Aufkl. Gr. 122 Oct 1941
1 Oct 1941 – 4(F)./122 sent out F6+AM to reconnoiter the railway station at Kurliovka and the railway line to Veluiki. In addition F6+MM reported road and rail traffic between Tischorezk and Rostov and recce'd a number of aerodromes in the area.[1]
1 – 2 Oct 1941 – 3(F)./122 sent out F6+PL to the Thames Estuary and the East Coast of England, operating from Eindhoven under orders of III/KG 30[2]
2 Oct 1941 – 3(F)./122 operated a continuous recce of the E. Coast of England between the Thames Estuary and Tyne. 1 aircraft was sent out every five hours (0800, 1300, 1800)[2]
While on a night recce sortie to the East Coast of England an aircraft of 3(F)./122 reported that at 21.55 – 22.20 hrs it sighted a burning ship in Pl. Qu. 05 Ost/2374 at 22.20 hrs there was an explosion.[3]
1.(F)/122 flew a reconnaissance sortie that included photographing the airfield known as Juchnow II (Ziel Nr. SU 10 2892 – location 35º 13’ 30” E 54º 42’ 30” N), the Beobachter was Oblt. Steppacher.[4]
3 Oct 1941 – 3(F)./122 sent F6+CL on operations to the southern North Sea.[2]
4 Oct 1941 – 3(F)./122 again sent F6+CL on operations to the southern North Sea[2] 4(F)./122 photographed the railway at Bachmatowa, southeast of Smolensk.[5]
5 Oct 1941 – 3(F)./122 had up to three aircraft out along the Thames Estuary and E. Coast. Take-off was around 0930 and all had landed by 2030[2]
6 Oct 1941 – F6+LL of 3.(F)/122 was scheduled to make an intermediate stop at Schiphol in order to refuel. Unfortunately, this was not possible due to weather conditions so the crew landed back at Montdidier.[6]
7 Oct 1941 – An aircraft from 3.(F)/122 (F6+LL) flew a reconnaissance sortie up the east coast of England at least as far as Skegness, landing at Orleans at 21.14 hrs Z.[7]
8 Oct 1941 – An aircraft of 4.(F)/122 (F6+AM) was sent on a morning reconnaissance of the rail station at Kurliovka and the rail line from there to Veliuki.[8]
At midday F6+MM of 4.(F)/122 reported on road and rail traffic between Tischorezk and Rostov. In addition the reconnaissance took in airfields Bataisk I (SU 10 411), Taganrog (SU 10 406) and SU 10 299 all in the vicinity of Rostov.[9]
9 Oct 1941 – Fliegerkorps II ordered that on 10 Oct 1941 1(F)./122 was to patrol over the south east flank of the 2nd Pz Army.[10]
10 Oct 1941 – Ju 88s from 3.(F)/122 operating from Montidier operated the following reconnaissance sorties:
(a) F6+CL, this aircraft’s flight encompassed the Thames Estuary, Flamborough Head and the English Channel (between Hasting and Dieppe). It landed some time after 11.00 hrs Z.
(b) F6+NL, took off around 09.00 hrs Z for a sortie that included the Thames Estuary and the Humber Estuary. Landed back at Montidier at 12.50 hrs Z.[11]
11 Oct 1941 – Multiple sorties by aircraft from 3.(F)/122:-
(a) F6+LL, early morning reconnaissance sortie that included Spurn Head and the Thames Estuary. This crew reported the sighting of a convoy (FS 15) off Orfordness. The aircraft then returned to Montidier by way of Kent and Sussex, landing around 08.00 hrs Z.
(b) F6+HL, early afternoon sortie covering the same areas as F6+LL had previously. This crew was involved in combat off Spurn Head. Landed at Montidier at about 15.52 hrs Z.
(c) F6+KL, departed Montidier at 14.20 hrs Z returning at 15.20 hrs Z.[12]
Aircraft from 1.(F)/122 were intended to watch over south east flank of 2 Pz Armee. Bomb carrying aircraft were to harass traffic concentrations at Tula and Kursk.[13]
13 Oct 1941 – 2 sorties by aircraft of 3.(F)/122 have been identified, these were:-
(a) F6+CL, English east coast as far north as 55º 30’ N, was at the northern limit of the area at 17.45 hrs Z. No shipping reported, landed at 20.20 hrs Z.
(b) F6+PL, Coast of East Anglia, the ground station requested weather reports for Pl. Qu. 05 E 146 and 05 E 231 which the crew provided. Given that the ground station also requested a weather report for Tynemouth it is safe to assume that the expectation was that the sortie was to extend that far. However, it is not clear if this took place as no weather report was heard, by British radio intelligence, being sent. This sortie also did not report any shipping sightings.[14]
14 Oct 1941 – Sortie by an aircraft of 3.(F)/122 (F6+CL), took off before 07.30 hrs Z; the sortie was to cover as far as the Humber and to include the Thames Estuary. Aircraft returned on one engine landing by 08.20 hrs Z.[15]
15 Oct 1941 – 1.(F)/122 was ordered the south eastern flank of Pz. Gruppe 2.[16]
15-16 Oct 1941 – a Ju 88 of 3.(F)/122 flew a successful sortie to the English east coast.[17]
16 Oct 1941 – 3(F)./122 sent out Ju 88 F6+LL on a sortie from Montdidier at 05.51 hrs the plane landed at Amsterdam-Schiphol at 11.21 hrs.(Uffz. Fuett-Johann, Lt Huhn, Uffz. Bock and Gfr. Mech[18])
At 12.04hrs this aircraft was then flown back to Montdidier, landing at 13.19hrs.[19]
3(F)./122 sent out a Ju 88 on a successful sea reconnaissance sortie to the East Coast of England.[20] This is possibly the above mentioned sortie.
Note that there is another sortie recorded in British intelligence files – 3.(F)/122 aircraft from Montidier to Schipol, landing there approx 09.30 hrs Z. It was then decided that the flight should take place from Montidier, so the aircraft returned there – it landed at Montidier at about 11.00 hrs Z. It appears that this sortie may have subsequently been cancelled.[21]
17 Oct 1941 - 1.(F)/122 were ordered to patrol over the southeastern flank of 2 Panzer Armee and carry out reconnaissance of the Medyn-Kaluga-Tula road to ascertain whether it was fit for traffic.[22]
3.(F)/122 (F6+HL) departed Schipol at 12.28 hrs Z, this aircraft had earlier transferred from Montidier to Schipol. This was a reconnaissance of the East Coast of England between the Thames Estuary and Flamboro’ Head. The aircraft landed back at Montidier at 16.05 hrs Z.[23]
18 Oct 1941 – 2 aircraft of 3.(F)/122 (F6+HL and F6+LL) departed Montidier at 08.00 hrs Z and were monitored reporting weather at (and possibly photographing) targets in the Yarmouth, Clacton and Portsmoth areas. On the outward flight F6+HL referred to Flak on the Belgian coast.[24]
19 Oct 1941 – An aircraft from 3.(F)/122 departed Montidier before 09.50 hrs Z and was monitored on a sortie that covered the South and North Foreland – Thames Estuary – Tarmouth area. This aircraft appears to have landed after 11.30 hrs Z but not at Montidier.[25]
21 Oct 1941 – 1(F)./122 now moved to Shatalovka-Ost flying reconnaissance for the advance on Moscow.[26]
2(F)./122 now based at Smolensk-North (Stabna).[27]
24 Oct 1941 – 3(F)./122 sent out Ju 88 F6+KL (Lt Huhn and crew[28]) on a sortie from Montdidier taking off at 15.48hrs and returning at 19.39hrs.[29]This was to the English East Coast and was reportedly curtailed due to adverse weather.[30]
3.(F)/122’s morning sortie to the English East Coast was performed by F6+HL which departed Montdidier at 09.55 hrs Z. The crew sighted two fighters off the Humber Estuary at 11.50 hrs Z but the aircraft was not attacked. At 12.00 hrs Z they came under well aimed AA fire over Hull and also reported the sighting of barrage balloons there operating between 1000 and 1600 metres. On the bend of the Humber, south of Hull, an oil depot was seen as was the wreckage of another to the north. Shipping off the mouth of the Humber was also reported by the crew. At 12.30 hrs Z the aircraft came under attack by two Spitfires when flying near Yarmouth – this put the port engine out of commission. The crew managed a forced landing outside Schiphol around 13.00 hrs Z.[31]
| Date | Unit | Aircraft Type | Code | Wkr.No. | Notes |
| 24 Oct 1941 | 2(F)./122 | Ju 88A-4 | Force landed near Toropets, 100%, 2 killed and 2 injured |
5(F)./122 sent an aircraft to photograph the Soviet naval base at Hangö (Hanko, 59°50′N 022°58′E) in Finland..[32]
1.(F)/122 were ordered to carry out a reconnaissance of roads leading from a line between Jelez and Borogodizk towards the right flank of Pz.Armee 2.[33]
25 Oct 1941 – 3.(F)/122 operated a middle of the day sortie to the English East Coast – F6+PL took off at 11.05 hrs Z from Montdidier, it’s intended operating area being between the Thames Estuary and Flamborough Head. The mission for this flight was not identified as convoy reconnaissance, nor did the crew report the convoy later attacked by KGr. 606 and E-Boats. The aircraft landed at 15.00 hrs Z.[34]
27 Oct 1941 – F6+CL of 3.(F)/122 departed Montdidier at 06.20 hrs Z for a reconnaissance sortie to the Humber and Yarmouth areas. The flight was broken off due to a burnt out transformer, there had been no sightings reported by the crew. The aircraft landed at Schiphol at 09.26 hrs Z, it was then scheduled to take-off for Montdidier at 14.30 hrs Z following the replacement of the transformer.[35]
31 Oct 1941 – F6+KL and another aircraft of 3.(F)/122 sortied to the eastern English Channel. One of these aircraft was attacked by British fighters south of Shoreham.[36]
Links
References
- ↑ HW13/96
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 HW13/96
- ↑ RL7.-3 570 nights 2-3 Oct 1941.
- ↑ Juchnow II target photo provided by LdZ IV.
- ↑ http://www.wwii-photos-maps.com/targetrussia/citynamesbeginningb/citynames-baba-batu/slides/Bachmatowa%20%20282.html assumed to be from 4(F)./122 as this operated on the Southern Front under Luftflotte 2.
- ↑ HW13/97 SALU 244 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 245 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW 13/96 via Remi Traconelli.
- ↑ HW 13/96 via Remi Traconelli.
- ↑ HW5/33
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 248 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 249 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 249 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 251 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 252 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 253 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ Einzelmeldung Nr 3 vom 16.10.41 (RL7-III-570)
- ↑ Personalities of 3/122 23 Dec 1941 SALU 300
- ↑ Flugbuch of Fuchjohahn via Remi Traconelli.
- ↑ RL7-104 – Einzelmeldung Nr 3 16.10.1941
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 254 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 255 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 255 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 256 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 257 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ LdZ - AFHRA/Maxwell: Karlsruhe Collection.
- ↑ LdZ - AFHRA/Maxwell: Karlsruhe Collection.
- ↑ Personalities of 3/122 23 Dec 1941 SALU 300 – possibly same crew as 16 Oct.
- ↑ Flugbuch of Fuchjohahn via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 263 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 263 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanko and http://www.wwii-photos-maps.com/targetrussia/citynamesbeginningh/citynames-hajn-husi/slides/Hango%20%20011.html
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 263 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 264 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 266 via Remi Traconelli
- ↑ HW13/97 Salu 270 via Remi Traconelli