Fliegerführer 3 (Tunisia)
Fliegerführer 3 (Tunisia)
(FpN: unknown)
Fliegerführer:
Oberst Hans-Joachim Rath (1 Oct 42 - 5 Mar 43)
Gen.Maj. Karl Köchy (acting?) (Mar 43 - Mar 43)
Oberst Walter Hagen (15 Mar 43 - 30 Mar 43) WIA
Formation. (Oct 42)
Formed o/a 1 October 1942 at Gabes/Tunisia according to some records, but in practice the Stab is not believed to have become operational until early November. Initial personnel possibly came from Luftwaffenstab Libyen-Cyrenaika. Commanded air operations over southeastern Tunisia.[1]
South Tunisia. (Nov 42 - Apr 43)
20 Dec 42: a He 111 possibly belonging to the Stab crashed into the sea off Gabes destroying the plane and killing two.[2]
24 Feb 43: Stab at Gabes under Fliegerkorps Tunis.[3]
o/a 15 Mar 43: Stab moved from Gabes to La Fauconnerie, taking over from Fliegerführer 1 (Fliegerführer Mitte).[4]
29 Mar 43: after taking over at La Fauconnerie, the designation Fliegerführer Süd came into use.[5]
4 Apr 43: 3 Fi 156s belonging to Flugbereitschaft Fliegerführer 3 bombed on the ground at La Fauconnerie, 2 @ 100%, 1 @ 40%.
9 Apr 43: Fi 156 of Flugbereitschaft Fliegerführer 3 struck the ground and crashed near Grombalia, 80%, Fliegerführer Oberst Hagen (pilot) and Hptm. Eberhard Jakob both injured.
11 Apr 43: Stab now at Belli/Tunisia, and still under Fliegerkorps Tunis.[6]
15 Apr 43: Stab evacuated to Sicily and disbanded a short time later.[7]
© H.L. deZeng IV, 2023
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References
- ↑ G.Tessin-Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte (Osnabrück, 1980); K.Gundelach- Die deutsche Luftwaffe im Mittelmeer 1940-1945, 2 Bde (Frankfurt/M., 1981), p.530-38.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
- ↑ PRO London: DEFE 3 ULTRA Signal VM4900.
- ↑ ULTRA VM7525.
- ↑ Gundelach-Med:552
- ↑ ULTRA VM9180.
- ↑ Gundelach~Med:577.