when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

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udondave
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when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#1

Post by udondave » 30 Jan 2022, 01:32

Hello everyone,

An Australian soldier in Libya wrote of the following encounter in a letter dated 5 February 1941:

"I have had some exciting times lately, as I have been in about 20 air raids. A German plane machinegunned me, but luckily his gun jammed when the line of tracer bullets were about 10 yards off me, otherwise I would have been in trouble. Even if he hadn't hit me, I was hemmed in by ammunition supplies and they would probably have gone up in smoke. I am working about 17 hours a day and snatching a few hours’ sleep in between air raids. ...It is not too pleasant being in a raid and the people in England must be marvellous the way they are standing up to it. There is a bad dust storm on, so operations are suspended today."

Would this have been Luftwaffe aircraft based in Sicily?

Thank you in advance for your expertise. Cheers, Dave

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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#2

Post by Richard Anderson » 30 Jan 2022, 02:23

7./JG 26 (Bf 109E) moved to Gela on 7 February 1941. 8./ZG 26 moved to Bir Dufan on 13 February as did I./StG 1. So likely they were flying out of Sicily. Does he mention what type of aircraft it was? Or where he was?
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udondave
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#3

Post by udondave » 30 Jan 2022, 03:23

Thanks Richard. It's all a bit vague and I'm trying to piece together what I can. The newspaper containing the above the paragraph simply said 'somewhere in Libya'. Consulting service records, we see that he was an Lieutenant in a Railway Construction Company, which makes Egypt more likely?
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#4

Post by Richard Anderson » 30 Jan 2022, 05:41

Then almost certainly it was a medium bomber or the like, so certainly from Sicily.
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udondave
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#5

Post by udondave » 30 Jan 2022, 07:11

Working back from a letter dated 5 February 1941, and the dates you give, can we be certain the attack(s) were by German aircraft? Cheers, Dave

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Urmel
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#6

Post by Urmel » 31 Jan 2022, 01:06

I think that's a very good question.
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#7

Post by Richard Anderson » 31 Jan 2022, 01:09

udondave wrote:
30 Jan 2022, 07:11
Working back from a letter dated 5 February 1941, and the dates you give, can we be certain the attack(s) were by German aircraft? Cheers, Dave
Well, he couldn't very well say it was the Eyties that put the wind up him now, could he? :lol:
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Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
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Urmel
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#8

Post by Urmel » 31 Jan 2022, 11:21

My all-time favourite is the report claiming the unit was attacked by a three-engined Ju 88.
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

udondave
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#9

Post by udondave » 31 Jan 2022, 12:12

Thanks for your posts Richard Richard and Urmel. I'm working on a new book and would love to use this passage. I just wonder when the average soldier on the ground in North Africa knew of German intervention in the Mediterranean? For example Rommel only reported to Berlin to receive his instructions on 6 February... just trying to join the dots. Errors in newspaper typesetting /reporting could explain an incorrect February date. The extract from the letter was published in a small region newspaper on 10 March 1941....

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Urmel
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#10

Post by Urmel » 31 Jan 2022, 14:54

At 1200 hours an attack by approx 8 Me 110�s was made from the East. The attack lasted about 3 minutes and there were two casualties. One MARC and the fitters lorry were put out of action (this was the 3rd fitters lorry put out of action since the campaign began). 2Lt Crankshaw saw a Me 110 force land about a mile to the West of his position and captured the crew.
This attack appeared to be launched with much more ferocity and dash than any Italian attack.
1200 hours, 14 Feb is the date for 11 Hussars.

http://www.warlinks.com/armour/11_hussars/11huss_41.php

This was the first day-time attack in Libya:

https://rommelsriposte.com/2016/02/14/1 ... th-africa/

Rommel wasn't in command of the Luftwaffe, who could and did act independently. The Germans and Italians agreed that missions could be flown over Libya just a few days before that.
In Catania conferences with the Commanding General X. Fliegerkorps[4]. Air force elements to strike during the night 12/13 February against enemy in the area south of Benghazi.
[...]
Around 22.30 hours short discussion by Colonel Schmundt with General Jodl. Result: Luftwaffe has a free hand up to but excluding Benghazi.
https://rommelsriposte.com/2016/02/20/d ... uary-1941/

The first loss of German soldiers were 3 AA gunners on SS Ingo, sunk by Swordfish out of Malta on 27 January 1941 while on passage to Tripoli.
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

udondave
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#11

Post by udondave » 12 Mar 2022, 23:48

Thank for your post Urmel- much appreciated.

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Urmel
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#12

Post by Urmel » 17 Mar 2022, 22:51

Richard Anderson wrote:
30 Jan 2022, 05:41
Then almost certainly it was a medium bomber or the like, so certainly from Sicily.
Or Rhodes.
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

Richard Anderson
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#13

Post by Richard Anderson » 17 Mar 2022, 23:17

Urmel wrote:
17 Mar 2022, 22:51
Richard Anderson wrote:
30 Jan 2022, 05:41
Then almost certainly it was a medium bomber or the like, so certainly from Sicily.
Or Rhodes.
:thumbsup:
Richard C. Anderson Jr.

American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell

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Urmel
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Re: when did Luftwaffe begin operating over Libya?

#14

Post by Urmel » 17 Mar 2022, 23:50

Geography! Ape strong.
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

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