LW transport fleet - losses, operations, stock, production

[Urmel]

Does anyone know what Freight Gliders (LS) could mean in late 1941? I would presume Go 242?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotha_Go_242

[Jon G.]

Also Me-321 I presume?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_321

...also, from Rich's posts, above, it seems that the motorized version the Me-323 (which only entered service in 1942) also was categorized as a glider?

[Urmel]

So... LS = Lastensegler. Was the Gotha still classified as such, or was it a GLS (Grossraumlastensegler)?

[RichTO90]

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/we ... iking.html

Interesting. I just realized the significance of that to the acceptence list. The six I gave must be the acceptences to the Fernaufklärungs Staffeln, aircraft V7 and V9-V13. That of course makes me wonder why the seven accepted for the Transport Staffeln, aircraft V1-V6, and V8, don't show up as acceptences on the list? Perhaps its because the C-series was considered production, while the A-series was considered development and preproduction?

Cheers!

[Urmel]

http://crusaderproject.wordpress.com/20 ... -dec-1941/

[Urmel]

ULTRA indicates that there were 3 BV 222 in the Med by late 41.

Here's a bit more info on performance of the Transportgruppen:

http://wp.me/phMWl-lQ

[Ironmachine]

Some data about transport aircraft losses in Crete, from the preface of Flugzeug Foto-Archiv Spezial Band 3: Kreta - AderlaB der Transportflieger-Verbände:

In the book "Die deutschen Transportflieger im 2. Weltkrieg" by Fritz Morzik (Generalmajor and AOC Luftwaffe Transport Command) and Gerhard Hümmelchen, the number of transport aircraft lost during the Balkan Campaign and the preparations for the Invasion of Crete, from April to June 1941, is put at 324. In the preceding months of January to March, the figure was a mere 42. The months July to September showed the number rising to 75 as the first losses of the opening of the Russian Campaign began to make themselves felt.
[...]
Two other interesting documents dealing with losses sustained during the battle were made available to Gerog Schlaug, author of "Die deutschen Lastensegler-Verbände 1937-45" and "Geschichte einer Transportfliegergruppe im II: Weltkrieg". The figures revealed by the first document put the number of Ju 52s that had to be written of at 85 (degree of damage 60-100%) and 117 as being damaged (10-59%).[...]
The second document states the number of transport aircraft available from 20.5.41-31.5.41. On the first day of the assault, 20 May, 493 aircraft were serviceable; on the day the enemy evacuated the island, 31 May, the number had fallen to 185. KGr.z.b.V.105, the transport unit chiefly featured in this issue, ended the battle with just 19 of its 50 aircraft serviceable.

[Marcus]

This thread was featured on our Facebook page recently.

/Marcus

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little query.........................................

Assault on Sicily - July 1943.

Frascati 7.7.1943

The bombings of our airfields continue. (Catania, Gerbini, Trapani, Comiso). We have to consider withdrawing our air force, as otherwise it faces certain destruction. But the alternative airfields are too far away for our aircraft to fight effectively, and therefore such a move is not contemplated yet.

Source: The South African Military History Society. Military History Journal - Vol 7 No 2. Assault on Sicily, 1943. Jochen Mahnke.

How many transport planes were lost there due to the bombardment prior to the landing? TIA. Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!.

[Carl Schwamberger]

Glad I discovered this thread, and only seconds after I stared searching. What I'm specifically fishing for is the transport POTENTIAL capability for lifting a airborne operation durning June through December 1944. That is the maximum number of operational aircraft that could have been available had a effort to concentrate them been executed. Anyone that can point to sources would be most welcome. Thanks & Danke in advance.

[Peter89]

Glad I discovered this thread, and only seconds after I stared searching. What I'm specifically fishing for is the transport POTENTIAL capability for lifting a airborne operation durning June through December 1944. That is the maximum number of operational aircraft that could have been available had a effort to concentrate them been executed. Anyone that can point to sources would be most welcome. Thanks & Danke in advance.

I'm currently working on the detailed story of all German heavy transport planes. Sadly, I am around late 1941 now, so I can't be of much help. But.

What I can tell you is the following. (The sources are often straight-contradictory, so multiple cross-reference was necessary.)

On June 1944, 8 Ju-90s were still operational, of which 1 was Ju-290 and 1 was the Ju-390. These latter ones were equipped with the Trapoklappe, meaning they could carry an Sdkfz 222 or an Sdkfz 250 in their fuselages.

As far as I processed it, of the original BV-222 production (V1-V7), the V1, V3, V5 and V6 was destroyed by this time, and that the V2, V4 and V7 were operational. I don't know the rest, yet.

Fw-200 came out in a lot of configurations, including transport ones. Some of the initial production (up until C3/U9) survived the war, but I doubt that all of them could be utilized for transport duties. These planes included the "Immelmann III" (Hitler's plane), the "Grenzmark" (Ribbentrop's plane), the C4/U1 (Himmler's plane) and C4/U2 (Dönitz's plane).

If you are interested, I can upload you the German Air Force Airlift Operations by Fritz Morzik. It's full of first-hand, detailed infos. Maybe you're familiar with it already.

Also, I'd recommend you to check this site: https://www.ww2.dk/lwairfields.html which provides a lot of useful infos about LW airfields in almost every theatre of operations. The Ju-52s were great at utilizing a lot of airfields, but a lot of airfields provided less than ideal conditions.

Crew experience is also a factor. With adequately trained or experienced crews, 3 minutes flight intervals are possible, 5 minutes flight intervals were standard under normal circumstances.

It's also worth to cross-reference Morzik's assessments of the adequacy of the airfields and their reported runways, signal equipments and facilities.

[Carl Schwamberger]

If you are interested, I can upload you the German Air Force Airlift Operations by Fritz Morzik. It's full of first-hand, detailed infos. Maybe you're familiar with it already.

Yes if you would. Thanks for the generosity.

[Urmel]

Oh yes please!

[Peter89]

Sent.

[Andy H]

Glad I discovered this thread, and only seconds after I stared searching. What I'm specifically fishing for is the transport POTENTIAL capability for lifting a airborne operation durning June through December 1944. That is the maximum number of operational aircraft that could have been available had a effort to concentrate them been executed. Anyone that can point to sources would be most welcome. Thanks & Danke in advance.

Hi Carl

May I suggest this book. Its price has gone nuts over the years, so maybe a library copy.