TGr Lw.Kdo. Don
Transportgruppe Luftwaffenkommando Don
(Unit Code: B1+ ??)
Formation. (Aug 42)
Formed 26 August 1942 at Fp. Korovye Selo/30 km N of Ostrov in North Russia by temporarily renaming Transportstaffel I. Fliegerkorps (see under I. Fliegerkorps). This coincided with the temporary renaming of I. Fliegerkorps as Luftwaffenkdo. Don on the same date. The temporary change of designations lasted until 17 February 1943. Equipped with Ju 52 transports. The Gruppe was eventually built-out to two Staffeln (1. and 2.) using additional transports and crews borrowed from the flight schools in the Reich, which were often referred to as “1. and 2. Staffel Korpstransportstaffel I. Fliegerkorps”. Additionally, in Dec 42 or more likely in Jan 43 the glider units 1.(DFS)/Lw.Kdo. Don and 1.(Go)/Lw.Kdo. Don were both attached to the Gruppe to strengthen its airlift capacity and capability.[1]
South Russia. (Sep 42 - Feb 43)
20 Sep 42: Ju 52 damaged its undercarriage landing at Fp. Pskov/N Russia, 25%.
28 Sep 42: man belonging to the Gruppe reported WIA in enemy bombing of Fp. Millerovo, located on the Don to the west of Stalingrad.
Dec 42: began air supply of the 2,000-man Luftwaffe Kampfgruppe under Obstlt. Georg Tyroller (Kdr. le.Flak-Abt. 84 (mot.) that defended Kantemirovka-South airfield until mid-January 1943, and then air evacuated the remaining 1,957 of them to safety.
24 Dec 42: Ju 52 returned to Fp. Kantemirovka/95 km NNW of Millerovo after being shot up by AA fire, 30%, 1 WIA.
28 Dec 42: Ju 52 returned to Kharkov shot up by AA fire.
30 Dec 42: Ju 52 damaged when Fp. Kantemirovka shelled by Russian artillery, 35%.
30 Dec 42: Ju 52 severely damaged when Fp. Millerovo shelled by Russian artillery, 50%.
31 Dec 42: Ju 52 struck the ground and crashed at Fp. Kharkov, 90%, 1 injured.
3 Jan 43: 2. Staffel Ju 52 returned to Fp. Kharkov-North after being hit by mortar fire, 15%.
4 Jan 43: Ju 52 shot up during a low-level Russian air attack on Fp. Kantemirovka, 60%.
5 Jan 43: Ju 52 damaged landing at Fp. Kharkov-North, 15%.
7 Jan 43: Ju 52 (NM+EF) reported missing on flight between Starobelsk and Kantemirovka, 100%, 4 MIA.
9 Jan 43: 3 Ju 52 crashes reported at Fp. Starobelsk/85 km SW of Kantemirovka and at Fp. Millerovo.
9 Jan 43: 2 Ju 52s (DS+BD and VE+KV) reported missing on flight from Kharkov to Vyazma/C Russia, both 100%, 8 MIA.
15 Jan 43: Ju 52 bombed on the ground at Fp. Starobelsk, 30%.
15 Jan 43: Ju 52 bombed on the ground at Fp. Kantemirovka, 15%, 3 WIA.
18 Jan 43: 4 Ju 52s bombed on the ground at Fp. Kantemirovka, 2 @ 100%, 25% and 10%, 1 WIA.
2 Feb 43: crew member reported WIA by fire from a Russian fighter near Kharkov.
12 Feb 43: Ju 52 (DI+XS) shot down by ground fire south of Zmyev (Smyev? – not located), 100%, 1 MIA and 1 WIA.
16 Feb 43: Ju 52 crash landed at Fp. Poltava/130 km SW of Kharkov in bad weather, 40%.
17 Feb 43: designation of Luftwaffenkdo. Don changed back to I. Fliegerkorps and designation of Transportgruppe Lw.Kdo. Don changed back to Transportstaffel I. Fliegerkorps this date. At the time of the changeover the Gruppe (small Stab with 1. and 2. Staffel) had a total of 30 Ju 52s.
FpN:(L 16563)
Kommandeur:
Hptm. Kurt Geisler (R) (c. 1 Dec 42 - 17 Feb 43)
Also see:
BECHER, Heinz, (rank unknown).
KALTHOFF, Wilhelm, Oblt.
LOSSE, Heinz, Lt.
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2022).
(1st Draft 2022)
References
- ↑ H.Plocher-The German Air Force Versus Russia, 1942:231; G.Tessin-op cit; G.Schlaug-Die deutschen Lastensegler-Verbände 1937-1945: Eine Chronik aus Berichten, Tagebüchern, Dokumenten:112; G.Schlaug letters to H.L.deZeng dated 12 June 1995 and 8 February 1996.
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