce and reconnaissance of Taman Peninsula .[27]

4(F))./122 located at Saki under Fliegerführer Süd.[28]

Date Unit Aircraft Type Code Wkr.No. Notes
24 May 1942 3(F)./122 Ju 88D-1 1476 Schipol – 80% damage sustained in a crash landing due to damage caused by enemy fire.
28 May 1942 3(F)./122 Ju 88D-5 430236 Schipol – 65% damage sustained in a crash landing due to damage caused by enemy fire


30 May 1942 - A Bf 109 (F6+YH Wkr Nr 8754[29]) of 1(F)./122 crash landed at Catania on return from a recce sortie. Lt Herbert Toula was injured.

An aircraft of 5(F)./122 photographed a number of targets in the Leningrad area including Chernaya Rechka (Chyornaya Rechka)[30]

31 May 1942 – 4(F)./122 operated a number of sorties for the visual recce of Sevastapol – at 04.05 hrs Sevastapol could not be seen due to the weather conditions; between 04.05 hrs and 06.00 hrs no shipping was sighted in Pl.Qu. 35,45,55,3410,3440 and at 17.50 hrs it was reported that nothing could be seen in the harbour.[31]

Links

Previous--- Next

Diary Home

References

  1. ↑ T-312-op cit; ADI(K) interr.sum.
  2. ↑ LdZ – BA-MA - Flugzeug-Bereitstellungen (Aircraft Availability Status Reports – FzB) in: Holm-op cit; all subsequent entries of this type are from this source.
  3. ↑ J Calvin - Aerial Leningrad\Photographed\Leningrad I , GSK077-1-Mar-42
  4. ↑ Goss – posting to TOCH requesting info on item 09 Feb 04.
  5. ↑ RL8/7 II Fl.K. Einsatz Mittelmeer und Nord Afrika
  6. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  7. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  8. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  9. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  10. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  11. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  12. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  13. ↑ LdZ - Karlsruhe Collection.
  14. ↑ LdZ - Karlsruhe Collection-op cit.
  15. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  16. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  17. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli.
  18. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli
  19. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli
  20. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconelli
  21. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconneli
  22. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconneli
  23. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconneli
  24. ↑ LdZ - AFHRA/Maxwell: Karlsruhe Collection.
  25. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconneli
  26. ↑ HW13/99 via Remi Traconneli
  27. ↑ p 604- T-312 R-1692 AOK 11
  28. ↑ p 721- T-312 R-1692 AOK 11
  29. ↑ http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=52234
  30. ↑ J Calvin - Aerial Leningrad\Photographed\Unknown 002, GX1014SK-30-May-42
  31. ↑ TsAMO 500-12452-437 pg 155 Meldung der Aufklärungsergebnisse von 31.6.42
Retrieved from "http://www.luftwaffedata.co.uk/index.php?title=Aufkl._Gr._122_May_1942&oldid=7631"