Nahaufklärungsstaffel 13./14
Nahaufklärungsstaffel 13./14
Code:
Formation. (Feb - Mar 1944)
Formed February - March 1944, probably at Orsha on the central sector of the Russian Front while assigned to Nahaufklärungsgruppe 4 (ex-Nahaufkl.St. 3.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 14). Some sources place the date of formation, which in effect was little more than a name change or re-designation, in February 1944, but the date of the entry changing the Staffel’s designation in the Feldpost Directory was 21 April 1944. Equipped with Focke-Wulf Fw 189s.[1]
Central Russia and East Prussia. (Feb 44 - Dec 44)
1.3.44: Staffel reported 6 x Fw 189 A-2 and 1 x Fw 189 A-3 on strength.
26.6.44: at Tolochin/54 km SW of Orsha under Stab/NAGr. 10 with a mixed complement of Fw 189s, Hs 126s and one or two Bf 109Gs. Just moved here from Orsha on 6 June. The Soviet summer Belorussian offensive commenced on 22 June and forced the Germans back all along the front in Belorussia.
28.6.44: now at Zhodino NE of Minsk under Stab/NAGr. 10.
7.44: the Staffel made numerous base changes during July, using Vilnius (1-4 Jul), Lida (4-7 Jul), Olita (7-11 Jul), Kvatery(?) (11-14 Jul), Raczki (15-24 Jul) and then transferred to Lyck/East Prussia with NAGr. 10 and remained there through October.
3.10.44: Lyck under Stab/NAGr. 10 with 7(5) aircraft on strength, presumably Fw 189s.
11.44: moved to Rostken/East Prussia and reassigned to Stab/NAGr. 3; remained there to December.
1.12.44: Staffel reported 7 x Fw 189 A-2 and 2 x Fw 189 A-3 on strength.
24.12.44: Staffel transferred this date to Niedermendig/25 km WNW of Koblenz.
Western Germany. (Jan 45 - May 45)
1.1.45: transferred from Niedermendig to Niederbreissig/19 km SSE of Bonn with 6 Fw 189s for operations under Stab/(F) Aufkl.Gr. 123.
14.1.45: flew operations night of 14/15 January in search of targets for night ground attack units (Nachtschlachtverbände) under Gefechtsverband Hallensleben.
17.1.45: flew night reconnaissance of the Spa-Malmedy-Stavelot area in search of heavy road traffic and traffic knots; once spotted, these were attacked by night ground attack units.
6.2.45: transferred from Niedermendig to Bonn-Hangelar.
14.2.45: Fw 189 A-2 crashed at Fp. Niederbreisig, 100%, Oblt. Harald Kessler (pilot) + 2 killed.
8.3.45: ordered to transfer immediately from Bonn-Hangelar to Deilinghofen/27 km SE of Dortmund for operations in support of 15. Fliegerdivision.
16.3.45: flew artillery ranging sorties during the night of 16/17 March for artillery being fired into the Remagen bridgehead; still assigned to 15. Fliegerdivision.
26.3.45: now at Fritzlar under Stab/NAGr. 1.
30.3.45: in transfer to Goslar.
9.4.45: transferred to Aken/13 km W of Dessau.
11.4.45: transferred to the Jüterbog area.
21.4.45: the Staffel had a detached Kette known as “Kette Oedheim” that had been assigned to Stab/NAGr. 13 since January and based at Fp. Oedheim/11 km NNE of Heilbronn in S Germany; it moved with Stab/NAGr. 13 and on 21 April was based at Gablingen.
22.4.45: main body of the Staffel now at Redlin/33 km E of Ludwigslust.
28.4.45: Staffel listed as still operational with Fw 189s, but now under Stab/NAGr. 1.
FpN:NASt. 13./14 (L 07230).
Staffelkapitän:
Hptm. Erich Bickert (Feb 44 - c.8 May 45)
Also see:
KESSLER, Hermann-Harald, Oblt.
MODERSOHN, Hermann, Hptm.
SONDERSORG, Anton, Hptm.
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress).
(1st Draft 2021)
References
- ↑ G.Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, 16+ Bde., Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte (Osnabrück, 1980); W.Dierich - Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935-1945: Gliederungen und Kurzchroniken – Eine Dokumentation; N.Kannapin - Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945; H.Schnatz - Der Luftkrieg im Raum Koblenz 1944/45: Eine Darstellung seines Auswirkungen und Hintergründe, p.439; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs); BA-MA Freiburg: Flugzeug-Bereitstellungen (Aircraft Availability Status Reports – FzB) in: M.Holm-website (ww2.dk); BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 40/Kart; PRO London: DEFE 3 ULTRA signals BT1123, BT2532, BT4324, BT6700, BT7410, BT9031, BT9984, KO310, KO1208 and several others; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-311 roll 228/491); AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 512.625S (British Air Ministry) OKL document; Luftwaffen-Revue magazine, 1/1985; N.Beale letter to H.L.deZeng dated 7 Apr 1994; correspondence between J-L.Roba and H.L.deZeng 1993-94.