Einsatz Kommando. Braunegg (Einsatz Kdo. Braunegg)/NAGr 6
Jet reconnaissance unit operating Me 262.
After being based at Rheine during November 1944 Braunegg moved to Schwabisch Hall from where it flew regular missions throughout December 1944 and January 1945.
6 Nov 1944 - Advanced detachment at Rheine.
26 Nov 1944 - Strength recorded as 4 pilots and 5 aircraft.
28 Nov 1944 - Strength recorded as 4 pilots and 6 aircraft.
30 Nov 1944 - Moved to Schwabisch-Hall[1]To be subordinated to JD 5.[2] Key personnel to be transferred by road the remainder by rail.[3]
11 Dec 1944 - Braunegg was also referred to as Kdo. Panther - it was first addressed in signals to that effect on 16 December 1944.
11 Dec 1944 - strength now 7 Me 262s fitted with cameras, a further 10 aircraft were reportedly being fitted out with cameras at Leipheim.
17 Dec 1944 - In recce orders from 5 Jagd Div. Kommando Panther ordered for recce mission comprising of two Rotte of Me262. This reference is identified as the first indication to the Allies of which aircraft type were being used by this unidentified detachment (Kdo. Panther). [4]
18/19 Dec 1944 - In recce orders Kdo. Panther ordered to conduct recce missions in over the Trier - Saarbrucken - Lauterburg area. [5]
22 Dec 1944 - 5 Jagd Div ops record for 22 Dec 44 shows four Me262 a/c of Kdo Panther conducted recce missions over the Mlhausen-Basel-Delle-Bitsch-Lauterburg-Weissenburg areas.[6]
23 Dec 1944 - 5 Jagd Div ops report of 1900hrs 23 Dec 44 states no operations conducted by Kdo Panther on this date.[7]
28 Dec 1944 - 5 Jagd Div ops reported state of Kdo. Panther.[8]
Was to be used during build up to Ardennes Offensive to obtain photographic record of Meuse crossings and during the offensive to observe Allied flank movements.
In the OB for Jan 1945 Kdo Braunegg was listed as subordinate to Luflotte 3 with five Me 262A-1a/U3 s on strength with two servicable.[9]
2 Jan 1945 - Kdo. Panther ordered for recce operations over the area of main contact, dependent on weather conditions.[10]
10 Jan 1945 - 1./NAGr 6 non-op at Herzogenaurach.[11]
14 Jan 1945 - NAGr 6 ordered to transfer 1. Staffel and elements of it's signals company to Lechfeld for conversion.[11]
According to some sources Braunegg was absorbed into NAG 6 at the end of January 1945 as 2 Staffel. However, another (secondary) source lists 2./ NAG 6 as being formed from Braunegg in March 1945.[12]
8 Feb 1945 - 1 aircraft of Kdo Panther flew a recce mission over the Roermond area. One aircraft of Kdo Panther flew a sortie mission to the Humber estuary but aborted due to weather conditions. Another aircraft flew a recce mission over Westerschelde but also aborted due to bad weather and finally two aircraft of NAG.6 flew a road recce mission over the Strasbourg area which was only partially completed due to Allied opposition
14 Feb 1945 - 1 aircraft of NAGr 6 flew a recce sortie over the Drusenheim-Saarburg area and another flew a sortie over the Hagenau-Strasbourg area.[11]
15 Feb 1945 - 2 aircraft of NAGr 6 flew a recce sortie over the Saarbourg-Ingweiler area. 1 aircraft of NAGr 6 flew a recce mission to the west of the Rhine. 2 aircraft flew a recce sortie over the St. Avold-Ingweiler area and another aircraft flew an armed recce sortie over the Strasbourg area.[11]
16 Feb 1945 - 1 aircraft flew a recce sortie over the Strasbourg area.[11]
17 Feb 1945 - 1 aircraft of NAGr 6 flew a resse sortie over the hagenau-Strasbourg area but the mission was aborted due to adverse weather conditions (in the target area?)[11]
19 Feb 1945 - 2.NAGr 6 withdrwan from 16 Fliegerdivision (formerly Jagddivision 5).[11]
20 Feb 1945 - An Me 262 (W.Nr.500095) of 1./NAGr 6 sustained 60% damage in a wheels-up landing at Lager-Lechfeld.[11][13] 21 Feb 1945 - Stab./NAGr 6 lost an Me 262A-1a/U3 (Red 2/W.Nr. 110565) southeast of Landsberg during a training flight.Lt Wilhelm Knoll KIA [13]
23 Feb 1945 - A single aircraft of NAGr.6 flew a recce mission over the Rhine between Basel and Gambsheim. In addition a second aircraft carried out an armed recce sortie over the Ingweiler-Hagenau area.[11]
25 Feb 1945 - An Me 262 of Stab/NAGr 6 crashed on landing at Lager-Lechfeld - 65% damage, forced landing due to a technical fault (W.Nr. 111570).[11][13]
19 Mar 1945 - I and IV./JG 26 were assigned airfield protection duties to cover the take-off and landing of NAGr. 6s Me 262s.[11] Caldwell on page 446 of the JG 26 War Diary indicates that these two gruppen were assigned to protect Münster-Handorf on this day.
A sortie by an Me 262 of 2./NAGr 6 to the Emmerich-Kleve area diverted to cover the Rhine between Düsseldorf and Xanten due to poor weather conditions in the original target area.[11]
20 Mar 1945 - A single aircraft of 2./NAGr 6 flew a recce sortie to the Emmerich-Reichswald area. However, results were not good due to the adverse weather conditions encountetred on the sortie.[11]
24 Mar 1945 - 1 aircraft of 2./NAGr 6 flew a recce mission over the Emmerich-Wesel area between 0730 and 0820 hrs.[11]
25 Mar 1945 - An aircraft of 2./NAGr 6 flew a sortie over Bocholt between 0630 and 0720hrs. However, the aircraft was destroyed in a forced landing - the pilot was uninjured.[11]
30 Mar 1945 - A pair of aircraft from 2./NAGr 6 flew a weather recce sortie over Osnabrück and Paderborn between 1740 and 1820 hrs. A single partial sortie was flown over the Lippstadt-Paderborn area between 1812 and 1843 hrs. [11]
1 Apr 1945 - 2./NAGr 6 had 8 Me 262s on strength.[11]
9 Apr 1945 - NAGr. 6 Fw 189s flew photo recce over the Vistula.[11]
10 Apr 1945 - three Me 262s lost in an air raid.[11]
May 1945 - Stab, 1. and 2. NAGr. 6 disbanded.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ PRO AIR40/2046 circa Feb 45 (latest entry 21 Feb 45) - via Dave Wadman
- ↑ Air 40/2687 1 Dec - T386/36
- ↑ Air 40/2687 30 Nov - T385/29
- ↑ Ultra HP9763 refers,see also HP8400
- ↑ Ultra HP9794 refers,see also HP9721
- ↑ Ultra BT193 refers - see also BT166
- ↑ Ultra BT201 refers
- ↑ Air 40/2687 29 Dec – T.412/66
- ↑ Price, Alfred - The Luftwaffe Data Book
- ↑ Utlra T.417/104
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 Wadman, David - additional detail - private papers
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Rosch, Barry - Luftwaffe Codes, Markings and Units 1939-45
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Baker, David - Me 262 (Crowood Aviation Series)