Kurierstaffel Afrika
Kurierstaffel Afrika
Formation. (c. Mar 41)
Formed on or about March 1941 in Germany for employment in North Africa.[1]
North Africa. (Mar 41 - Feb 43)
Apr-Aug 41: its home field was initially at Ain el Gazala/120 km WNW of Tobruk, according to a secondary source which requires corroboration. [2]
5 Apr 41: He 111 (NG+IP) force landed in enemy territory near Tobruk, 100%, 5 MIA.[3]
13 Jun 41: rear detachment at Tripoli-Mellaha.[4]
20 Jun 41: existence noted in Fliegerführer strength returns, but no aircraft types or figures give.[5]
14 Jul 41: at Ain el Gazala.[6]
9 Aug 41: He 111 H-5 (W.Nr. 4085) (VG+ES) crashed at Ain el Gazala, 100%, Hptm. Josef Mies (pilot) Oblt. Karl Pfefferer (observer) and the remaining crew member all killed. [7]
27 Oct 41: a man belonging to the Staffel reported injured in a crash at Arezzo/C Italy.
14 Nov 41: a man belonging to the Staffel reported WIA during an enemy air attack on Fp. Derna/145 km NW of Tobruk.
17 Dec 41: Ju 52 bombed on the ground at Benghazi, 100%.
20 Dec 41: Bf 108 destroyed by a sandstorm at Agedabia/150 km S of Benghazi, 100%.
28 Jan 42: 2 Fi 156s strafed on the ground at Msus by enemy fighters, 100% and 20%.
21 Mar 42: Fi 156 crashed near Fp. Derna due to engine trouble, 20%.
1 Jul 42: He 111 P-2 force landed near El Daba/140 km WSW of Alexandria, 20%, 1 injured.
1 Jul 42: He 111 P-2 damaged its undercarriage landing in the desert near Benina, 20%.
Aug 42: the Staffel’s home field was again (or still was) at Derna, according to a published source. [8]
8 Aug 42: He 111 bombed on the ground during enemy attack on Fp. Qutaifiyah (Quteifiya)/68 km WNW of El Alamein in western Egypt, 100%.
28 Sep 42: Caudron C 445 force landed in the desert at Siwa Oasis/290 km SW of Mersa Matruh.
5 Nov 42: unserviceable C 445 blown up at Marsa Matruh to prevent capture, 100%.
11 Nov 42: Ju 52 struck an obstacle at Fp. Berca-West/10 km S of Benghazi, 10%.
21 Nov 42: Ju 52 reduced to salvage during a low-level Allied attack on a fieldstrip at Medenine/68 km SE of Gabes in Tunisia, 80%.
20 Jan 43: Ju 52 blown up at Bir el Ghnem (Tripoli area?) to prevent capture, 100%.
Feb 43: ordered disbanded.[9]
May 43: according to another account, the Staffel remnants left Tunisia for Sicily just a few days prior to the German surrender in Africa and then was ordered from Sicily to Wiener-Neustadt/Austria in June where its remaining assets were used in the formation of Kurierstaffel 13 on 19 June. [10]
FpN:(L 01505)
Staffelkapitän:
Hptm. Karl-Heinz Guhl ( ? - ? ) 5/42
Also see (in: “Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries”, at website www.ww2.dk)
(none found)
JUNGHANSS, Werner. Lt. Beobachter (observer). MIA
MIES, Josef. Oblt. Pilot. KIA.
PFEFFERER, Karl. Oblt.d.R. Beobachter (observer). KIA.
© H.L. deZeng IV, 2024
References
- ↑ W.Dierich-Verbände der Luftwaffe; N.Kannapin-Feldpostübersicht; NARA WashDC: RG 242/T-501 roll 50.
- ↑ Rosch, Barry C. Luftwaffe Support Units: Units, Aircraft, Emblems and Markings 1933-1945. Luftwaffe Colours/Classic Colours series. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing, 2009. ISBN: (10) 1 903223 64 4.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
- ↑ HW5 CX/JQ/1058.
- ↑ BNA HW 5/20.
- ↑ British National Archives: ULTRA HW 5/24.62.
- ↑ A.Mitchell: RL 2-III/1178, 22.10.41 pg 3 entry 45.
- ↑ B.Rosch: op.cit.
- ↑ W.Dierich-op cit; N.Kannapin-op cit.
- ↑ B.Rosch: op.cit.
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