DEFE3/135
DEFE3/135 covers the decryption period between 31st January 1944 and 4th February 1944 – however, some information relates to dates outside this period.
In the page below there are some notes/summaries transcribed from the pages of DEFE 3/135 I hope that these are of assistance to any fellow researchers.
The link to the National Archives for the full copy of DEFE3/135 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 |
341 | VL5251 | 31/01/44 | 16.00 hrs Z 31/01/44 Villaorba serviceable for emergency night landing. Aircraft to use landing strip. |
338 | VL5254 | 31/01/44 | The 4 Do 217 of KG 100 mentioned in VL5179 took off Bergamo South for Istres 10.45 hrs Z 31/01/44. |
335 | VL5257 | 31/01/44 | Immediate ferrying over of 36 SC50 and 16 SD70 from an airfield in the Lucca area to Vignanello (comment 15 km SE of Viterbo) ordered on 31/01/44 |
328 | VL5263 | 29/01/44 | Total ops Flifue Albania on 29/01/44 as in VL5162.
Plus leaflet dropping 09.15 – 11.15 hrs Z area north Albania by duty flight Flifue 14.15 – 15.30 hrs Z testing camouflage artillery positions area Kruja-Durazzo by 1 Fi 156 each time. |
327 | VL5264 | 27/01/44 | Orders from Stab/JG 53 evening 27/01/44 for 28/01/44.
Rendezvous 06.15 hrs Z over sea just southeast of Civita Vecchia at 2000m: 11 ground attack aircraft, over them 17 of III./JG 53, above them 19 of II./JG 51 as fighter protection. Aircraft to fly in close formation to form strong defence. Most rigid wireless silence during approach. Target merchant vessels in Anzio harbour and town of Anzio. Dive in a curve to the right departing to the north at 2000m. II./JG 77 to operate with approximately 5 aircraft and later with 22 aircraft. |
326 | VL5265 | 31/01/44 | Pisa informed on 31/01/44 by III./KG 26 that an aircraft (marking of Stab staffel III./KG 26) was to return to La Jasse (comment see VL5240) |
317 | VL5272 | 30/01/44 | III./JG 53 addressed Orvieto on 30/01/44. Comment compare VL4769 and VL5024 |
312 | VL5277 | 31/01/44 | 20 Sorties by IV./JG 3 (comment transferred to Venlo by 24/01/44 see VL4818) on 31/01/44. 2 aircraft lost, 1 damaged. Strength 18 aircraft serviceable out of 42. 26 pilots ready out of 43. |
307 | VL5281 | 31/01/44 | Evening 31/01/44 Luftwaffe Perugia (reported on an airfield in Trevi-Foligno area (comment exact location not known). 1200 x 200 m, greatest length north to south. Dispersal points under construction but work at moment discontinued. |
306 | VL5282 | 31/01/44 | Flifue Luftflotte 2 intentions for 01/02/44, at 19.00 hrs 31/01/44.
Recce Offshore Tiber mouth to bridgehead, battle recce over and in front of areas of penetration in 3 PG and Göring Div. Sectors. Photo recce of area near front and principal Allied approach roads. Weather permitting readiness for Ground Attack aircraft from 06.00 hrs Z for ops against ground targets in bridgehead. Fighter readiness from dawn for escort and air defence. |
302 | VL5285 | 30/01/44 | Following left Villa Orba for Bergamo South (Comment compare VL5210).
12 JU 88 of KG 30 – being 6 of I./KG 30 and 6 of II./KG 30, between 23.30 hrs Z 30/01/44 and 10.00 hrs Z 31/01/44. 1 He 111 of Stab I./KG 30 and 3 Ju 52 at about 15.30 hrs 31/01/44. Secondly 2 JU 88 of I./KG 30, not among 6 quoted above, left Villa Orba for Wien Aspern at 09.00 hrs Z 31/01/44. |
301 | VL5286 | 31/01/44 | Incomplete raid report to Koflug 5/VII afternoon 31/01/44.
About 100 unescorted Fortresses in 2 waves at 50 minutes past the hour (hour and target unknown here). All but one hanger destroyed. Many buildings used as quarters destroyed. Landing areas 2 and 2 covered with large craters. 45 Macchi destroyed, 2 badly damaged. Railway cut in two places. D/A bombs (strong indications on Udine) airfield, detonation in progress. No losses. |
294 | VL5289 | 31/01/44 | Airfields evening 31/01/44 according to GAF Lucca
Serviceability – Florence, all classes; Pistoia, serviceable for fighters and unladen bombers. Lucca serviceable for aircraft with landing speed up to that of Ju 52. Pisa Giusto serviceable all classes. Metato serviceable for fighters and unladen bombers. Another airfield in the Lucca area (comment not identified here) at that time closed for all classes. Nightlighting – Florence and Pisa Giusto – yes, Pistoia, Lucca, Metato and unspecified airfield as above – none. |
290-1 | VL5291 | 01/02/44 | Orders fro 3./126 at 01.00 hrs on 01/02/44 for operations that day.
Escort and anti-submarine patrol with 3 Arado ahead of Oria convoy Stampalia to Rhodes. (Comment compare VL5271) convoy to be in 3632, 2645 E at 04.30 hrs Z, thence via 3617, 2715 E and 3622, 2755 E, arriving about 14.00 hrs Z. For 3 torpedo boats and 1 steamship (Comment – probably Siglinde, see VL5279) from Praeus to Leros arriving about 06.00 hrs Z, anti-submarine patrol and escort with 3 Arados from first light till arrival off Port Laki and in area3707, 2645 E. For Leda (comment see VL5207) leaving Leros about 16.00 hrs Z for Samos, anti-submarine patrol with 3 Arado at Port Laki and ahead of convoy from 14.00 hrs Z till last light. Secondly, for three tasks 6 Arados of 4./126 transfering to Leros. Thirdly, 3 Ju 88 also with Oria convoy until arrival. |
285 | VL5294 | 31/01/44 | Pen. Afternoon 31/01/44 Villaorba (Villaorba landing strip) serviceable for emergency night landings. Comment VL5221 refers. |
284 | VL5295 | 31/01/44 | 14 sorties flown by I./JG 3 on 31/01/44 scramble. 2 pilots lost.
Strength evening same day 19 aircraft serviceable out of 33, 19 pilots ready out of 33. |
283 | VL5296 | 31/01/44 | Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost intentions addressed Luftflotte 2 at 20.30 hrs Z 31/01/44 for 01/02/44.
Night photo recce Bari Harbour. Offshore recce eastern and southern Italian coasts unchanged. Watch on convoy route Benghazi – Malta. |
277 | VL5301 | 18/01/44 | On 18/01/44 Fliegerkorps II and Parachute School 2 informed of arrival of an aircraft at Perugia.
A lorry load of parachutists hit in Allied raid on Foligno. Permission given 25/01/44 for transport aircraft with urgent tasks for Fliegerkorps (strong indications ) II to land Perugia from München-Riem. Comment – agreed with MI 14:accumulation of evidence(see also VL4363 and VL4455 and VL 5012) suggests elements at least of Parachute Div. 4 are in fact being set up area Perugia instead of Rome. |
274 | VL5303 | 31/01/44 | Evening 31/01/44 Perugia serviceable all classes, except laden, Ju 88 and Me 410. At that time no night lighting. Foligno serviceable for landingspeeds up to and including Me 410, no night lighting. Trevi serviceable for speeds up to and including Me 109. No night lighting. |
272 | VL5305 | 31/01/44 | Now known that 1 of II./KG 26 and 2 of III./KG 26 arrived Pisa-Giusto from Montpellier on 23-24/01/44. Comment 1 of these aircraft is that in VL5265.
Villaorba informed Istres late on 31/01/44 that all Ju 88 arrived there 11.00 – 12.30 hrs Z comment no detail here. |
256-7 | VL5313 | 31/01/44 | Aircraft arrivals on 31/01/44:-
Bergamo Süd from Villaorba 12 Ju 88 of KG 30 at 09.30-11.15 hrs Z (comment departures in VL5285, these should be 5 of I./KG 30 and 7 of II./KG30) Forli from Vincenza – Treviso area 13 Ju 52 at 14.20 – 15.40 hrs Z, 11 Ju 52 including 9 of above left Forli for Treviso at 15.00 – 16.10 hrs Z, from Treviso 3 Ju 88 of which 1 of 1(F)./123 at 14.30 hrs Z. Treviso from Forli 13 Ju 52 of which 6 of the 9 above at 14.40 – 15.00 hrs Z, 7 at 16.30 – 16.50 hrs Z. 2 Me 323 at 14.30 hrs Z. |
252 | VL5316 | 01/02/44 | Delete “Strong Indications” at beginning of VL5245. Comment this list of units was given by Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost to Jafü Balkans in an instruction concerning the making of serviceability returns. The information is therefore quite hard. |
251 | VL5317 | 31/01/44 | On 31/01/44 commandant of Koflug 9/VII reported guerilla activity near Bolsena and Foligno during bombing attack. Important geurilla centre suspected there.
Action by German General Plenipotentiary requested. Use of 2 reinforced battalions suggested. |
250 | VL5318 | 01/02/44 | Now known that last sentence of VL5264 should read: II./JG 77 to operate with 22 aircraft in the same target area (slight indications about 5 to 10 minutes later). |
239 | VL5323 | 01/02/44 | Comment by DDI 2 to VL5249 first paragraph: since raid on Regensburg – Pruefening on 17/08/43 there has been some evidence that assembly of Me 109 taking palce at Oberstraubling |
238 | VL5324 | 30/01/44 | IV./TG 4 under Fl.K.X on 30/01/44 with 42 serviceable aircraft out of 48 and 47 crews ready out of 51.
Comment – compare VL4946 which mentioned impending occupation of Eleusis by IV./TG 1 on 26/01/44. Possible that error in numbering has been made in one case. |
237 | VL5325 | 30/01/44 | On orders of Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost of 30/01/44 a staffel of I./JG 5 to be sent from Rumania to Regensburg-Oberstraubling to collect new aircraft.
Comment by DDI2: since raid on Regensburg-Pruefening on 17/08/43 there has been some evidence that assembly of Me 109taking place at Oberstraubling. |
235-6 | VL5326 | 31/01/44 | Flifue Luftflotte 2 orders to JG 53 for all gruppen, SG 4 and NAGr 11 at 19.00 hrs Z 31/01/44 for 01/02/44. Flifue will on 01/02/44 support the defensive fighting on beachhead by attacks on ground targets in and in front of areas of penetration in sections of 3 PG Div. And Div. Goering. For this purpose the following to operate:
Firstly SG 4 from 06.00 hrs Z weather permitting, half hours readiness for ops against ground targets Secondly, JG 53 airfield defence to be ensured with all subordinate gruppenfrom first light. Air defence from first light and escort for ground attack aircraft from 06.30 hrs Z to be envisaged, Jabo ops to be cancelled for 01/02/44. Thirdly, recce in accordance with recce orders (comment see VL5282 for Flifue intentions for 01/02/44 |
230-2 | VL5328 | 31/01/44 | Western Med some sorties on 31/01/44.
Fliegerdivision 2: 1 Ju 88 course 4237, 0315 E; 4152, 0315E; 3737, 1115E; 3607, 1145E; 3652, 0215E; 3952; 0415E; 03.45 – 09.30 hrs Z. 2 Arado Toulon to 4247, 0305 E – 06.15 – 09.15 hrs Z 1 Ju 88 sea recce North African coast 03.45 – 10.15 hrsZ 2 Arado probing recce Toulon to Spanish coast 14.15 – 17.00 hrs Z 1 Ju 88 recce North African coast 08.00 – 14.00 hrs Z Unspecified units: 1 Ju 88 recce Tyrrhenian Sea 11.45 – 15.15 hrs to and from Perugia 1 Ju 88 course 3907,0545E; 3822, 0645E; 3652, 0415E; 3707, 0745E; 3737, 0715E – 11.30 – 12.00 Hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 course 3952, 0445E; 3822, 0415E; 3707, 0415E; 3707, 0215E; 3652, 0315E; 3707, 0415E; 3737; 0415E; 3952, 0445E – 15.00 – 20.00 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 Corsica – Anzio ASV recce with FUG 200 15.30 – 20.45 hrs Z. |
227-9 | VL5329 | 31/01/44 | Some sorties on 31/01/44
Flifue Albania: 2 Me 109 probng recce Italian coast 05.30 – 06.00 hrs Z broken off – technical trouble, same recce by 2 Me 109 06.45 – 08.15 hrs Z, same recce by 2 Me 109 14.45 – 16.00 hrs Z. Flifue Croatia: 2 Me 109 up 10.30 hrs Z recce Italian coast, 2 Me 109 Italian coast 05.45 – 07.00 hrs Z broken off owing fighter defence, 2 Me 109 Italian coast in sea area up to 50 Kms depth between Cape Gargano and Benedetto 10.30 – 11.30 hrs Z, 2 Me 109 sea recce in area of islands Korkula, Mljet, Lagosta and east of Vis to depth of 20 kilometres. Fliegerkorps X 2 Ju 88 north and northwest of Benghazi 08.00 – 11.45 hrs Z, 1 Ju 88 Ionian Sea 06.45 – 09.15 hrs Z, 2 Ju 88 south of Rhodes to 60 miles north of Nile Delta and offshore Alex 12.15 – 16.00 hrs Z. Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost: continuous escort of convoys in Aegean with strong forces, continuation of increased recce of Italian coast, effective support of Army in attacks on guerillas in Orahovica area north of Brod and southeast of Agram. |
224 | VL5332 | 31/01/44 | When several waves from south attacked Klagenfurt on 31/01/44 II./JG 53 scrambled at 10.25 hrs Z for defensive patrol and escort for 19 Me 110. No contact.
2 operations by 3 aircraft at a time defensive atrol over Klagenfurt 13.30 – 16.15 hrs Z. |
222 | VL5334 | 29/01/44 | Operations I./JG 4 to 12.15 hrs 29/01/44
9 aircraft down 07.00 hrs Z after rendevous with 10 ground attack aircraft . Attack on beach. Slight AA defence. 8 aircraft up 10.45hrs Z, 7 down 11.30 hrs Z, 1 lost |
212 | VL5343 | 31/01/44 | Operations Flifue Luftflotte on 31/01/44 4 aircraft battle and visual recce over beachhead and offshore Tiber estuary to landing bridgehead. No further operations owing weather in base area. |
211 | VL5344 | 31/01/44 | II./JG 53 ops report at 12.30 hrs Z 31/01/44 included:
3 Liberators claimed including 1 by “ramming”. 196 aircraft landed at Seyring, 4 landed (slight indications ) away from station including 2 as a result of being shot up. 3 parachute descents, 1 aircraft and pilot found burnt out, 4 aircraft missing, 5 pilots missing. (Comment so accounting for 4 missing and 1 burnt out aircraft above) |
189 | VL5361 | 01/02/44 | Intentions Flifue Luftflotte 2 at 20.30 hrs Z 01/02/44 for 02/02/44.
Recce – infront of 44 and 15 PG Divs. Offshore Tiber mouth to beachhead. Battle recce in and in front of areas of penetration in 3 PG and Goering Div sectors. Photo recce area near front and main Allied approach roads in beachhead or in front of XIV Korps, according to development of situation. Ground attack – half hour readiness from 06.30 hrs Z weather permitting fro operations against unloading points or ground targets. Fighters – readiness from first light, for escort; air defence and freelance patrol. |
185 | VL5364 | 01/02/44 | I./JG 3 strength evening 01/02/44.
16 aircraft serviceable out of 35. 15 crews available out of 35. No operations that day. |
174 | VL5375 | 29/01/44 | Aircraft reporting radar company located Vari (comment would appear to be the Vari 10 miles south of Athens) had on 29/01/44 detachment (strong indications) on island of Syros. |
173 | VL5376 | 01/02/44 | No operations by IV./JG 3 on 01/02/44 its strength same day was 15 aircraft out of 42, 24 pilots out of 42. |
172 | VL5377 | 01/02/44 | Effort Flifue Luftflotte 2 on 01/02/44 was 2 battle recce ops over Landing bridgehead. A “ strong” ground attack operation against heavy traffic north and south of Aprilia, fighter escort and a freelance patrol over landing bridgehead. No morning ops owing weather. |
170 | VL5379 | 01/02/44 | II./JG 53 operations on 01/02/44 included scramble by (slight indication) 18 aircraft at 12.15 hrs Z and one rotte three times defensive patrol over (strong indications) Klagenfurt 12.30 – 16.15 hrs Z. |
166-7 | VL5382 | 01/02/44 | Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost effort on 01/02/44 included 2 Me 109 probing recce to point 40 Km east of Cap Gargano at nought feet, 08.00 – 09.15 hrs Z.
2 Me 109 of 2./NAGr 12 on route Mostar – Ortona – Benedetto – Mostar, 06.30 -07.30 hrs Z Flying height of 29,000 ft over Italian area, 100 – 13500 ft over Axis inshore area. 1 Ju 88 probing recce Alexandria 05.00 – 07.30 hrs Z, 1 Ju 88 weather and sea recce area 32.37, 34.15 E – 32.22, 29.45 E from 08.45 – 13.15 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 same task area (strong indications) 3322, 18.45 E – 34.32, 16.25 E, 08.45 – 12.15 hrs Z. 1 Ju 88 same task 39.52, 18.45 E – 37.37, 16.15 E up at 13.45 hrs Z |
162 | VL5386 | 01/02/44 | Serviceability on 01/02/44 Perugia, Foligno unchanged. Castiglione del Lago and Trevi serviceable for certain classes. Castiglione del Lago no night lighting. Airfields in VL5289 unchanged. |
161 | VL5387 | 01/02/44 | Ordered on 01/02/44 that telephone connection be established same day between Aufklgr. 122 Perugia and airfield Brolio.
Same day telephone connection Brolio – Siena arranged, to be used principally for fighter ops (comment see VL4668) |
153 | VL5393 | 15/01/44 | Now known that (fair indications) KG 40 informed Flifue Atlantic on 15/01/44 that the third staffel had transferred that day. Comment – not clear which staffel is in question. Presumably not 3./KG 40, which is based in Trondheim and is known to have operated in Norway since 15/01/44 (compare VL5235).
Possibilities are third staffel of III./KG 40 or (less probable) of II./KG 40, i.e. staffel 9 or 3./ZG 1 (I./ZG 1 was until recently V./KG 40. |
152 | VL5394 | 01/02/44 | Late 01/02/44 arranged to despatch by night from Perugia 12 tons C3 to Metato and 12 tons C3 to Pisa. |
151 | VL5395 | 25/01/44 | Now known that transfer of 5th Staffel (strong indications) KG 40 had been mooted but on 25/01/44 could not take place for 3 days. Comment not known whether transfer in fact took place. No connection other than VL4895 with Mediterranean theatre. Comment to SH only. VL4895 reported loss of an aircraft over Allied landing south of Rome. |
150 | VL5396 | 01/02/44 | 3 Ju 52 and 1 Ju 88 of II./KG 30 (slight indications) arrived Bergamo South from Istres afternoon 01/02/44.
3 Ju 52 and 1 He 111 of I./KG 30 arrived on 01/02/44 Villaorba from Bregamo South. Thereof, 2 Ju 52 and 1 He 111 left again for Bergamo South by 14.15 hrs Z 01/02/44. Comment VL5210. |
149 | VL5397 | 01/02/44 | Intentions Flifue Albania: Firstly, unchanged afternoon 01/02/44 for night 01-02/02/44. Secondly, evening 01/02/44 for 02/02/44, offshore recce off Italian coast. |
142-3 | VL5399 | 01/02/44 | Fliegerkorps II informed by Luftflotte 3 on 01/02/44:
Military GOC France had been asked to deal with request transfer engineer Battalion Witzig to Trayes area. (Comment – Parachute Engineer Battalion Witzig not identified since Tunisian campaign.) Suitable airfield for parachute school Dreux not available in Troyes area. Airfield Romorantin (700 x 700) proposed if considered large enough. Respecting transfer of staff of Fliegerkorps II to Strassburg area contact to be made with AOC in C Centre. (Comment – no evidence which Staff of Fliegerkorps II is referred to.) |
136-7 | VL5402 | 01/02/44 | Effort of Fliegerdivision 2 on 01/02/44 included:-
1 Ju 88 from 03.15 – 11.30 hrs, 1 Ju from 04.00 – 07.00 hrs Z, 1 Ju from 07.30 – 13.45 hrs Z, 1 Ju from 11.15 – 17.15 hrs Z all on sea recce North African coast. (VL5350 gave sightings) 1 Ju from 16.00 – 23.00 hrs Z, base – 3957, 0515 E- 3722, 0145E – 3652, 0015 West – 3637, 0015 East – 3707, 0315 E - just east of Menorca – base. 2 Ar 196 from 06.15 – 09.30 hrs Z on security recce west of Toulon. 4 Ar on close escort of convoy from 13.00 – 16.00 hrs Z. |
134 | VL5404 | 01/02/44 | KG 76 arrivals Villa Orba from Munich-Riem on 01/02/44 morning, 1 Ju 88 of I./KG 76 and 1 Ju 88 of II./KG 76.
Afternoon, 11 of I./KG 76. Comment – VL5179 gave I./KG 76 to Villa Orba on 13/01/44 |
133 | VL5405 | 02/02/44 | According Piacenza on 02/02/44 1./SG 4 and 3./SG 4 transferred to Foligno on 01/02/44 with 4 officers and 85 other ranks. |
123 | VL5412 | 01/02/44 | Orders to Fliegerkorps X from Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost 13.00 hrs Z 01/02/44 for 01-02/02/44 and 02/02/44.
Night photo recce Bari harbour. Patrol of convoy route Alexandria to Malta with all available forces, photo recce with altitude Ju 88 in priority order: Port Said (visual or photo according to weather); Augusta Harbours and airfields; Levant coast. Flifue Croatia recce orders at 15.30 hrs Z 01/02/44 to be unchanged. |
119 | VL5415 | 01/02/44 | According Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost on 01/02/44 temporary landing at Podgorica on or after 02/02/44 according weather by an Me 109G-6 staffel of JG 27 might be expected at short notice.
Flifue Albania to make immediate preparations for aircraft servicing. |
118 | VL5416 | 02/02/44 | Occupation Ossopo 18.00 hrs Z 02/02/44: 26 German aircraft and 25 (fair indications) Italian aircraft of which 39 outside airfield. |
110 | VL5422 | 01/02/44 | AMC Gadurra informed 01/02/44: about 30 Ju 52 probably arriving from Athens and 4 Ju 52 from Heraklion with night take-off on 01/02/44.
Return load, only Italian prisoners capable of bearing arms. |
109 | VL5423 | 01/02/44 | Strength 1./NAGr 12 on 01/02/44: aircraft 10, serviceable 2.
Crews 11, ready 9. During January 5 aircraft to strength and 5 aircraft off strength. |
108 | VL5424 | 01/02/44 | 7 Me 109 down Fabrica from Ravenna between 16.00 – 16.30 hrs Z. |
105 | VL5427 | 02/02/44 | 2./NAGr 13 (comment – located Aug 1943 in Morlaix area) informed on 02/02/44 by Lucca that Metato was stocked with 12 tonnes C3. |
103 | VL5429 | 01/02/44 | Sorties Flifue Albania on 01/02/44 completed 2 Me probing recce east coast Italy 07.00 – 08.00 hrs Z broken off.
1 Me crash landed. 2 Me 08.00 to 09.15 hrs broken off 40 kms off Gorgano. Recce by unspecified aircraft 14.45 – 15.15 hrs broken off central Adriatic. 4 Me on low level attacks Breat area. All by 1./ NAGr 12. 1 Ca 133 leaflet dropping north Albania. |
101 | VL5430 | 02/02/44 | Luftflotte intentions for 03/02/44.
Earliest possible recce offshore over beachhead and in front of centre XIV Korps with photo recce according to weather and situation of beachhead or centre XIV Korps. Ground attack aircraft 1 to 2 hours readiness from 05.45 hours according to weather for ops against unloading places or special targets. Fighters from dawn airfield defence, escort and ground attack and free lance patrol in battle area. |
98 | VL5433 | 30/01/44 | I./JG 3 made 22 sorties on 30/01/44 losing 2 aircraft including Kommandeur. 2 aircraft belly landed. Aircraft 34 and 20, crews 38 and 20, evening same day.
Same gruppe on 02/02/44 made no scrambles. That evening aircraft 32 and 17. Crews 35 and 16. |
92 | VL5438 | 02/02/44 | Recce orders late 02/02/44 for 03/02/44 by Luftflotte.
Battle and visual recce earliest possible over beachhead and area of penetration north of Cassino. Offshore Civita Vecchia to Orbetello. Weather permitting, PR in front of centre of XIV Korps, with main effort on roads G9226 to West, Cassino to North, Northwest and Southeast. Over beachhead with main effort on road Anzio to F8838 and roads in front of area of penetrationin F9732 – G0332 – G0327 – F9727. |
90 | VL5440 | 02/02/44 | Detachment of I./SG 4 had arrived Foligno from Piacenza evening 02/02/44. (Comment see VL5405) |
86 | VL5442 | 02/02/44 | Ordered 02/02/44 that CO of ARC (Koflug) 3/VII Perugia transfer with elements to Arezzo, to be subordinated to ARC (Koflug) 9/VII Montefiascone.
His task was to be: supervision of all Lufwaffe supply trains or trucks entering area of ARC (Koflug) 9/VII intended for units of Luftflotte 2; formation of a reloading station at Arezzo with men and column space of ARC (Koflug) 9/VII. |
85 | VL5443 | 03/02/44 | Now known that offshore recce in VL5430 to be in accordance with results of night recce. |
83 | VL5445 | 02/02/44 | Garitza airfield on Corfu serviceable for Storch aircraft only and to be made unusable after drying off according Fliegerkorps X on 02/02/44. |
68 | VL5451 | 02/02/44 | Recce orders to Flifue Albania fro night 02-03/02/44 and day 03/02/44 were unchanges at 11.30 Z Hrs on 02/02/44.
Secondly, evening 02/02/44 Flifue Albania intentions for 03/02/44 were recce offshore italian coast, transfer of 1 Me 109 to Nish. Thirdly, morning 01/02/44 Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost ordered transfer of 1 Me 109 of NAGr 12 to Nish for special photographic task, to be at disposal of the Kommodore of JG 27. |
66 | VL5453 | 01/02/44 | Arranged by 01/02/44 with reference to a communication of Luftflotte 3 of 26/01/44 that Flifue Atlantic transfer an Airfield Servicing Company from Cognac to Salonica-Sedes to Fliegerkorps X. Comment VL5395 may be relevant. |
65 | VL5454 | 02/02/44 | Orders to 7./JG 27 Gadurra, evening 02/02/44 for 03/02/44.
1 Rotte at 3 minutes from06.00 Hrs Z until dark for ops on special orders of Fliegerkorps X. Remaining aircraft fighter patrol according to situation, main effort protection of Rodi and Port Laki harbours. |
56 | VL5462 | 02/02/44 | By 02/02/44, Kommodore LG 1 had ordered that living quarters of an unspecified gruppe be retained, as return could be counted as a certainty after elimination of beachhead. |
55 | VL5463 | 31/01/44 | Now known that 52 German aircraft at Villaorba late 31/01/44. |
50-51 | VL5466 | 02/02/44 | Flifue Luftflotte’s report on 02/02/44.
Ground Attack aircraft: 2 strong ops against unloading activities in area Nettuno – Anzio with 31 Ground Attack aircraft not carried out as ordered owing low lying clouds. Alternative targets gun positions area F2984, traffic on road Anzio – Aprillia, Anzio Harbour and airfield attacked with good results through low-level aircraft armament fire. 1 Fw 190 missing. Fighters: Escorting fighters operated without loss over beachhead. No contact with Allied aircraft during free-lance patrol over beachhead in front of centre sector XIV Pz Korps, offshore recce Tiber estuary and Gult of Gaeta with sightings at 15.30 and 16.00 hrs Z. |
47 | VL5468 | 03/02/44 | Airfields 03/02/44:
Aviano again serviceable. Udine closed to all classes owing bomb craters. Villaorba night lighting serviceable. Livariano no night lighting. |
40 | VL5474 | 02/02/44 | On 02/02/44 by (strong indications) (F)./122 1 Ju 88 sea recce Tyrehenian Sea and PR Cagliari without results 11.30 – 13.10 hrs Z.
One Me 410 by 13.00 hrs Z Adriatic Recce Ancona – Gulf of Manfredonia. |
39 | VL5475 | 02/02/44 | Some sorties Fliegerdivision 2 on 02/02/44.
Escort – 4 Ar 196, 06.30 – 09.30 hrs Z, 06.45 – 09.15 hrs Z 4 Ar 196 , 08.15 – 12.45 hrs Z. 2 Ar 196 12.30 – 14.45 hrs Z. Security Recce: 2 Ar 196 14.15 – 16.45 hrs Z and 2 Ar 196 06.15 – 09.15 hrs Z west of Toulon to Spanish frontier. Sea Recce : 1 Ju 88, 23.44 hrs Z on 01/02/44 to 07.00 hrs Z 02/02/44. 1 Ju 88 03.00- 09.15 hrs Z. Sea Recce: 1 Ju 88 up 03.45 hrs recce North African coast, missing |
33 | VL5478 | 03/02/44 | Of (strong indications) LG 1 2 unserviceable aircraft at Eleusis (1 of I./LG 1 and 1 of III./LG 1.
1 unserviceable aircraft of III./LG 1 at Larissa. No serviceable aircraft. |
30 | VL5481 | 02/02/44 | Orders 22.00 hrs Z 02/02/44 from Stab./JG 53 to (strong indications) II./JG 77: 3 minutes readiness from 06.00 hrs Z. Escort task to be expected from 06.30 hrs Z. After one operation, according to weather, transfer to Brolio to be expected.
Comment: VL4668 gave II./JG 77 to Siena South on 24/01/44 – for fighter ops telephone link Brolio – Siena arranges 01/02/44 see VL5387. In VL5468 please read Lavariano. |
26 | VL5485 | 31/01/44 | On 31/01/44 operations I./JG 53: 2 aircraft unspecified operation 07.10 – 08.40 hrs Z.
2 aircraft sea recce 07.50 – 08.50 hrs Z broken off owing weather. 2 aircraft sea recce 10.00 – 12.15 hrs Zcoastal strip to Ortona. Unspecified number of aircraft scrambled 11.20 – 12.35 hrs Z. Air combats in area Aviano – Udine 11.45 – 12.10 hrs Z. Losses: 1 aircraft crashed on take-off, one unspecified damaged; one (strong indications) missing, one shot up. |
25 | VL5486 | 03/02/44 | Intentions in VL5430 and VL5443 were those of Flifue Luftflotte 2. |
19 | VL5489 | 02/02/44 | From Flifue Croatia 02/02/44: Allied air attacks against ground organisation in Upper Italy and southern frontier area of the Reich had increased considerably in last few days.
At same time air recce in Croatian area greatly reinforced. Expected, therefore, that attacks would shortly be directed also against airfields deep in the Croatian area. Ordered: All defensive measures to be checked in order to reduce to a minimum losses in personnel and material. Special attention again drawn to dispersal of aircraft and construction of slit trenches. |
17 | VL5491 | 04/02/44 | A rose by any other name Flifue Luftflotte intentions for 04/02/44 unchanged as on 03/02/44.
Comment – see VL5430 would smell as sweet. |
13-16 | VL5492 | 02/02/44 | Airfield conditions according Flifue Luftflotte evening 02/02/44:
Guidonia – serviceable for all classes, landing strip 1000m x 60m, direction SSW to NNE, guard detatchment, no stocks. Malagrotta – serviceable for Me 109, Fw 190 and Ju 52, work in progress on airfield, no stocks. Littorio – serviceable for Me 109, Fw 190 and Ju 52, bomb craters require caution. Station command 14/VII (comment – Viterbo), stocked up for fighters and ground attack aircraft. Viterbo - serviceable for Me 109, Fw 190 and Ju 52. Landing strip 1000m x 60m, bomb craters require caution. Viterbo West – closed owing soft ground. Tuscana - serviceable for Me 109 and Fw 190, landing strip 800m x 40m, direction NNW to SSE, airfield detachment, stocked up for fighters. Rieti - serviceable for Me 109 and Fw 190, landing strip 800m x 80m, direction N to S. Bomb craters requires caution. Work in progress. Airfield detachment, B4 and C3 available. Foligno – serviceable for all classes. Landing strip 1200m x 200m, direction N to S, high tension wires in Northern part of airfield. Airfield detachment, stocked for fighters and ground attack aircraft. Siena North - serviceable for Me 109 and Fw 190, landing strip 900m x 35m, direction SW to NE, airfield detachment, small stocks of B4. Siena South – serviceable for all classes. Runway 900m x 60 m, direction WS to NE, airfield detachment. Stocked up for fighters. Trevi – serviceable for all classes. Landing strip 1000m x 200m, direction N to S, high tension wires 25 m high on southern perimeter of airfield, airfield detachment, stocked up for fighters. Orvieto – serviceable for all classes, landing strip 1000m x 300-400 m, direction SE to NW, softened ground requires caution. Station command 35/IV, stocked up for fighters, small stocks C3. Brolio – serviceable for all classes. Landing strip 1100m x 150 m, maintenance detachment, stocked up for fighters. Vignanello – serviceable for Me 109 and Fw 190. Landing strip 1200m x 80m, direction SE to NW. Airfield detachment, stocked up for fighters. Emergency landing field for all fighter and ground attack units, with maintenance detatchments and stocks. Littorio and Osa – emergency landing fields – no maintenance and no stocks. Colomna and Fiano Romano - This list complete except for strong indications one airfield. |
12 | VL5493 | 03/02/44 | Ground attack aircraft of Flifue Luftflotte, with fighter escort, supplied Army elements on height west of Cassino with ammunition on 03/02/44. |
8-11 | VL5404 | 02/02/44 | On 02/02/44 Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost effort included –
Fliegerkorps X: 1 Ju 05.20 – 11.00 hrs Z PR Port Said broken off at 08.00 hrs Z due to fighter interference. 6 Ju Ionian Sea and convoy route Alexandria to 60 miles SE Malta, in area 06.40 – 11.15 hrs Z. 1 JU offshore Otranto – Spartivento 09.30 – 12.15 hrs Z. 1 Me 110 Bombs airfields in Western Peloponnese. 2 Me 109 scrambled Milos area. 30 Me 110 attacked guerilla locality Polican with bombs and aircraft armament. 15 Arados, 6 Me 109 and 9 Ju 88 05.30 – 15.15 hrs Z for Leda convoy, screen and anti-submarine partol Vathi Harbour. 2 Arados anti-submarine patrol off Porto Lago. 11 Arados convoy escort to Heraklion. 6 Arados with Mausi Ju 52 in forenoon off Salonika, 1 Mausi Ju 52 off Suda. Flifue Croatia – 2 Me 109 05.40 – 06.40 hrs Z recce Ortona – San Benedetto not covered owing clouds. 2 Me 109 time unspecified Termoli – Gargano. Flifue Albania – 2 Me 109 05.15 – 16.15 probing recce Cape Gargano not carried out owing weather. 2 Me 109 14.40 – 16.15 hrs probing recce Bari. On 01/02/44 20 Me 109 of 2./NAGr 12 up 14.30 hrs Z for recce of islands between Sibenik and Zara, 2 Me 109 up 06.45 hrs Z for Italian coast recce, aircraft on Italian coast recce down at 15.45 hrs Z, aircraft on recce of Croatian coastal area down 16.00 hrs Z, 1 schwarm of Me 109 of F;liegerkorps X freelance patrol 07.45 – 10.00 hrs Z contact with 2 Baltimore. 2 Me 109 freelance patrol in Leros area 10.00 – 12.00 hrs Z, unspecified number of Me 109escort for Ju 52 mine detectors and convoy excort in harbour area Rhodes and Gadurra. |
3 | VL5499 | 03/02/44 | PR Bari harbour with strong fighter escort. Offshore recce South and East Italian Coasts. Were intentions Luftwaffenkommando Süd-Ost for night 03-04/02/44 and day 04/02/44 at 21.00 hrs Z 03/02/44 |
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