Luftbeobachterstaffel 7
Luftbeobachterstaffel 7
(Unit Code: B2+)
Formation. (Oct 43)
Formed October 1943 at Stuttgart-Echterdingen for assignment to 7. Jagddivision.[1]
South Germany, Austria, North Italy and Croatia. (Oct 43 - Sep 44)
14 Oct 43: an aircraft from Luftbeobachterstaffel 7 piloted by a Ltn. Wirtz claimed a B-17 20 km SE of Schweinfurt at 1700 hours.
Nov 43: a Bf 110 belonging to this Staffel arrived at Lagnasco airfield in North Italy at the end of November 1943 as the first aircraft of a Kommando (Detachment) that was to be set up in North Italy.
15 Jan 44: Staffel (still in the process of forming) consisted of a Day Schwarm based in North Italy and a Night Schwarm at Echterdingen with 2 Ju 88C-6s and 2 Bf 110G-4s. Additional crews were being assigned to build the Staffel out to full strength.
Feb 44: Staffel based at Stuttgart-Echterdingen under 7. Jagddiv. with a Kommando in N Italy and perhaps another in Austria and/or Croatia. The Kdo. in Croatia was based at Zagreb-Borongaj, consisted to just 1 or 2 aircraft and used the cover name Skorpion 5.
24 Feb 44: Bf 110G-2 (M8+LN) shot down near Wels/Austria, crew WIA. (The code "M8" was usually associated with III./NJG 3 during this time period.).
6 Mar 44: Feldpostnummer assigned to the Staffel this date.
Mar 44: at Echterdingen.
15 Mar 44: Staffel claimed a RAF Lancaster shot down in the Stuttgart area at 2258 hours.
19 Mar 44: Staffel ordered by 7. Jagddiv. to transfer from Echterdingen to Kitzingen (this order only concerned the Night Schwarm; the Day Schwarm which was still in N Italy). The transfer was carried out on 22 March.
19 Mar 44: Bf 110G-3 (6M+JL) shot down near Osoppo/NE Italy. (The code "6M" was used by 3.(F)/11 and then Küstenstaffel Krim to mid-1943).
30 Mar 44: Ju 88 crash landed at Fp. Mainz-Finthen, 3 WIA.
7 Apr 44: Bf 110G-3 shot down near Treviso/NE Italy, pilot safe, radio man KIA.
28 Apr 44: Hptm. Wallner and crew in Ju 88 “Salvator 3” orbiting radio beacon "Christa" near Schönau/25 km S of Freiburg attacked and claimed a Lancaster at 0119 hrs.
11 May 44: transferred from Kitzingen back to Echterdingen.
25 May 44: Staffel at Echterdingen with a detached Kdo. at Aviano/N Italy and another at Zagreb-Borongaj in Croatia.
Jun 44: the Kdo. in Italy, which was in the strength of about a half-Staffel, now at Villaorba and remained there until September; it was equipped with Ju 88s outfitted with radar.
14 Jun 44: Hptm. Wallner and crew claimed a Wellington between Munich and Innsbruck at 0020 hr.
2 Jul 44: Kdo. at Zagreb-Borongaj (Skorpion 5) was attached to Fliegerführer Kroatien.
19 Jul 44: dispersed from Echterdingen to Grosssachsenheim during massive attacks on South Germany by both 8th and 15th Air Force, but caught there by strafing P-51 Mustangs losing 4 Ju 88s on the ground.
23 Jul 44: Luftbeobachterstaffel 7 ordered disbanded this date and all assets used to form a Fühlungsschwarm for each of NJG 6's Gruppen.
3 Sep 44: the Kdo. in Italy reported 6(3) Ju 88s on strength.
Sep 44: the Kdo. in Italy departed Villaorba during the first half of September and transferred to Germany where it was disbanded; the rest of the Staffel was disbanded at the same time.
11 Nov 44: Staffel's FpN deleted effective this date.
FpN:(L 63909)
Staffelkapitän:
(not found)
Also see:
WALLNER, Ernst, Hptm.
WIRTZ, Ludwig, Lt.
WOESTE, Achim, Lt.
© H.L. deZeng IV, 2022
References
- ↑ Dierich-VdL; N.Kannapin-FpÜ; N.Beale et al-Air War Italy 1944-45:31(citing KTB of Stab/JG 77), 98-99; W.Kock-NJG 6:19-20, 36, 59, 69, 120(citing 7. Jagddiv. order lb Nr.47609/44 g.Kdos., 23.7.1944); G.Aders-History of the German Night Fighter Force:116; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 40/Kart (“Aufmarsch die fliegende Verbände” order of battle map for 25 May 44, 2 Jul 44); BA-MA Freiburg: Luftwaffen-Personalamt L.P.(A)5(V) (OKL Chef für Ausz. und Disziplin). 18 rolls of microfilm consisting of partial daily log sheets and summaries of Luftwaffe enemy aircraft victory claims as reported by both air and antiaircraft units to the end of 1944, many of the entries being extremely difficult to read. The material has been keyed to a data base and can be found at website tonywood.cjb.net under the short title “O.K.L. Fighter Claims”; PRO London: AIR 40 Air Ministry intelligence documents; BNA HW 5/447.