TGr 20
Transportfliegergruppe 20
(Unit Code: 7U+)
Formation. (May 43)
Formed 1 May 1943 at Oslo-Fornebu in Norway with a Gruppenstab and 1. – 4. Staffel by renaming KGr.z.b.V. 108. Equipped with Ju 52 transports and Ju 52 floatplanes.[1]
Norway and Finland. (May 43 - May 45)
Jul 43: 4. Staffel at Kemi in North Finland with 12 Ju 52s.[2]
Aug 43: Gruppenstab, 2. and 3. Staffel at Oslo-Fornebu, 1. Staffel in the Mediterranean and 4. Staffel at Kemi.[3]
30 Aug 43: Ju 52 crash landed near St-Raphael/S France, 10% (it is not known what 1. Staffel and this Ju 52 were doing so far from Norway).[4]
18 Sep 43: 7 Ju 52s from 2. Staffel and one more from 3. Staffel ordered to Mogilev on the central section of the Eastern Front and temporarily assigned to Feldluftgaukdo. XXVII/Luftflotte 6 for unspecified “special operations.” The 8 aircraft and crews returned to Norway on 18 October.[5]
28 Sep 43: Ju 52 crashed at Tromsø/N Norway due to engine failure, 20%.
6 Oct 43: Stab and 2. Staffel (8 Ju 52s) at Oslo-Fornebu, 1. Staffel (9 Ju 52 floatplanes) at Trondheim-Hommelvik, 3. Staffel (11 Ju 52s) at Gardermoen, and 4. Staffel (12 Ju 52s) at Kemi.[6]
16 Nov 43: as for 6 Oct 43.[7]
Nov 43: 1. Staffel transferred from Trondheim-Hommelvik to Athens-Phaleron in Greece and renamed Seetransportfliegerstaffel 3.[8]
18 Nov 43: 2. Staffel Ju 52 bombed on the ground at Oslo-Kjeller, 100%.
25 Dec 43: Ju 52 ran out of fuel and force landed at Gardermoen, 70%, 4 crew and 10 passengers injured.
Jan – Aug 44: Gruppenstab, 2. and 3. Staffel (1. Staffel not replaced) mainly at Oslo with 4. Staffel at Kemi/N Finland. Gruppe strength fluctuated between 32 and 36 Ju 52s during this period.[9]
Sep 44: strength increased, and now with 44(42) Ju 52s.[10]
Oct 44: deployed extra assets to northern Norway to assist with the evacuation of German forces from North Finland following Finland’s armistice with the Soviet Union and withdrawal from the war.
12 Nov 44: 2. and 4. Staffel at Banak/N Norway operating under Komm.Gen.d.Dt.Lw. in Finnland.[11]
25 Dec 44: Gruppe under Komm.Gen.d.Dt.Lw. in Norwegen with Gruppenstab at Oslo-Fornebu, 2. Staffel at Rognan/near Bodø in N Norway, 3. Staffel at Eggemoen near Oslo, and 4. Staffel at Rygge near Oslo. Except for Oslo-Fornebu, these were infrequently used dispersal airfields that offered some protection from Allied air attacks to the Ju 52s parked there.[12]
10 Jan 45: Gruppe reported 50(47) Ju 52s on strength. Its aircraft strength began decreasing sharply after this high point.[13]
25 Apr 45: Gruppe reported 38 Ju 52s on strength.[14]
8 May 45: Surrender - Gruppenstab, 2. and 4. Staffel at Oslo-Fornebu and 3. Staffel at Eggemoen. Total strength on surrender: 26 Ju 52s, 12 officers and 264 men.[15]
FpN:Gruppenstab (L 37749)
Kommandeur:
Oberst Hans Löw (1 May 43 - 23 Jun 43)
Maj. Erich Zähr (R, DKG) (23 Jun 43 - Jun 44?)
Maj. Heinrich Ahrens (DKG) (Jun 44? - 8 May 45)
Also see:
ALVES, Dr. Georg, Oberfeldintendant. Passenger. KIA.
AMBERGER, Heinz, Oblt. Pilot. 1./TGr. 20?
BAUMANN, Adolf, Hptm. Pilot. Staka 3./TGr. 20.
ERDMANN, Hans, Oberst. Passenger. KIA.
GÄHTGENS, Paul, Oberst. Passenger. KIA.
HAWARDT, ? , Hptm. Staka 2./TGr. 20.
KIENAST, Herbert, Maj. Passenger. KIA.
LENNÉ, Ernst, Obstlt. Passenger. KIA.
OESTERLING, Günter, Geschwader Intendant. Passenger. KIA.
OPITZ, Werner, Hptm. Pilot. Staka 3./TGr. 20.
SCHMITZ, Johann, Hptm.(Kr.O.). Staka 4./TGr. 20.
SCHNEETZ, Josef, Oblt. Passenger. KIA.
SCHREIBER, (either Karl-Heinz or Rudolf), Hptm.
WERNER, Carl, Fregattenkapitän. Passenger. KIA.
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2022).
(1st Draft 2022)
References
- ↑ G.Tessin-Verbände und Truppen der Deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939-1945 - Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte; N.Kannapin-Feldpostübersicht.
- ↑ O.Anttonen/H.Valtonen-Luftwaffe Suomessa – in Finland 1941-1944.
- ↑ PRO London: AIR 40 Air Ministry intelligence documents based on ULTRA and “Y” Service intercepts.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs).
- ↑ B.Hafsten – “Kampfgeschwader z.b.V. 108” in Luftwaffe Verband Journal 2004/2005.
- ↑ K.Maesel correspondence with H.L.deZeng based on BA-MA Freiburg Signatur RL 40/Kart Luftflotte 3 order of battle maps.
- ↑ K.Maesel-op cit.
- ↑ Jet & Prop magazine Heft (issue) 5/1995, p.6; N.Kannapin-op cit.
- ↑ K.Maesel-op cit.
- ↑ K.Maesel-op cit.
- ↑ NARA WashDC: RG 242/T-312 roll 1063, frame 888.
- ↑ T-312 roll 1070, frame 591.
- ↑ K.Maesel-op cit.
- ↑ F.Morzik-German Air Force Airlift Operations:410.
- ↑ BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 9/35.
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