DEFE3/133
DEFE3/133 covers the decryption period between 25th January 1944 and 28th January 1944 – however, some information relates to dates outside this period.
In the page below there are some notes/summaries gleaned from the pages of DEFE 3/133 I hope that these are of assistance to any fellow researchers.
The link to the National Archives for DEFE3/133 is here should you need to refer to it.
To download the notes as a pdf document click here
Note the date of the event refers to a date in the message not necessarily the date of the message.
Flifue = FliegerFührer
Note –
- Number of pages refer to “GAF sightings” - these are for the most part not included in the summaries below as they do not refer to specific aircraft types or units.
- Flivos of Divisions are also not included below
- Code “Yoke” appears to refer to “Y” service.
- Times are direct from the message i.e. Zulu time.
| Page | Report | Date of event | Notes |
| 320 | VL4752 | 25/01/44 | Sentence “Comment suggest Woldenga to control both staffs” in VL4649 should have been in brackets i.e. signal is in fact not part of comment. |
| 309-10 | VL4760 | 24/01/44 | Some details western Med recce 24/01/44.
2nd Fl.Dv. 1 aircraft of 1(F)./33 due up 02.30 hrs Z. 2 Arados 08.15 hrs Z – 09.10 hrs Z security French Coast. 1 Ju 10.35 hrs Z to 15.00 hrs Z NW to NE coast Corsica. By strong indications Flifue Luftflotte 2:- 07.00 hrs Z sea area 41.27 N 12.35 E, Beach position 41.32 N 12.35E, Offshore Anzio – Civita Vecchia (Comment: see also VL4730) Unspecified: Recce Ancona – Termoli Recce east coast Corsica, Sardinia and sea area to east. At 11.40 hrs Z in 39.07N 10.45 E, at 12.00 hrs Z in 40.07 N 09.45 E. Secondly operations by 11,13 and 11 Fw 190 in VL4630 were on 22/01/44 not 23/01/44. |
| 303 | VL4766 | 25/01/44 | Ferrara serviceable for all aircraft.
They are to touch down on landing tee. Information 07.00 hrs Z 25/01/44 |
| 299 | VL4769 | 25/01/44 | 120 mortar bombs to be flown on 25/01/44 to Orvieto (Comment – see VL4568 for Orvieto under new airfields of Flifue Luftflotte 2.) |
| 296 | VL4771 | 23/01/44 | On 23/01/44 Airfield Villaorba – Rivolto again serviceable.
(Comment – see VL4090. Rivolto approx 5 miles SSW of Villaorba). |
| 284-8 | VL4778 | 23/01/44 | Some details Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost effort on 23/01/44
Fl.K.X:- Recce offshore Otranto-Spartivento on area 05.30 hrs Z – 08.10 hrs Z. Photo recce Augusta 08.45 hrs Z, Recce Syracuse 08.50 hrs Z, Landed Araxos 09.30 hrs Z. 4 Me 109 early morning recce east of Rhodes. Recce Nile delta – off shore Alexandria to Tobruk. 1 Ju overdue from recce convoy route 34.07 N 17.15 E to Malta. Flifue Croatia: 2 Me 109 of 2./NAGr 12 06.00 to 07.15 hrs Z sea recce Vis, in area 06.25 – 06.50 hrs Z. 2 Me 109 offshore Cape Gargano – Termoli landed 15.00 hrs Z. Total sorties Mostar, 4 Me 109 and 1 Hs 126. Total sorties Butmir, 2 He 46 Of detachment Zara , 1 Hs 126 06.00 – 06.40 hers Z armed recce area 20 km NE and E of Zara. 1 He 46 10.00 – 10.40 hrs Z recce area Blnkovac – Kistanje. 1 He 46 12.30 – 13.10 hrs recce east of Knin. Flifue Albabia: Probing recce coast of Cape Gargano to Bari 14.30 – 16.00 hrs Z. Photo recce Bari not carried out owing weather. Guerilla airfield Berane attacked with bombs and aircraft armament. Unspecified units: 13.45 – 14.15 hrs Z island recce between Sibenik and Zara. About 07.00 hrs Z recce Turkish coast Samos – Castelorizo.
Fl.K.X 1 Ju photo recce Beirut not carried out, instead Lattakia harbour and airfields at 08.45 hrs. 1 Ju patrol convoy routes NW Benghazi in area 07.20 – 08.45 hrs Z. 1 Ju 12.15 – 15.30 hrs Z probing recce Alexandria. 1 Ju 13.15 – 15.15 hrs Z offshore Otranto – Spartivento. 4 Me 109 07.00 – 07.30 hrs Z defensive patrol Rhodes. 2 Me 109 scrambled 07.40 - 08.30 hrs Z, 3 from 09.30 – 14.00 hrs Z, 4 from 13.00 -13.20 hrs Z. 4 Ju 88 C-6 from 10.15 – 12.40 hrs Z. Flifue Croatia 06.15 – 06.30 hrs Z and 12.00 -13.00 hrs Zrecce Termoli broken off. No recce owing weather. Flifue Albania 2 Me 109 sea recce Cape Gargano – Margherita 12.50 – 14.15 hrs Z. |
| 282 | VL4780 | 25/01/44 | Florence serviceable all classes at 10.00 hrs Z 25/01/44. Landing on runway, airfield soft. Perimeter and obstruction lighting serviceable by 16.00 hrs Z 25/01/44.
Comment – VL4721 refers. |
| 281 | VL4781 | 24/01/44 | Orders 23.00 hrs Z 24/01/44 for 25/01/44.
Flifue Luftflotte 2 to support defensive fighting of 10th Armee at Allied landing places. For this the following to be employed. SG 4 from first light half hour readiness. Operation against sea and ground targets. JG 53 with subordinate gruppen – readiness to take off from first light for convoy escort and air defence. (comment – no further details known here). (Comment see VL4698 for Stab./SG 4 previous orders only mention II./SG 4 see VL4633 fo rorders for 24/01/44) |
| 280 | VL4782 | 24/01/44 | According (strong indication Koflug 9/VII) 10.00 hrs 24/01/44 at 15.00 hrs 23/01/44 low level attack on unspecified objective by 10 Lightnings. Bombs dropped near Tuscania. Empty depot damaged.
Direct hit on bridge Tuscania – Viterbo, bridge impassable. A stone bridge 150 m distant from first passable for lorries. Road communication Tuscania – Viterbo not interrupted. New runway (comment location unknown) attacked. Repairs in progress. |
| 274-8 | VL4784 | 24/01/44 | No night ops Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost 24-25/01/44
Total ops on 24/01/44: 190 sorties 11 recce; 10 bombers; 133 fighters; 29 escort; 4 sea rescue; 3 transport. Recce: 1 Ju photo recce harbour and airfields Latakia. 1 Ju patrol convoy route NW Benghazi. 1 Ju probing Alexandria. 1 Ju sea offshore Otranto -Spartivento 1 Fi 156 guerilla area south Peloponnese. 2 Me 109 sea offshore Cape Gargano – Margherita 4 Me 109 sea recce of islands south of Split. Bombers: 5 Hs 126 attacked with bombs and aircraft armament Virovotoca, Otocac, Banjaluka, Kistanje. 1 He 46 in area Visegrad and 3 He 46 in area Kistanje with bombs and aircraft armament. 1 Me 109 attack with aircraft armament on Berane. Fighters: 4 Me 109 06.55 – 07.30 hrs Z screen over Rhodes - no contact. 2 Me 109 at 07.40 hrs Z scrambled from Rhodes against Allied Recce aircraft. 1 Me 109 at 09.20 hrs Z contact with Allied aircraft 6 J 88 10.15 – 12.40 hrs Z fighter screen sea area Rhodes – no contact. 1 IAR Rumania; 5 Me 109 and 1 Me 110 German, scrambled from Pipera 11.15 hrs Z against “enemy recce aircraft” off Danube Delta without interception. 16 Me 109 scrambled from Skoplje at 10.45 hrs Z against approaching Allied formation. 9 Me 109 scrambled from Nisch at 14.00 hrs Z against reported Allied formations. 1 Me 110 from Otopemi at 12.30 hrs Z shadowing Allied formation. 26 Me 109 scrambled from Mieil at 12.50 hrs Z 110 (?) scrambles from Topeni (Comment appears to be an error for Boteni or Otopeni) at 13.50 hrs Z. 11 Me 109 scrambles from Targsorul at 13.00 hrs Z. 8 Me 109 scram bled from Zilistra (Comment, not known whether Zilistra or Silistra on Danube) at 13.10 hrs Z. 4 IAR 80 Rum from Rosiori De Vede at 12.50 hrs Z, 22 IAR 80 Rum from Popesti at 13.15 hrs Z and 5 Me 109 Rum all against reported “enemy” formation. No interception. Escort: 13 Ar 196 with 3 convoys. 4 Ju and 9 AR with air transports. 3 AR search for “enemy” submarine SE of Pyrgos. Sea Rescue: 4 Ju search from 13.10 hrs Z to 14.15 hrs Z in sea areaSW Peloponnese for missing Ju 88. Transport: 3 Ar area Aegean Islands. Supplementary sorties for 23/01/1944 : Fighters: 5 Me 109 Rum and 1 Me 110 scrambles from Mamaia at 12.45 hrs Z against “enemy” recce aircraft in offshore area Danube delta without contact. 22/01/1944 – Miscellaneous: 3 JU 52 Mausi operation in coastal area NE of Costanza without success. (Comment see VL4778) |
| 271 | VL4787 | 25/01/44 | Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost recce orders on 11.00 hrs 25/01/44 for 26/01/44 for (strong indications Flifue Albania) were unchanged.
Flifue Croatia orders to NAGr 12 Mostar were unchanged at 15.30 hrs 25/01/44. |
| 267 | VL4789 | 25/01/44 | 2 Ju of I./KG 30’ 1 of II./KG 30 landed Piacenza between 01.45 and 03.00 hrs Z 25/01/44.
(Fair indications Istres) informed. (Comment – I and II./KG 30 left Italy for Western Europe last December.) |
| 266 | VL4790 | 24/01/44 | (Strong Indications FeldLuftgau XXVIII asked Koflug 9/VII on 24/01/44 to report exact location after transfer.
Koflug 9/VII reported at Montefiascone again on 23/01/44 (comment see VL4579 and VL2628 for loading space to be sent to Koflug 9/VII Rome). Koflug 9/VII still addressed on 25/01/44 at Littorio by FeldLuftgau XXVIII. |
| 265 | VL4791 | 25/01/44 | Flifue Albania intentions 25/01/44 to 26/01/44 photo recce Bari.
Offshore recce off Italian Coast. |
| 261 | VL4795 | 25/01/44 | 2 Ju 88, one of which known to be of LG 1 arrived Aviano from Semlin at 09.30 hrs Z on 25/01/44. |
| 259-260 | VL4796 | 25/01/44 | According Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost very early 25/01/44 150 to 200 Liberators and Fortresses with Lightning cover flew in across Albanian coast between Bar and Durazzo.
(Fair indications bombs dropped on) Veles, damage not reported, and on Skoplje airfield, slight damage to buildings and 1 Me 109 damaged, defendign fighters prevented two waves of aircradft from aimed bombing. Several jettisoned bombs in sea off Albanian coast on return flight. 24/01/44 - About 120 aircraft (strong indications flew past Sofia) across danube and turned round in Arba Craiova on to reciprocal. Isolated aircraft and fairly small waves crossed coast from 11.00 hrs Z onwards, fairly large waves from 12.00 to 14.30 hrs Z. |
| 258 | VL4797 | 24/01/44 | Airfield to which 8 JU 52 flew afternoon 24/01/44 see VL4749, now known to be Orvieto. |
| 257 | VL4798 | 25/01/44 | Recce intentions Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost (Luftflotte 2 informed) evening 25/01/44 for night 25-26/01/44 and 26/01/44 offshore recce against east coast Italy in form of a probe recce from Bari as far as south of Benedetto.
Offshore Otranto to Spartivento. Photo recce Bari. Watch over Allied convoy route between Benghazi and Malta. |
| 256 | VL4799 | 25/01/44 | Immediate sending on of 9 trucks aviation fuel to Viterbo were orders to Luftwaffe Fl.H.Kdtr Perugia 18.30 hrs Z 25/01/44 |
| 253 | VL4802 | 25/01/44 | Airfields Littoria, Sezze Littoria, Frosinone, Fratica di Mare, Ciampino North and South and Centocelle closed with effect from 16.00 hrs Z 25/01/44 owing mining(not recognisable from the air) |
| 250 | VL4805 | 25/01/44 | Orders 18.00 h rs Z 25/01/44 for 26/01/44.
Flifue Luftflotte to support defensive fighting of X Armee in main area of operations at the bridgehead. For this following to operate: II./SG 4 – 1 hour readiness from first light for ops against ground and sea targets. JG 53 with subordinate fighter gruppen, readiness from first light. Recce escort for fighter bomber ops and air defence in accordance with orders (comment – not known here). |
| 241 | VL4809 | 25/01/44 | Employment of mortar aircraft to the greatest possible extent in fighter oerations against the Nettuno beachhead ordered by Flifue Luftflotte evening 25/01/44.
(Comment – mortar aircraft used against transports and landing craft during Salerno landings. VL4769 gave 120 mortar bombs to be flown to Orvieto on 25/01/44) |
| 240 | VL4810 | 24/01/44 | Ordered by Flifue Croatia evening 24/01/44 photo recce of Vis. Preparation of large scale picture of whole island. |
| 237 | VL4813 | 24/01/44 | On 24/01/44 Stab./KG 76 enquired of the II./KG 76 whether despatch of unspecified personnel to Werneuchen (NE of Berlin) had yet been stopped.
According to Stab, 11 crews on 23/01/44 and (strong indications 12) on 24/01/44 (fair indications despatched) via Riem to Aviano. (Comment for strength Aviano detatchment on 22/01/44 see VL4577) |
| 229 | VL4818 | 24/01/44 | IV./JG 3 had transferred to Venlo (comment – from Grimbergen) with ground elements and aircraft by 24/01/44. |
| 226 | VL4820 | 25/01/44 | Flifue Luftflotte intentions 18.00 hrs Z 25/01/44 for 26/01/44.
Recce – offshore from Tiber to landing point, visual recce of landing bridgehead. Given suitable weather, air photos of whole landing bridgehead, or if weather more suitable for the task, photo recce of right wing XIV Pz K. Ground attack and fighters as VL4805. |
| 223 | VL4822 | 25/01/44 | Strength I./JG 3 evening 25/018/44. 32 aircraft (19 serviceable), 38 pilots (17 ready).
Operations same day – 21 sorties comprising one scramble by 16 aircraft without interception and one practice operation by 5 aircraft. Strength II./JG 3 same evening. 45 aircraft (none serviceable), 46 pilots (30 ready). Strength IV./ JG 3 same evening. 34 aircraft (22 serviceable) 44 pilots (33 ready). Operations same day one scramble with 22 Me 109. |
| 214-5 | VL4830 | 25/01/44 | Operations Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost 25/01/44 included:
Recce of Turkish coast about noon – Mandala Bay to north of Rhodes. 1 Ju 88 sea recce between Rhodes and Egypt. In area from 12.00 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 04.30 hrs Z to 08.30 hrs Z convoy route NW Benghazi. Offshore Otranto to Cape Spartivento 1 Ju 88 in area 09.00 hrs Z to 12.00 hrs Z Early recce Italian coast Cape Gargano to Bari cancelled by Flifue Albania owing fog. 8 Me 109 offshore Italian Coast. Area Ortona to Bari covered 06.30 hrs Z to 07.30 hrs Z. 2 Me 109 of 2./NAGr 12 up 14.00 hrs Z Mostar for recce of Offshore area of Cape Gargano, broken off north of Cape. Down Mostar 15.15 hrs Z. 2 Me 109 up13.00 hrs Z down 13.45 hrs Z – recce Vis. 2 Me 109 of 2./NAGr 12 up 08.00 hrs Z down 09.30 hrs Z islands Zara – Sibenik. 1 Me 109 recce Berane airfield and attack on town. Kalamaki fighter scrambles – 2 Me 109, 08.00 hrs Z. 4 Me 109 10.30 hrs Z. |
| 211 | VL4833 | 25/01/44 | Intentions Flifue Atlantik for 25/01/44 include 1 Ju 88 in and out over coast near Brest 12.10 hrs Z and 19.15 hrs Z.
1 Ju 88 in and out same area 12.30 hrs Z and 20.00 hrs Z. No operations by Jafü Brittany on 25/01/44. |
| 206 | VL4836 | 24/01/44 | Instructions 24/01/44 by Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost, recce for possible Allied shipping moves top outflank germans along east coast of Italy.
Area Bari to Cape Gargano by Flifue Albania. Area Gargano to Benedetto by Flifue Croatia. If necessary several operations, probing flights towards Italian coast to within sight of coast at different times of day. Land recce tasks of secondary importance, important recce results to be reported by wireless. |
| 205 | VL4837 | 24/01/44 | Flifue Albania intentions evening 24/01/44 for 25/01/44 were:-
Photo recce Bari, offshore recce Italian coast, watch on Berane airfield (comment see VL4830), same time, 1./NAGr12 had 7 aircraft serviceablew of 12 and 8 pilots ready of 14. Zara detachment of NSGr 7 evening 24/01/44 had 1 He 46 and 1 Hs 126 serviceable and 1 He 46 unserviceable. 5 He 46 and 5 Hs 126 sorties flown that day. |
| 200 | VL4841 | 25/01/44 | Ops Fl.Div.2 25/01/44
Security patrols by 2 Arados between Toulon and Spanish border 063.15 hrs Z to 09.00 hrs Z and 13.00 hrs Z to 16.15 hrs Z. AS patrol by 2 Arados Toul;on area 06.20 hrs Z to 09.20 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 08.20 hrs Z to 12.30 hrs Z off Italian coast north of Cape Linaro and north of Corsica. 1 Ju 88 14.10 hrs Z to 19.45 hrs Z round Corsica and Ligurian Sea to Anzio. |
| 199 | VL4842 | 25/01/44 | Recce operations Luftflotte 2 25/01/44
Offshore Ancona to Bari 02.30 hrs Z to 05.00 hrs Z. Auxilliary sailing vessel recce round Anzio 04.00 hrs Z to 05.00 hrs Z. 1 Me 410 offshore Orbetello to Gaeta and Tiber mouthbefore 11.00 hrs Z. 1 Me 410 offshore Ancona to Termoli 10.00 hrs Z to 11.15 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 12.30 hrs Z to 15.30 hrs Z up Perugia to sea area east of Sardinia. 1 Me 410 13.00 hrs Z to 13.45 hrs Z offshore Orbetello to Gaeta. |
| 193 | VL4847 | 25/01/44 | 6 Ju 52 (comment additional to those in VL4797) arrived airfield in Udine area morning 25/01/44 from airfield (fair indications Florence- Siena area). |
| 191 | VL4849 | 25/01/44 | On 25/01/44 total operations by Flifue Luftflotte
Ground Attack: 19 sorties in 2 operations, including 9 Fw 190 at 07.30 hrs Z against landing fleet off landing bridgehead. Fighters: 39 as escort for ground Attack, Mortar shells fired prematurely owing contact with Allied fighters. 15 scrambled. Recce: 6 in 3 operations offshore and over landing area. According to Flifue 143 heavy bomber sorties by Luftflotte 2, nights 23/24 and 24/25 against landing fleet. Appreciated that when presumably expected German bomber attacks did not take place Allies used fighters afternoon 25th as fighter bombers in fairly large numbers. |
| 181 | VL4856 | 24/01/44 | Planning staff of Jafü Balkans set up by 24/01/44 in accordance with VL4432.
Central direction of the units located outside Rumania not possible until some time in the future. Survey for Battle HQ Jafü Balkans in progress. Under new orders evening 24/01/44, certain orders of 23/01/44 (good evidence that manin points were in VL4649) cancelled and following ordered: Stab Jaf♀9 Balkans set up from Stab Jaf♀9 Rumania will remain in existence (Comment – This reverts to original arrangements which VL4432 gave). |
| 177 | VL4859 | 25/01/44 | All civilian sabateurs caught red handed to be shot at once, according to Flifue Luftflotte 2 on 25/01/44, as present situation demands most decisve action against sabateurs. This will provide example for civilian population. |
| 176 | VL4860 | 24/01/44 | Afternoon 24/01/44 I./JG 4 requested rerouting of Feldpost for certain units(comment – unidentified) from Feldpost office Tivoli to Feldpost Office Viterbo. |
| 170 | VL4866 | 25/01/44 | Programme fo rthe transfer of IV./KG76 from Francazal as laid down on 25/01/44: IV airfield servicing company together with advanced detachments to transfer on 05/02/44. Flying elements between (fair indications 13/02/44) and 15/02/44.
Comment – compare VL4096. IV/KG 76 strength evening 25/01/44 35 aircraft (34 on airfield, 17 serviceable). |
| 169 | VL4867 | 24/01/44 | Strength 4./126 morning 24/01/44 for 25/01/44 aircraft 9; serviceable 8; crews 11; ready 9. |
| 166 | VL4869 | 24/01/44 | Return from JG 27 Nish evening 24/01/44
Able – aircraft 3 (serviceable 2); crews 4 ready 2. Baker – Aircraft 1(indications 8) serviceable 10; crews 21 ready 17. Charlie – Aircraft 20 (serviceable 9; crews 36 ready 18. Dog – aircraft 22 (searviceable 14); crews 44 ready 19. Easy – Aircraft 33 (serviceable 21); crews 28 ready 18. Fox – Aircraft 44 (comment as given) (serviceable 22); crews 36 ready 30. Comment – suggested interpretation of units - Able – Stab./JG 27 Baker – III./JG 27 Charlie – IV./JG 27 Dog – I./JG 5 Easy – II./NJG 6 Fox – III./ NJG 6 Compare VL4152 and AWL1376 |
| 165 | VL4870 | 10/01/44 (?) | Evening 10/01/44 IV./KG 26 reported to 2 JD Stade 8 crews ready, 18 Ju 88 serviceable, of which 14 Able – 4, 3 Able – 7, 1 Able - 14. Known that similar returns made by IV./KG 26 to 2nd JD in December. |
| 154-155 | VL4877 | 23/01/44 | Ten day return of aircraft on and off strength units Fl.K. X on 23/01/44:-
1(F)./122 – on strength 3 off strength 1. 1(F)./123 – On strength 1 off strength 1. Westa 27 – off strength 2. /126 – on 1. III./JG 27 - on strength 4 including 1 from Nish, off 18 including 10 to Nish. 11./ZG 26 – on strength 5, off strength 2. I./LG 1 – off strength 1. III./LG 1 – off strength 2. 4./Mausi 1 on strength 2 II./TG 4 – on strength 1 off strength 2 Transportstaffel (See) 1 – on strength 3. Transportstaffel (See) 3 – off strength 1. III./Gotha Towing Gruppe 1 (? = LLG 1) – off strength 1. Seenot. 11 – off strength 1 Duty Flight Fl.K X – on strength 1, off strength 1. Comment – no mention II./SG 3 VL4085 compare. |
| 153 | VL4878 | 25/01/44 | Mostar (strong indications North) conditionally serviceable on morning 25/01/44 – landing on marked runway only. |
| 139 | VL4890 | 26/01/44 | At 12.00 hrs Z 26/01/44 Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost tasks for recce and offensive ops were unchanged for night 26-27/01/44 and 27/01/44. |
| 135 | VL4894 | 26/01/44 | Intentions evening 26/01/44 for 27/01/44
Flifue Albania – Photo recce Bari. Offshore recce of Italian coast. Flifue Croatia – unchanged. Comment VL4890 gave Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost intentions for 27/01/44 as unchanged. |
| 134 | VL4895 | 24/01/44 | After being set on fire by night fighter at 17.40 hrs Z 24/01/44 and aircraft of 5./KG 40 crashed about 10 Km NE of Anzio. |
| 132 | VL4897 | 26/01/44 | Air escort intended for 26/01/44 for 2 torpedo boats by 3 AR 196 of 3./126 Leros and 2 R Boats, compare VL4845 4th para and VL4887 4th para. From Leros to Piraeus.
3 further aircraft to be held ready for second relief operation. |
| 126 | VL4903 | 26/01/44 | From 14.30 hrs Z to 15.00 hrs Z 26/01/44 15 Me 109 left Cascina Vaga to Lavariano. |
| 124 | VL4905 | 26/01/44 | 4 Fw 190 of Fl.D.2 carried out security recce of NW coast of Corsica from 13.45 to 15.00 hrs Z 26/01/44 without sighting... |
| 121 | VL4908 | 24/01/44 | On 24/01/44 Koflug Tirana ordered by FeldLuftgau 30 to survey airfields Cukas (comment suggest Kukes in NE Albania) and Centinje Plavnica (comment – located here as two towns at northern point of Lake Scutari) Report requested on:
Condition For what types suitable Whether airfield can quickly be made serviceable again employing simplest means. Both airfields used in 1941 campaign. |
| 116 | VL4913 | 26/01/44 | Ordered 26/1/44 by Koflu 9/VII (comment area Rome – Grosseto – Lucca – Perugia) that supernumerary M/T handed over by units in this area to be sent no longer to Monte Rotondo but to Bastia (comment 8 Miles ESE Perugia) to be parked near loading railway station. Handing over to be completed by 31/01/44. |
| 113 | VL4915 | 26/01/44 | At 19.00 hrs Z on 26/01/44 Perugia airfield QNR owing bomb craters on landing area. Landing only on (fair indications runway) no parking facilities (strong indications except for) Ju 88 and Me 410. |
| 112 | VL4916 | 26/01/44 | Evening 26/01/44 Perugia stocks 118 tonne B4 and 146 C3. Foligno 10 B4. |
| 107 | VL4920 | 26/01/44 | Flifue Luftflotte intentions evening 26/01/44 for 27/01/44 were unchanged, as for 26/01/44. |
| 106 | VL4921 | 26/01/44 | 2 Ju 88 of I./KG 30, 4 of II./KG 30 including one of each gruppe mentioned in VL4789 left Piacenza for Villaorba by 10.00 hrs Z 26/01/44.
3 Ju 88 of KG 30 arrived Forli from Villaorba by 20.00 hrs Z same day. At 23.00 hrs same day an unspecified authority requested landing reports for aircraft of KG 30. |
| 104 | VL4923 | 26/01/44 | Strength and ops JG 3 to evening 26/01/44.
Firstly, II./JG 3 45 aircraft ; 0 serviceable. 46 pilots; 29 ready. Secondly, I./JG 3 32 aircraft; 20 serviceable. 38 pilots; 19 ready. Ops during day: transfer of 20 Me 109 to Glze Rijen (comment – temporary tactical transfer). Thirdly, IV ./JG 3 39 aircraft; 23 serviceable. 45 pilots; 24 ready. During day, 17 Me 109flew practice flight. |
| 100 | VL4926 | 27/01/44 | Further comment to VL4813
1. Not clear what connection, if any, exists between stopping of despatch of personnel of II./KG 76 to Werneuchen and arrival of crews at Aviano via Riem. 2. JP9001 possibly relevant. This JP reported plan of 3/11.43 to set up at Werneuchen a Ju 88 staffel of Luftflotte 2 for attacking shipping by night with help of Hehentwiel radar apparatus. No subsequent evidence to show whether or what extent this plan was implemented. |
| 96 | VL4929 | 26/01/44 | 2nd Fliegerdivision recce 26/01/44 included 1 Ju 08.30 hrs Z to 14.00 hrs Z security Ligurian Sea, east and north coast Corsica, 2 Arados 06.10 hrs to 08.35 hrs Z and again at 13.20 hrs Z – 16.40 hrs Z security West Toulon to Spanish Border. 2 Arados 09.00 hrs Z – 11.45 hrs Z A/S patrol Toulon area.
4 FW 190 13.45 hrs Z – 15.00 hrs Z security northwest coast Corsica. 1 JU 14.30 – 19.00 hrs Z security between 3 and 8 degrees east as far as 40 degrees North. |
| 95 | VL4930 | 26/01/44 | Sorties of (strong indications (F)./122) on 26/01/44 included 1 Me 410 offshore recce between Ancona and Termoli from 10.00 – 11.00 hrs Z.
1 Me 410 offshore area Orbetello to area Ventotene 08.00 hrs – 09.30 hrs Z. |
| 91 | VL4933 | 26/01/44 | Flifue Atlantic intentions for 26/01/44 included 1 Ju 88 out at 07.10 hrs Z and in at 14.30 hrs Z area Brest.
1 Ju 290 out at 05.00 hrs Z and in at 21.40 hrs Z in area Royan. Weather recce sea area north of Iceland and in Denmark Straits by Fw 200 of Flifue NorthWest up at 06.00 Z on 26/01/44. 4 Me 109 morning 26/01/44 to Herdla from South. |
| 89 | VL4935 | 26/01/44 | 5 Fw 190 up Piacenza to Viterbo 09.00 hrs Z 26/01/44. |
| 85-87 | VL4937 | 26/01/44 | Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost on 26/01/44 operatins included:
2 Me 109 of 1./NAGr 12 on probing recce05.40 – 07.00 hrs Z area Cape Gargano. Flifue Albania cancelled afternoon recce Italian coast owing weather. Recce Italian Coast and Dalmatian Islands by Flifue Croatia not carried out owing weather. Ops by detachment Zara 1 Hs 126 and 1 He 4612.00 – 12.40 hrs Z, 1 He 46 13.30 hrs – 14.00 hrs Z, 1 He 46 14.50 – 15.50 hrs Z attacked fishing boats Kukljica Harbour. 1 Hs 126 15.00 – 15.30 hrs recce of Zara area. Fliegerkorps X included 1 Ju 88 Met and sea recce NW Benghazi 05.50 – 09.10 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 Offshore recce Otranto to 3837, 1715 E 10.00 – 12.50 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 probing recce Alexandria10.30 – 14.25 hrs Z. 2 Me 109 08.30 – 10.15 hrs Z and 2 Me 109 09.50 – 11.50 hrs Z escort for Ju 52 Mausi, in Rhodes Harbour. 12.30 – 14.40 hrs Z scramble and escort of Mausi Rhodes Harbour by unspecified aircraft. Supplementary sorties 25/01/44 by NAGr 12 recce 14.40 – 15.50 hrs Z offshore Italian coast north of Cape Gargano by (strong indications 3./126) 3 Arados 06.30 – 08.00 hrs Z escort Leros to Phaleron. 3 Arados 11.00 – 14.45 hrs Z special task Leros – Piskopi – Cos. |
| 84 | VL4938 | 24/01/44 | Under Flifue Luftflotte as from 24/01/44 SG4 (comment see VL4781 para 2) I./JG 4, II./JG51, III./JG 53, II./JG 77 and NAGr 11.
Comment – agrees with DDI3: fighters in the south believed to be as follows:- I./JG 4, II./JG 51, part III./JG 53, ?? of II./JG 77. Possible that equipment of II./JG 77 now includes Me 109. |
| 82 | VL4940 | 26/01/44 | 10 Me 109 left Lagnasco for Siena South about 08.00 hrs Z 26/01/44.
Fair indications that Me 109 were being ferried to II./JG 77 at Caselle between 11/01/44 and 22/01/44. Comment – see comment by DDI3 (VL4938) see also VL4734 where equally possible that 11 Me 109 which left Vicenza for Lagnasco were for II./JG 77. Now known that Caselle occupied by Italian fighter gruppe on 31/12/43. |
| 81 | VL4941 | 24/01/44 | Strength on 24/01/44 of I./JG 27(comment last locatedFels am Wagram early January): 50; 40; 42;26 – figures are total aircraft, serviceable aircraft, total crews, available crews. |
| 80 | VL4942 | 26/01/44 | 1 Do 217 (slight indication 6./KG 100) made emergency landing Perugia area (fair indications Castiglione del Lago) before 18.30 hrs Z 26/01/44 (fair indications Istres) and KG 100 informed. |
| 79 | VL4943 | 26/01/44 | 1 Ju 88 of 8 Staffel (fair indications KG 26) up Milan-Linate 12.00 hrs Z 26/01/44 for Montpellier. |
| 76 | VL4946 | 26/01/44 | By evening 26/01/44 X Fligerkorps had reported Eleusis envisaged as operational airfield for IV./TG 1.
Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost enquired if it was to come within the definition of a “supply reloading point”. If so, Army was to be informed. Comment (strong indications this gruppe) addressed Riga December. |
| 74 | VL4948 | 26/01/44 | On 26/01/44 total operations Flifue Luftflotte Ground Attack – 2 ops against landing fleet off landing bridgehead with escorted fighters. 1 Me 109 missing.
Fighters: 8 fighters as escort for approach flight of heavy bombers without interception. Stronger Ground Attack and Fighter ops not possible in course of morning owing soft airfields and bad weather. Recce: 8 aircraft visual and photo recce of bridgehead and offshore area. 2 aircraft visual recce left wing XIV Pz Korps. 2 further aircraft broke off owing fighter defence. |
| 69-70 | VL4951 | 26/01/44 | Orders by Flifue Luftflotte 2 at 23.00 hrs 26/01/44 for recce 27/01/44.
Visual recce as early as possible of offshore area Tiber estuary to landing bridgehead and land recce over landing bridgehead with main effort on road Anzio – Aprilia and Netuno – G0027. #Further tasks according development situation. Photo recce for mosaic of landing bridgehead in so far as it was not carried out on 26/01/44. During this operationif at all possible German area as far as 5 km north of outpost line of defence to be photographed. Subject to situation visual and photo recce in front of left wing of 44 GD and right wing of 5 Gbj D is to be expected. Detailed orders to follow. |
| 67 | VL4953 | 27/01/44 | ARC Lavariano requested 00.30 hrs Z 27/01/44 whereabouts of a Ju 88 of 6./KG 30 Comment VL4921 for comparison. |
| 66 | VL4954 | 27/01/44 | 15 Me 109 of JG 77 landed in Florence. Flifue Luftflotte 2 and JG 77 informed by ARC Florence at 11.00 hrs Z 27/01/44. Comment no information as to which gruppe. |
| 65 | VL4955 | 26/01/44 | Airfields Ciampino III, Osa and (fair indications an airfield in the Rome area) being dismantled.
Information 04.00 hrs Z 26/01/44 (Comment these additional to VL4802) |
| 55 | VL4964 | 25/01/44 | Koflug 9/VII orders on 25/01/44 running of all generators on M/T fuel to cease in its area (Comment Perugia, Lucca, Grosseto, Rome).
From 27/01/44 all M/T coming from North Italian area, including columns, forbidden to refuel south of a line from Florence to Perugia. M/T to carry fuel for return journey. |
| 51 | VL4967 | 27/01/44 | Arrived Aviano from Semlin 15.105 hrs Z 27/01/44, 2 of I./LG 1 and 1 of I./LG 1. |
| 50 | VL4968 | 27/01/44 | Gruppenstab and (fair indications 1./) NAGr 11 transferred from Marcigliana to an unknown destination, according Marcigliana station command at 08.00 hrs Z 27/01/44.
Comment – for orders 14/01/44 to NAGr 11 to operate from Marcigliana when airfield serviceable, see VL3947. Compare VL4959 |
| 47 | VL4970 | 27/01/44 | At 18.30 hrs Z 27/01/44 Perugia QNR for all classes owing bomb craters on landing area.
Landing only on runway, excepting Ju 88 and Me 410. No parking facilities. Comment VL4915 refer. |
| 46 | VL4971 | 27/01/44 | For 28/01/44 orders by Flifue Luftflotte 2 at 21.30 hrs Z 27/01/44:
Flifue to support defensive fighting area Netuno bridgehead. II./SG 4 to attack harbour targets, take off first light weather permitting. Escort for this by JG 53 with III./JG 53 and elements II./JG 51 if airfield conditions allow. II./JG 77 and I./JG 4, unless required for early morning operations owing dropping out of II./JG 51, to assure airfield protection from first light. Fighter bomber operation(comment presumably by fighter units) to be expected. Recce in accordance with separate orders (comment not known here.) |
| 45 | VL4972 | 27/01/44 | Stocks Perugia evening 2701/44 186 tonnes B4 and 153 tonnes C3 and 44 tonnes Rotring. In VL4970 read full stop after runway and comma after Me 410. |
| 42 | VL4974 | 27/01/44 | Intentins for Flifue Luftflotte 2 to 28/01/44 at 21.30 hrs Z 27/01/44.
Recce – offshore Tiber Mouth to landing point. Weather permitting mosaic of that part of the landing bridgehead not photographed on 27/01/44. Ground attack - aircraft readiness from first light for support of army. Operation against harbour targets. Fighters – readiness from first light for escort, air defence and fighter bomber operations. Comment see also VL4971. |
| 41 | VL4975 | 27/01/44 | JG 3 strength 27/01/44.
I./JG 3 33 aircraft, 18 serviceable. 38 crews with 19 ready. II./JG 3 45 aircraft, none serviceable. 46 crew with 30 ready. IV./JG 3 41 aircraft, 28 serviceable. 43 pilots with 28 ready. |
| 30 | VL4978 | 28/01/44 | In VL4967 for II./LG 1 read III./LG 1. |
| 26 | VL4980 | 27/01/44 | 3 Me 109 up Cascina Vaga for Lavariano midday 27/01/44. Comment – similar move of 15 Me 109 on 26/01/44 in VL4903. |
| 25 | VL4981 | 27/01/44 | Preliminary orders for 27/01/44 and night 27-28/01/44 to 28/01/44 quoted very early on 27/01/44 by 2. Fl.Div for informationto Luftflotte2 :
Preparations to be made for operation at dusk 27/01/44 by torpedo and (fair indications remote controlled bomb) units with all available forces. Targets as hitherto. Strength to be telephoned beforehand to 2. Fl.Div. 2. Fl.Div. Added that it was not anxious to operate at all. Comment – not clear by whome orders were issued in the first place. |
| 15 | VL4990 | 27/01/44 | In connection with introduction of Benito procedure, Luftflotte 2 had by 27/01/44 ordered use of uniform fighter control maps. |
| 13-14 | VL4991 | 26/01/44 | Strength Fliegerkorps X on 26/01/44.
First figure total aircraft; second aircraft serviceable; third total crews; fourth crews ready. 11./ZG 26 - 14;10;15;9. Stab./FAGr 4 – 1;1;2;2 1(F)./122 – 8;4;10;6 2(F)./123 – 15;8; (strong indications 20); 11 Westa 27 – 5;3;6;3. 3./NAGr 2 – 12;10;16;11. 1./Aufklgr (See) 126 – 10;6;10;8. 2./Aufklgr (See) 126 – 10;7;12;7. 3./Aufklgr (See) 126 – (strong indication 10);8;12;9. Part Staffel /Aufklgr (See) 126 (Milos) – 4;3;4;3. 4./Aufklgr (See) 126 – 9;8;11;10. 7./JG 27 – 17;10;28;13. 7./TG 4 – 16;7;18;12. 4./MSGr 1 – 4;2;4;4 |
| 5-6 | VL4997 | 27/01/44 | Ops Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost 27/01/44 included:
Flifue Croatia, Italian coast recce by 2 Me 109 up 05.45 hrs Zand 2 Me 109 up 06.15 hrs Z. Unspecified aircraft Ancona to Termoli 09.30 to 11.20 hrs Z, and Vis to Pelagosa 13.30 to 14 hrs Z. Cape Gargano – Termoli by 2 Me 10914.15 – 15.00 hrs Z. Flifue Albania – probing sorties 2 Me 109 covered Barletta to Molfetta 06.40 – 07.00 hrs Z. 1 Rotte at 10.30 hrs Z Cape Gargano. 1 Rotte at 15.303 hrs Z Arba Gulf Manfredonia. Fliegerkorps X – 1 Ju 88 05.30 – 08.45 hrs Z Northwest Benghazi. 1 Ju 88 Offshore recce 09.20 – 11.30 hrs Z Otranto to Spartivento. 1 Ju 88 from 11.45 – 14.00 hrs Z Rhodes to Northwest of Alexandria. |
| 3 | VL4999 | 27/01/44 | According to Flifue Luftflotte evening 27/01/44, the landing fleet and unloading operations attacked during night 26-27/01/44 by 107 heavy bombers. Effect of attack assumed to be considerably in excess of claims as details not observed owing darkness,dazzling by searchlights, and defence by Flak and night fighters. |
| 2 | VL5000 | 27/01/44 | Some sorties Western Med 27/01/44
Firstly – Fliegerdivision 2 1 Ju 88 ASV recce 05.00 – 06.00 hrs Z in area northwest and southeast Anzio. 2 Ar 196 from 06.10 – 09.00 hrs recce west Toulon to Spanish frontier. 1 Ju 88 recce west, north and east coasts Corsica from 11.00 – 16.15 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 from 17.00 – 23.00 hrs Z ASV recce north of Balearics. 1 Ju 88 sea area Elba – Anzio ASV recce 22.30 – 23.30 hrs Z. Secondly – unspecified aircraft 09.30 – 10.15 hrs Z from Perugia to east coast Corsica. |
Back to DEFE 3