Verb.Kdo. (S) 4
Verbindungskommando (S) 4
Code: possibly (F7+__)
Ordered formed December 1941 at Langensalza.
Renamed Schleppgruppe 2 on 20 September 1943.
FpNs:
Stab/4: L 51 591 (*7/42, Oct. 1943 renamed Stab/Schleppgruppe 2).
1 (DFS) Staffel/4: L 49 332 (*7/42 by renaming 5 DFS 230 Staffel; +spring 1943).
1 (Go) Staffel/4: L 49 007 (*7/42 by renaming 1 Go 242 Staffel; +Oct 1943).
2 (Go) Staffel/4: L 49 045 (*7/42 by renaming 2 Go 242 Staffel; Oct 1943 геnamed 3.(Go)/Schleppgruppe 2).
History
Activated as Go-Kommando/Luftflotte 4, this glider detachment departed Langensalza on 12 December 1941 for Russia. Operating from Kherson on the west bank of the Dnieper River in South Ukraine, it flew equipment and supplies to airfields at Mariupol, Poltava, and Saki in Crimea, among others. In May 1942, it was combined with 1. Go 242 Staffel, which a few weeks later was renamed 1.(Go)/Verbindungskommando (S) 4. During the 1942 German campaign aimed at Stalingrad and the oil resources of Caucasia, VK(S) 4 was heavily committed in support of the rapidly advancing Luftwaffe and ground forces.
A good example of this support can be seen from the employment of 1. (DFS) Staffel during September and October 1942. Flying from Elitsa in North Caucasia with Hs 126's towing DFS 230 gliders, it delivered fuel, ammunition and food to the forward elements of the 16th Motorized Infantry Division which was driving across the barren wastes of the Kalmyk A.S.S.R. toward Astrakhan at the north end of the Caspian Sea. At the end of October, with the Division's forward movement halted, the Staffel returned to Zaporozhye.
In December 1942 and early January 1943, the Kommando carried out a few resupply missions to the 6th Army encircled at Stalingrad, and then in early February moved to the
Crimea for airlift operations across the Straits of Kerch into the Kuban Bridgehead
under VIII. Fliegerkorps. It returned to Zaporozhye in April, and for the next three months transported aircraft engines, fuel, munitions and rations to frontline units throughout Ukraine. At the end of June or the beginning of July, elements belonging to VK(S) 4 moved to airfields in North Ukraine and were employed in support of the German offensive at Kursk (Operation "Zitadelle"). The offensive collapsed, and by the end of August the entire Kommando was once again back in the South Ukraine. In September, it flew fuel and ammunition to withdrawing ground forces in the Uman and Kiev areas, and then on 20 September it transferred to Lvov to refit and reorganize as Schleppgruppe 2.
Kommandeure (Commanding Officers)
Hptm. Joseph Schossig ( ? - ? ) 7/42
Hptm. Horst(?) Landwehr (DKG?) ( ? - 9/43) 11/42, 1/43
Stations
Langensalza/NW of Erfurt (12/41 - 12/41)
Kherson/S Ukraine (12/41 - )
Zaporozhye/Ukraine ( - ) 10/42,1/43
Bagerovo/Crimea (2/43 - 4/43)
Zaporozhye (4/43 - 7/43)
Konotop/Ukraine (7/43 - 8/43)
Kirovograd/Ukraine (8/43 - 9/43)
Zhitomir/Ukraine (9/43 - 9/43)
Lvov/SE Poland (9/43 - 9/43)
Equipment and Returns
Не 111, Hs 126 and He 46 aircraft, and DFS 230 and Go 242 gliders (1942 - 10/43).
Reported 5 Ju 52s, 2 He 111s and 7 Go 242s on strength 12/41.
Reported 8 He 111s and 30 Go 242s on strength 5/42.
Reported 15 He 111s, Hs 126s and He 46s, and 45 DFS 230s and Go 242's on strength 1.7.1942.
Reported 26 aircraft and 119 gliders on strength 4/43.
Representative Losses Verb.Kdo. (S) 4
13.7.42: Hs 126 crashed at Kharkov-Grobli due to engine failure, 70%, 2 injured.
17.7.42: 4 x Go 242s in crash landings at Kartmyskevka (possibly Kartmyshik/NW of Simferopol/Crimea?), 60% to 100%, 2 WIA.
18.7.42: 1 x Hs 126 B-1 and 2 x DFS 230s destroyed in crashes at Kastornaya and Kolina between Kursk and Voronezh, 100%, 2 KIA and 2 WIA.
1.1.43: He 111 damaged in runway accident at Nikolayevka (Nikolayev/Ost?), 35%.
3.1.43: DFS 230 blown up at Morosovskaya airfield to prevent capture by Soviet forces, 100%.
14.6.43: He 111 H-11 damaged during mission to the Taman Peninsula, 50%.
6.7.43: Ju 87 B-2 shot down by a fighter at Taranovka (Taranivka)/42 km S of Kharkov, 100%.
4.8.43: He 111 H-11 crashed at Varvarovka airfield/54 km SSW of Izyum, 90%, 4 WIA.
8.43 – 9.43: numerous aircraft and glider crashes and accidents across Ukraine during the German retreat.
Also see:
BECHER, Heinz, Lt. Pilot.
BEHNKE, Hans-Friedrich, Lt. Pilot.
BLEES, Dr.(med.) Otto, Oberarzt (Kr.O.).
BROMUND, Erich, Oblt. Pilot. Staka 3.(Go)/VK(S) 4.
BUREK, ? , Hptm. Staka 1.(Go)/Verbindungskdo. (S) 4.
EHRHARDT, Fridemar, Oblt.(Kr.O.). Pilot. Staka 1.(DFS)/VK(S) 4?
FAÉ, Johann-Anton, Hptm. Pilot. Staka 1.(DFS)/Verb.Kdo. (S) 4.
KRUG, Hans-Werner, Lt. Pilot.
SOLBRIG, Emil, Lt. Pilot.
STIEFEL, Gustav, Oblt.(Kr.O.). Pilot.
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress, 2023).
(1st Draft 2023)
References
Return to Transportverbände