Stab/NAGr. 5
Nahaufklärungsgruppe 5
(Unit Code U2+)
Stab/NAGr. 5
Formation and Background. (April 1942)
Ordered formed on 19 April 1942 at either Vyazma or Dugino on the central sector of the Russian Front to the northeast of Smolensk by renaming Aufklärungsgruppe (H) Nord, which was the former Koluft AOK 9, and using personnel from Aufkl.St. 5.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 23 for the Stabskompanie.[1]
Staffeln (Aufklärungsstaffeln known to have been subordinated to NAGr. 5 with the approximate dates): 1.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 11 (6/42 to 3/43); 2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 12 (4/42, 6/42, 11/42 to 4/43); NASt. 12./12 (4/43, to 7/43); 3.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 14 (2/43? to c.9/43?); 2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 23 (1943); 4.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 23 (c.6/42 to 6/43); 1.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 31 (c.2/44 to 9/44); 4.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 33 (2/44 to 3/44); [1./NAGr. 16 (12/42 to c.7/43)]?; 1./NAGr. 5; 2./NAGr. 5.
[Note: unless otherwise stated, the aircraft losses noted below are those of the independently designated Aufklärungsstaffeln that were subordinated to NAGr. 5 at the time of the loss.]
Central Russia. (May 1942 - November 1943)
13 May 1942: reinforced with one Hs 126 borrowed from 2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 23 (NAGr. 2), Stab/NAGr. 5 ordered by Luftwaffenkdo. Ost to assemble forces at Lipovka airstrip near Rzhev and support XXIII. Armeekorps/AOK 9 (XXIII Corps/9th Army) during Operation “Nordpol”, an attack toward Nelidovo/ 96 km west of Rzhev to destroy elements of Soviet 39th Army.
June 1942: NAGr. 5 at Dugino/65 km S of Rzhev and Vyazma with 1.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 11 and 2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 12 in support of AOK 9.
23 June 1942: NAGr. 5, with 1.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 11 and 2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 12, under 2. Fliegerdivision and ordered to furnish tactical reconnaissance support for Operation “Seydlitz”, the planned destruction of Russian 39th Army and XI Cavalry Corps west of Rzhev.
3 July 1942: elements of Staffeln assigned to NAGr. 5 using 5 Fw 189s and 1 Hs 126 flew reconnaissance in front of XXIII. and XXVII. Armeekorps/AOK 9, bombed the village of Ivanovka and dropped 57,000 leaflets.
July 1942: Stab/NAGr. 5 at Dugino - released from 2. Fliegerdivision, which was ordered to France, and reassigned to 1. Fliegerdivision.
August – November 1942: no information found, but NAGr. 5 remained at Dugino during this period.
25 November 1942: Stab at Dugino under 1. Fliegerdiv./Luftwaffenkdo. Ost in support of AOK 9 with: 1.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 11, 2.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 12 and 4.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 23.
4 December 1942: elements of NAGr. 5 attacked infantry and motor transport columns around a number of villages on the AOK 9 front and claimed at least two trucks destroyed and two more damaged.
26 January 1943: Stab still at Dugino in support of AOK 9.
March 1943: as a result of AOK 9 being ordered to move to the Orel sector for Operation “Zitadelle” and the German withdrawal from the Vyazma sector on 12 March, NAGr. 5 transferred to Shatalovka-East/55 km south-east of Smolensk and reassigned to support AOK 4 (4th Army). However, the Stab may have been on full or partial stand-down from mid-March to mid-May to rest, refit and allow personnel to go home on leave.
17 May 1943: Hs 126 assigned to Stab/NAGr. 5 force landed near Graudenz in West Prussia, 25%.
11 June 1943: 3 Fi 156s destroyed, 3 Hs 126s damaged (15%-40%) and 7 men KIA, all from Stab/NAGr. 5, during a Russian air attack on Shatalovka-East.
15 June 1943: Stab Hs 126 shot up over Novoselye, 20%.
28 June 1943: at Shatalovka-East in support of AOK 4 with 12.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 12 and 3.(H)/Aufkl.Gr. 14.
5 July 1943: since NAGr. 5 was in support of AOK 4, which was deployed forward of the line Smolensk – Roslavl, it did not directly participate in Operation “Zitadelle”, the German offensive to retake the Kursk salient that commenced this date.
10 July 1943: NAGr. 5 reported 19(11) Hs 126s on strength at Shatalovka-East, these belonging to its assigned Staffeln.
2 August 1943: a Bf 110 F-2, apparently assigned to the Stab, crashed at Nauendorf near Erfurt due to engine failure, 100%, 2 injured.
August 1943: location and assignment of Stab/NAGr. 5 unknown from this date until December 1943, but it appears to have been withdrawn from operations in Russia around the end of July or first half of August 1943 and transferred to Herzogenaurach in Bavaria to rest, take leave and then reorganize as a single-seater Gruppe equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109Gs. The Stab received its first aircraft in October at Herzogenaurach: 2 Bf 109E, 2 Bf 109 G-4 and 1 Bf 109 G-6.
Germany, North Russia and Latvia. (December 1943 - May 1945)
6 December 1943: Stab, 1. and 2./NAGr. 5 at Herzogenaurach completing conversion and work-up on Bf 109Gs.
22 December 1943: Bf 109 G-6 damaged landing at Herzogenaurach, 40%.
6 January 1944: NAGr. 5 still at Herzogenaurach.
14 January 1944: Stab and 2./NAGr. 5 ordered to the Leningrad Front - the Soviets commenced a major offensive to break through the Leningrad perimeter this date and quickly rolled up the entire front in North Russia.
25 January 1944: Stab and 2./NAGr. 5 transferred from Siverskaya to Gostkino as Russian spearheads approached Siverskaya.
29 February 1944: Stab at Idritsa, along the border between Russia and Latvia, under 3. Fliegerdivision/Luftflotte 1 with 1. and 2./NAGr. 5.
27 March 1944: Stab still at Idritsa - had 5 Bf 109Gs assigned to the Stab. It is believed to have remained at Idritsa to 28 May and then moved to Petseri.
April 1944: a Bf 109 G-6/U3 belonging to Stab/NAGr. 5 was lost in action during the month and this appears to be its only loss until September.
22 June 1944: located on the northern wing of the powerful Soviet summer offensive in Belorussia that began this date, NAGr. did not get caught up in the main fighting unit 4 July when 1st Baltic Front opened an offensive against AOK 16 in the direction of Riga.
26 June 1944: Stab now at Petseri (Pechory)/south-east Estonia under 3. Fliegerdivision.
10-25 July 1944: probably at Dünaburg (Daugavpils)/180 km south-east of Riga, but this has not been confirmed.
c.25 July 1944: falling back toward Riga, the Stab withdrew north to Jakobstadt (Jekabpils)/central Latvia as 1st Baltic Front’s armor drove relentlessly toward the Latvian capital supported by 2d Baltic Front to the north. German AOK 16 and AOK 18 fought a courageous defense but could not halt or significantly delay the numerically superior Russians.
September 1944: Stab at Riga-Skulte/Latvia to about 22 September and then withdrew into Courland in north-west Latvia where German forces held out to the end of the war in what became known as the Kurland (or Courland) Pocket.
27 September 1944: Stab at Talsi (Talsen)/west Latvia.
October – December 1944: Stab at Saldus (Frauenburg)/north-west Latvia.
27 November 1944: Stab reported 4 Bf 109s assigned to it.
10 January 1945: NAGr. 5 reported a total of 29(22) Bf 109s and Fw 189s on strength. February 1945: Stab now at Cirava airfield/north-west Latvia.
23 February 1945: Bf 109 G-8 belonging to the Stab damaged due to engine failure, 15%. 26 February 1945: Stab Fw 189 damaged in air attack on Cirava, 35%.
27 February 1945: Stab Bf 109 G-6 damaged in air attack on Cirava, 30%.
7 March 1945: Stab Bf 109 G-8 crash landed at Cirava, 10%.
14 March 1945: Stab/NAGr. 5 ordered disbanded this date by Luftflotte 1.
9 April 1945: still at Cirava - NAGr. 5 reported 25(18) Bf 109s and Fw 189s on strength under Luftwaffenkdo. Kurland.
28 April 1945: Stab still operational under Lw.Kdo.Kurland.
8 May 1945: Fw 189 A-2 (U2+ZB) from Stab/NAGr. 5 flew from the Courland pocket in north-west Latvia across the Baltic and surrendered at Bulltofta/south Sweden. Those who could not escape were taken prisoner by the Russians.
FpNs:Stab/NAGr. 5 (L 11354), Stabskp./NAGr. 5 (L 42618), Ln.-Betr.Kp./NAGr. 5 (L 21661).
Kommandeur:
Maj. Heinrich von Oppen (21 April 1942 - 30 June 1942?)
Maj. Richard, Graf von Korff gen. Schmising-Kerssenbrock (acting?) ( ? - ? ) 5/42
Maj. Joachim Gerndt (1 July 1942 - 1 September 1942))
Hptm. Hermann Modersohn (1 September 1942 - 26 September 1942)
Maj. Hans West (26 September 1942 - ? ) 2/43, 4/43
Maj. Wilhelm Sell ( ? ? ) 1944
Maj. Hermann Schmidt (6 June 1944 - 8 May 1945)
Hptm. Herward Braunegg (acting) (1 March 1945 - March 1945)
© by Henry L. deZeng IV (Work in Progress).
(1st Draft 2022)
References
- ↑ W.Dierich - Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935-1945: Gliederungen und Kurzchroniken – Eine Dokumentation; G.Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, Teil 14: Die Luftstreitkräfte (Osnabrück, 1980); N.Kannapin - Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945, 3 Bde (I – III) (Osnabrück, 1980-82); NARA WashDC: RG 242 (Microcopy T-312 roll 203/339; roll 205/450; roll 296/603, 937, 1738 and 1814; roll 305/792; roll 568/314-19 document Genst.d.Heeres/Org.Abt.(II) Nr.1483/42g.Kdos., 19 Apr 1942 detailing the creation of the Nahaufklärungsgruppen; and roll 1156/1020 Koluft Heeresgruppe Mitte order 86/42 g.Kdos.); (Microcopy T-321 roll 10); (Microcopy T-971 roll 6); AFHRA Maxwell: decimal K113 Karlsruhe Collection; AFHRA Maxwell: decimal 512.625S (British Air Ministry) OKL document; PRO London: AIR 40/1971, 1973, 1983; BA-MA Freiburg: RL 2 III Meldungen über Flugzeugunfälle…..(Loss Reports – LRs); BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 4 II/32; BA-MA Freiburg: Signatur RL 40/Kart; Archiv Gruppe 66 magazine, No. 6/v.2, page 22 and No. 7/v.2, page 21; M.Holm-website ww2.dk.