Stab./FAGr 5
Fernaufklärungsgruppe 5
(Unit Code 9V+)
Stab
Formation and Mission. (May 43 - Nov 43)
Ordered formed variously on 20 May 1943[1], or on 1 July 1943[2] with the Stab's own war journal and other records giving a 23 July 1943 date of formation[3]. Place of formation is generally agreed to have been at Achmer/15 km NW of Osnabrück in NW Germany. FAG 5 was formed for Fliegerführer Atlantik in behalf of Befehlshaber der U-Boote (Commander- in-Chief of U-boats or Submarines) as a long-range maritime reconnaissance group to scout out and locate Allied Atlantic convoys as early as possible, and then shadow them until U-boat wolf packs could be assembled and guided in for the kill. Initial establishment called for a Stab, 3 Staffeln and a total of 40 Junkers Ju 290s. The Ju 290s were equipped with "Hohentwiel" (FuG 200) maritime search radar and missions were flown at a low altitude of 500-1,000 meters (1,641-3,283 ft.), usually by two Ju 290s spaced a few hundred yards apart. At the higher of the two stated altitudes, convoys could be spotted at a range of around 100 kilometers. Many of the Ju 290s were also outfitted with "Neptun I" (FuG 216R) tail warning radar for protection against enemy fighters. Missions normally lasted 17 hours, 3 hours less than the aircraft's maximum endurance, with only a few planes being sent out each day as the prevailing weather conditions allowed. Occasional weather reconnaissance flights were also flown using meteorologists from the Kriegsmarine. (Navy).[4]
West France. (Dec 43 - Aug 44)
12/43: Stab transferred from Achmer to Mont de Marsan/SW France and assigned to Fliegerführer Atlantik. Geographic range assigned to the Gruppe was over the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic between Gibraltar and England.[5] The transfer was made in early December, but the exact date is not known.
31.5.44: Stab at Mont de Marsan, but now under X.Fliegerkorps.[6]
7/44: FAG 5 had a total of 17 Ju 290s on strength during July, which was the maximum for the war - it never reached its authorized allowance of 40 planes.[7]
25.7.44: Stab still at Mont de Marsan, but under orders to transfer to Bordeaux- Merignac.[8]
12.8.44: Gruppe flew its last mission over the Atlantic this date, its 191st since 15 November 1943; during that period the Gruppe claimed 20 convoys discovered and reported for a loss of 9 Ju 290s, 91 officers and men.[9]
16-21.8.44: Stab transferred to Mühldorf am Inn/80 km E of Munich.[10]
Germany. (Sep 44 - Apr 45)
9/44: after returning to Germany, several crews were reassigned to KG 200, while most pilots were sent to factories to ferry aircraft to units. The Ju 290s were parked at Mühldorf because of the fuel problem and the need to disperse them and hide them from Allied reconnaissance planes. While there, they were available on request to KG 200 for long-range agent/supply missions as needed. Several were used in early November to evacuate wounded from Skoplje in Macedonia. Meanwhile, the Stab set up its headquarters at Munich-Neubiberg and Gruppenkommandeur Major Fischer was called to Berlin.[11]
10/44 - 12/44: Gruppe inactive as noted above.
16-17.1.45: General der Aufklärungsflieger and OKL jointly decided to assigned Stab/FAG 5 as an operations staff (Einsatzstab) to carry out Arado Ar 234 reconnaissance over northeast England for the U-boat command, but from around this date to the end of the war the fragmentary data on Stab/FAG 5 is very confusing.[12]
27.1.45: Stab addressed at Munich-Neubiberg.[13]
8.2.45: Stab/FAG 5 ordered disbanded this date.[14]
14.2.45: Einsatzstab/FAG 5 arrived at Stavanger-Sola/Norway this date (without aircraft).[15]
26.2.45: Stab./FAG 5 addressed at Munich-Neubiberg.[16]
28.2.45: Stab./FAGr 5 renamed Stab./FAGr 1.[17]
3/45: Gruko Maj. Fischer spent March and up to around 23 April with 2.(F)/FAG 5.[18]
25.3.45: FAGr 5 was reportedly carrying out "special tasks" (i.e., Operation “Eisenhammer”)
under KG 200 and was not to be disbanded until these tasks were completed.[19]
11.4.45: Stab./FAGr 5 addressed at Munich-Neubiberg.[20]
4/45: nothing further known about the Stab, and it probably disbanded or dissolved around mid-April.
FpN: (L 55985)
Kommandeur:
Maj. Hermann Fischer (DKG) (13 Aug 43 - Feb 45)
Also see:
ABEL, Herbert, Oblt.
BLANCK, Dr. Konstantin (Konrad?), Reg.Rat
BRAUN, Heinz, Hptm.
DITTRICH, Günther, Oblt.
DÜNNWEBER, Dr. Wilhelm, Reg.Rat
FRANK, Siegfried, Oblt. (Kr.O./Ln.)
HERLEIN, Ludwig, Oblt.
KLOPPENBURG, Ernst, Maj.
KRÜGER, Dr.(med)?, Oberstabsarzt
MÜLLER, Hans, Oblt.
NATHER, Karl, Hptm. (d.R.z.V.)
PFEIFFER, Günther, Oblt.
RUCKSTUHL, Dr.(med.) Hans, Oberstabsarzt
SCHMIDT, H. Oskar. (n.d.). Hptm.
SPIESMANN, Dr.(med) Willy, Oberstabsarzt
WAGNER, Herbert, Lt.
WANFRIED, Joachim, Hptm.
WESSEL, Hans. Lt./Ln.
© H.L. deZeng IV, 2022
References
- ↑ Kössler/Ott-Dessauer:175 and 192.
- ↑ NARA WashDC: British Armed Forces of Occupation P/W interrogation A(P/W) IU/BAFO 114/45, 11 Oct 1945, in: RG 165/Entry 79 and/or RG 332.
- ↑ Kurowski-Seekrieg aus der Luft:213.
- ↑ AFHRA Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama: decimal 512.619 British AirMin P/W interrogations, ADI(K) series, microfilm rolls A5400-05, ADI(K) Report 249/44; F.Selinger-private correspondence; Smith/Creek-Ar 234:209; Dierich-VdL; Tessin-Tes; Kannapin-FpN.
- ↑ Tessin-op cit; Dierich-op cit.
- ↑ NARA WashDC: RG 242/T-971 roll 8/frame 545.
- ↑ Kössler/Ott-Dessauer:194.
- ↑ NARA WashDC: T-971 roll 18; Lfl.3 OB list.
- ↑ Kurowski-op cit:218; Kössler/Ott-op cit:195.
- ↑ PRO London: DEFE 3 ULTRA signal HP156; Kössler/Ott-op cit:193.
- ↑ Kössler/Ott-op cit; Stahl-KG 200.
- ↑ Kössler/Ott-op cit:196.
- ↑ ULTRA signal BT3632.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: KTB Gen.d.Aufkl.Fl. in: RL 4 II/32.
- ↑ BA-MA: RL 4 II/32.
- ↑ ULTRA signal BT5872.
- ↑ Dierich-op cit:157; Kössler/Ott-op cit:196.
- ↑ Kössler/Ott-op cit:197-99.
- ↑ ULTRA signal BT8507.
- ↑ ULTRA signal KO756.