KGr.z.b.V. 25 (2nd)
KGr. z.b.V. 25 (Second Formation)
Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 25
(Unit Code: none)
Formation. (Jul 43)
Formed at the end of June/beginning of July 1943 on the orders of and for XI. Fliegerkorps with He 111s to provide training and airlift support for the concentration of parachute and air-landing troops in South France. A few days later, these troops began moving to Sicily, Sardinia and Italy following the Allied invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943. The place and exact date of formation for the Gruppe are not known.[1]
South France, Central Mediterranean, North Italy. (Jul 43 - Dec 43)
10 Jul 43: He 111 H-4 badly damaged (80%) during Allied bombing of Fp. Pomigliano/Italy.
13 Jul 43: 6 He 111Hs shot down by Allied fighters at Fp. Catania/Sicily and destroyed (all 100%), 2 crew killed, 8 wounded, and 3 missing.
15 Jul 43: 2 He 111Ps missing in the Cape Corso - Pomigliano area - no details.
16 Jul 43: KGr. z.b.V. 25 based at Salon/S France with He 111s.
17 Jul 43: He 111 destroyed (100%) during Allied bombing at Fp. Pomigliano.
21 Jul 43: He 111 H-5 damaged while landing at Fp. Salon (15%).
25 Jul 43: He 111 H-6 shot down by Italian AA fire at Piombino/west-central Italy, 100%, 1 crew member wounded.
27 Jul 43: a He 111 H-6 and a P-4 badly damaged in crash landings at Fp. Practica di Mare, both 80%.
29 Jul 43: He 111 P-2 severely damaged (80%) during Allied bombing of Fp. Viterbo, 1 crew member wounded.
30 Jul 43: under XI. Fliegerkorps with 30(11) He 111s.
1 Aug 43: He 111 P-2 shot down into the sea by Allied aircraft and destroyed (100%), 2 wounded, crew rescued.
2 Aug 43: two Heinkels slightly damaged in a take-off collision at Fp. Salon: He 111 H-1l (10%) and He 111 P-5 (10%).
5 Aug 43: He 111 H-6 damaged (45%) after being shot-up and making a forced landing at Fp. Pisa.
6 Aug 43: He 111 (NA+IM) forced to ditch in the sea at Pl.Qu.7456-East due to engine trouble (100%), all 5 members of the crew reported missing.
17 Aug 43: He 111 P-2 destroyed (100%) and He 111H damaged (35%) during Allied bombing of Fp. Salon.
25 Aug 43: He 111 damaged (35%) during Allied bombing of Fp. Amiens-Glisy in N France.
6 Sep 43: He 111 P-4 damaged (30%) in landing accident at Fp. Salon.
14 Sep 43: He 111 P-2 damaged (45%) in landing accident at Fp. Practica di Mare.
19 Sep 43: addressed at Montélimar landing ground/40 km SSW of Valence.
21 Sep 43 according to a handwritten entry in the Loss Reports, the main body (Masse) of KGr. z.b.V. 25 renamed Transportfliegergruppe z.b.V. and reassigned to South Russia for Luftflotte 4 on or about this date; the Restkommando (rear echelon)/KGr. z.b.V. 25 moved to Italy for assignment to Luftflotte 2. The Restkommando is not thought to have had more than 3 or 4 He 111s.
5 Oct 43: Restkdo. KGr. z.b.V. 25 reported a He 111 H-16 ditched in the sea at Montacto di Castro and destroyed (100%).
23 Nov 43: Restkdo. KGr. z.b.V. 25 reported a pilot belonging to the Restkommando was attacked and killed by Yugoslav or Italian partisans at Merna near Gorzia in NE Italy.
3 Dec 43: Restkdo. KGr. z.b.V. 25 reported a He 111H shot down by an Allied fighter over Civita Castellana/45 km N of Rome, 100%, crew of 4 all killed.
1944-45: although the Gruppe’s Feldpostnummer was never deleted, which usually indicates disbandment, it is believed that the Restkommando/KGr. z.b.V. 25 was dissolved at the end of December 1943.
FpNs:Gruppenstab with 1. – 4. Staffeln (L 52157)
Kommandeur:
(unknown)
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2022).
(1st Draft 2022)
References
- ↑ G.Tessin; N.Kannapin-Feldpostübersicht; G.Schlaug-letter to H.L.deZeng dated 25 May 1995; AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 512 (British Air Ministry) RAF 329 Wing “Y” Service radio intelligence document; BNA HW 5/371; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
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