II./Erg. TG
II./Erg.TG
II./Ergänzungs-Transportfliegergeschwader
Formation. (Jun 43)
Formed (new) 15 June 1943 at Berlin-Schönwalde with a Gruppenstab and 5. – 8. Staffel. The Staffeln were gradually formed one at a time between 15 June and October 1943, except for 5. Staffel with Me 323s which had been established in March 1943 as part of KGr.z.b.V. 300.[1]
Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Russia. (Jun 43 - Jul 44)
Aug 43: in early August 7. Staffel had only a single Ar 232, but this crashed at Berlin-Schönwalde on 15 August killing the Kdr. of I. Gruppe, Maj. Kurt Wendorff, and the Staffelkapitän of 7. Staffel, Hptm. Walter Meltzer. Two other crew members were also killed. The Staffel did not receive any further aircraft until November when another Ar 232 was delivered.[2]
Oct 43: 8. Staffel began forming at Berlin-Schönwalde with 10 French LeO 451s to train replacement crews for IV./TG 4 which was equipped with this type.[3]
Nov 43: 6. Staffel began receiving its first aircraft during November and by March 1944 it had a total of 41 SM 75s, SM 79s, SM 81s, SM 82s, SM 90s and SM 95s.[4]
26 Nov 43: 8. Staffel LeO 451 crashed at Fp. Wittstock in Brandenburg due to engine failure, 100%, 1 killed and 2 injured.
Dec 43: Gruppenstab, 7. and 8. Staffel transferred from Berlin-Schönwalde to Eger (Cheb)/85 km NW of Pilsen (Plzeň) in western Czechoslovakia. Over the course of the next several months, 7. Staffel received 6 more Ar 232s.[5]
15 Dec 43: 8. Staffel LeO 451 force landed near Altenburg, 20%.
19 Dec 43: 8. Staffel LeO 451 ran out of fuel and belly landed near Döbeln, 15%.
5 Mar 44: 7. Staffel transferred from Eger to Warsaw-Okecie, attached to TG 5, and began flying transport missions from there to Odessa and Crimea with 6 Ar 232s.[6]
29 Mar 44: 7. Staffel Ar 232A (L5+AR) reported missing on flight between Odessa and Lvov, 100%, 5 MIA.[7]
13 Apr 44: 7. Staffel, still operating under TG 5, transferred from Warsaw-Okecie to Zilistea/C Romania and began evacuating personnel from Crimea where the Soviets had opened an offensive a few days before.[8]
6 May 44: 5. Staffel at Schroda (Środa Wlkp.)/32 km SE of Poznań in western Poland with Me 323s, 6. Staffel at Schroda with SM 82s, 7. Staffel at Zilistea with Ar 232s and 8. Staffel at Eger being re-equipped with SM 75s. In mid-May, following the liberation of Crimea by the Russians, 7. Staffel returned to Eger where it handed over its Ar 232s to Transportfliegerstaffel 5. The personnel were then ordered back to Berlin-Schönwalde to convert to the Ju 352.[9]
Jun 44: 7. Staffel, now back at Berlin-Schönwalde and equipped with Ju 352s, began training replacement crews. By the last week of July it had a total of 6 on strength (L5+AR,CR,DR,ER,JR and MR).[10]
21 Jul 44: II. Gruppe ordered disbanded. 5. Staffel handed over its 9 Me 323s to TG 5, 6. Staffel was renamed 2./Erg.TGr., 7. Staffel became 3./Erg.TGr. and 8. Staffel was disbanded.[11]
FpNs:Gruppenstab (L 54560)
Kommandeur:
Maj. Friedrich-Anton Gundelfinger (DKG) (15 Jun 43 - 9 Aug 43)
Maj. Ferdinand Muggenthaler (18 Sep 43 - Apr 44)
Maj. Erich Reymann (Apr 44 - 21 Jul 44)
Also see:
BARTHA, Ernst, Oblt. Beobachter. Major beim Stabe.
BEHRENDT, Walter, Hptm.(Kr.O.). Stellv. Stafü./7. Staffel.
BELZ, Josef, Maj. (R) Pilot. Staka/7. Staffel.
BRIEN, Oswald, Hptm. Staka/5. Staffel.
MELTZER, Walter, Oblt. (R, DKG). Pilot. Staka/7. Staffel. Killed in aircraft crash.
SCHMITZ, Gerhard, Hptm.? Pilot? Staka/5. Staffel.
SZOTTKA, Herbert, Hptm. Pilot? Staka/6. Staffel.
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2022).
(1st Draft 2022)
References
- ↑ K.Kössler article in Jet & Prop magazine, Heft (issue) 2/1996:41-46; S.Carlsen/M.Meyer-Die Flugzeugführer-Ausbildung der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1935-1945/Band II:538-39; N.Kannapin-Feldpostübersicht.
- ↑ H.Bukowski/C.Trilus-Fliegerhorst Schönwalde/Berlin:126; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
- ↑ K.Kössler article in Jet & Prop magazine, Heft (issue) 5/2000.
- ↑ H.Bukowski/C.Trilus-op cit:126.
- ↑ K.Kössler articles-op cit.
- ↑ K.Kössler-op cit.
- ↑ K.Kössler-op cit.
- ↑ S.Carlsen/M.Meyer-op cit.
- ↑ K.Kössler-op cit; K.Kössler/G.Ott-Die großen Dessauer: Junkers Ju 89, Ju 90, Ju 290, Ju 390 – Die Geschichte einer Flugzeugfamilie:169.
- ↑ Flugzeug magazine, Heft 1/1994 (Ju 352 article).
- ↑ OKL order Nr. 11885/44 in H.Bukowski/C.Trilus-op cit:118; Luftwaffe Verband Journal No. 7:24.
Return to Transportverbände