KGr.z.b.V. 21
KGr. z.b.V. 21
Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 21
(Unit Code: none)
also as: KGr. z.b.V. S 21
KGr. 21
KGr. S 21
Formation. (Nov 42)
Ordered to assemble and form at Zichenau (Ciechanów)/78 km NNW of Warsaw on 29 November 1942 and then proceed to Morosovskaya/202 km NE of Rostov to take part in the Stalingrad airlift operation. The Gruppenstab consisted of the commander and selected personnel of Erprobungs- und Lehrkommando 21 (at Garz/Usedom and Schwäbisch Hall) along with 25 Ju 86s and crew personnel taken temporarily from the FFS C and BFS schools. None of the Do 217Ks from E-u.Lehrkdo. 21 were used in forming the Gruppe, which was officially designated as a Kampfgruppe rather than as a Kampfgruppe z.b.V., although it performed the duties of the latter.[1]
South Russia and Germany. (Dec 42 - Apr 43)
16-18 Dec 42: 3 Ju 86s (incl. S17+M20, S17+M22) destroyed and another severely damaged in operations between Tatsinskaya and Stalingrad-Pitomnik, 8 MIA.
23-26 Dec 42: 5 Ju 86s destroyed and 3 more severely damaged in operations between Tatsinskaya and Stalingrad-Pitomnik, 7 MIA.
3 Jan 43: 1 Ju 86 reported to have fallen into enemy hands as Russian tank forces overran Fp. Morosovskaya, but another was successfully demolished before it could suffer a similar fate.
8 Jan 43: Ju 86 shot up by a fighter and crashed, 80%.
9 Jan 43: Ju 86 shot down by a fighter ESE of Rostov.
12 Jan 43: Ju 86 ran out of fuel and force landed west of Warthenau, 25%.
14 Jan 43: Ju 86 damaged taxiing at Fp. Bagerovo/E Crimea, 55%.
20 Jan 43: ordered disbanded and all assets incorporated into KGr. z.b.V. 5, but there is no evidence that this order was carried out. Rather, it appears that the Gruppe simply disbanded in place as the new Kampfgruppe 21 (see below) came into existence. The remaining Ju 86s were evidently sent back to Germany or taken over by some other transport unit operating in the Stalingrad area.
31 Jan 43: Ju 86 destroyed in a runway accident at Fp. Taganrog, 100%.
Separately,
13-20 Jan 43: a new Kampfgruppe 21 began forming at Schwäbisch Hall with He 111s and new Do 217 K-2s using the rear echelon of Erprobungs- und Lehrkommando 21 that had remained behind there.
13 Jan 43: He 111 H-6 struck an obstacle while landing at Fp. Erding near Munich, 15%.
21 Jan 43: Do 217 struck an obstacle while landing at Fp. Schwäbisch Hall, 15%.
19 Feb 43: He 111 H-6 force landed at Fp. Schwäbisch Hall due to engine failure, 15%.
24 Feb 43: He 111 H-6 crashed at Fp. Schwäbisch Hall during a Fritz-X missile test flight, Lt. Gerhard Frömink and Lt. Mischeck both killed.
26 Feb 43: He 111 H-6 crashed at Elzhausen, 100%, 4 KIA.
26 Feb 43: He 111 H-6 crashed at Eberbach, 100%, 4 KIA and 1 WIA.
29 Apr 43: renamed III./KG 100.
FpNs:Gruppenstab (L 44024)
Kommandeur:
Hptm. Ernst Hetzel (29 Nov 42 - 21 Apr 43)
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2022).
(1st Draft 2022)
References
- ↑ G.Tessin-Tes; U.Balke-KG 100:236; PRO London: AIR 40/1977; F.Morzik-German Air Force Airlift Operations:405; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
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