Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

Discussions on all (non-biographical) aspects of the Luftwaffe air units and general discussions on the Luftwaffe.
WAKEN
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Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#1

Post by WAKEN » 06 Apr 2019, 12:02

A friend of mine and I are about to start playing GDW's 1978 game 'Operation Crusader'. I checked the Italian air units in the game against a book called 'Courage Alone - The Italian Air Force 1940-43' and numerous errors. So I have decided to check the German air units in the game and they too appear to be wrong. The game has the following Luftwaffe units on 18 Nov 41:

4,5,6/KG 26 (He 111) - Heraklion
1,2,3/LG 1 (Ju 88) - Heraklion
4,5,6,7,8,9/LG 1 (Ju 88) - Benina
1,2,3/StG 1 (Ju 87) - Derna
4,5,6/StG 2 (Ju 87) - Timimi
4,5,6/StG 3 (Ju 87) - Timimi
7,8,9/ZG 26 (Bf 110) - Derna
1,2,3/JG 27 (Bf 109) - Gazala
4,5,6/JG 27 (Bf 109) - Gambut

The game has the following reinforcements:
6 Dec 41 - 7,8,9 JG 53
9 Dec 41 - 7,8,9 JG 27
25 Dec 41 - 1,2,3 StG 3

checking on Michael Holm's website I found lots of errors in the game:
KG 26 was not in existence in Nov 41
LG 1 was at Eleusis (Athens)
StG 1 was in Russia
StG 2 was in Russia
StG 3 was in Derna
ZG 26 was not in existence in Nov 41
JG 27 arrived in Timimi on 10 Dec 41

If anyone could help with what Luftwaffe units were in the African theatre of operations on 18 Nov 41, or arrived there by 25 Dec 41 that would be great.

Thanks

Andrew Arthy
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#2

Post by Andrew Arthy » 09 Apr 2019, 01:44

Hi,

Here is the Fliegerführer Afrika order of battle from 16 November 1941:

Stabsstaffel Fliegerführer Afrika, Derna, 1 Bf 110
II./St.G. 2, Benina, 32 Ju 87 R
III./L.G. 1, Benina, 31 Ju 88
8./Z.G. 26, Derna, 12 Bf 110
I./J.G. 27, Gazala, 21 Bf 109
II./J.G. 27, Gazala, 25 Bf 109
10./K.G.z.b.V. 1, 12 Ju 52
Kurierstaffel Afrika, various
2.(H)/14, Martuba, various
1. Wüstennotstaffel, various

Additions to the order of battle on 20 November 1941 were:

Stab St.G. 3, various
I./St.G. 1, 32 Ju 87 R

For unit histories of 2.(H)/14 and the 1. Wüstennotstaffel, please see https://airwarpublications.com/earticle ... earticles/

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles


Richard Anderson
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#3

Post by Richard Anderson » 09 Apr 2019, 02:47

Andrew Arthy wrote:
09 Apr 2019, 01:44
Hi,

Here is the Fliegerführer Afrika order of battle from 16 November 1941:
I believe this is actually 15 November? Amendments in RED.

Stabsstaffel Fliegerführer Afrika, Derna, 1 Bf 110
Verbindungsstaffel Fliegerführer Afrika, 2 a/c on hand, 1 serviceable
Stab, St.G 3, Derna, 3 Bf 110 on hand, 2 serviceable, 4 Ju 87R on hand, 3 serviceable, 3 He 111 on hand, 1 operational
II./St.G. 2, Benina, 32 Ju 87 R 2 Staffeln at Tmimi and 1 at Benina, 34 on hand, 29 serviceable
I./St.G. 1, Derna, 32 Ju 87R on hand, 25 serviceable
III./L.G. 1, Benina, 31 Ju 88 33 on hand, 2 serviceable
8./Z.G. 26, Derna, 12 Bf 110 on hand, 7 were serviceable
7./Z.G. 26, Crete, 13 Bf 110 on hand, 9 serviceable it replaced 8. at Derna on 22 November
I./J.G. 27, Gazala, 21 Bf 109 on hand, 14 were serviceable, 3. Staffel was at Munich converting to Bf 109F
II./J.G. 27, Gazala, 25 Bf 109 on hand, 22 were serviceable
10./K.G.z.b.V. 1, 12 Ju 52 5 serviceable
Kurierstaffel Afrika, various I suspect included with the Verbingdungsstaffel?
2.(H)/14, Martuba, various 26 a/c on hand, 5 serviceable
1. Wüstennotstaffel, various possibly included under the Verbindungsstaffel or Signalabteilung (below) a/c?
Signalabt. (mot) Afrika, 3 transport a/c on hand, 2 serviceable, 9 liaison a/c on hand, 6 serviceable
For unit histories of 2.(H)/14 and the 1. Wüstennotstaffel, please see https://airwarpublications.com/earticle ... earticles/

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles
Excellent!
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

Andrew Arthy
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#4

Post by Andrew Arthy » 09 Apr 2019, 07:39

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the additions. For my post I only checked a Libya airfields ULTRA summary file, which gave the date of the report as 16 November 1941 (so it could well be showing the situation on 15 November 1941), and it only included the units I listed (except for 1. Wüstennotstaffel, which I added to my post because I knew it was definitely present). The two additional units from 20 November 1941 also came from the same airfields summary file.

After seeing your post I checked the original ULTRA file, and found many other full orders of battle for X. Fliegerkorps and Fliegerführer Afrika for most days in mid-November 1941. However, unfortunately I don't have time to add any more details here (an article on the Kasserine air war requires my attention!).

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

WAKEN
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#5

Post by WAKEN » 11 Apr 2019, 14:08

Hi Richard and Andrew,

Thanks for your replies on this.
Do you know when the 3. Staffel of I./J.G. 27 that was converting to Bf109F returned to Africa?

I found this article:
https://rommelsriposte.com/2012/06/30/a ... mber-1941/

Some observations/question from that article if I may:

II./K.G. 26 was to redeploy from Romania to Crete. Did this happen? If it did on what date and do you have any details on what types of aircraft and how many they had?

I./L.G. 1 was to redeploy from Athens to Crete. Did this happen? If it did on what date and do you have any details on how many Ju 88 they had?

II./L.G. 1 was to redeploy from Athens to Benina. Did this happen? If it did on what date and do you have any details on how many Ju 88 they had?

I also found this article:
https://rommelsriposte.com/2008/12/14/i ... th-africa/

It says that I./St.G. 3 was in Crete on 17th Nov with 31 Ju 87 (26 serviceable) and was ordered to move to Derna on 20th Nov.

I also found this article:
https://rommelsriposte.com/2008/11/23/t ... perations/

It says that 9./Z.G. 26 was in Africa on 27th Nov.

Regards,

Neil

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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#6

Post by Andrew Arthy » 14 Apr 2019, 03:54

Hi Neil,

On 21 November 1941 23 Ju 87s of I./St.G. 3 arrived at Benina, as did twelve Ju 88s of II./L.G. 1, and nine Ju 88 of I./L.G. 1. On 22 November 1941 7./Z.G. 26 was ordered to Derna, and four serviceable aircraft moved to Benina on that day.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

WAKEN
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#7

Post by WAKEN » 15 Apr 2019, 01:01

Hi Andrew,

Many thanks for the info. A couple of follow up questions if I may?

Do you know how many unserviceable Ju 88s of I./L.G. 1 and II./L.G. 1 were left behind in Athens when they moved to Benina on 21 November 1941?

Where was 7./Z.G. 26 before it moved to Derna on 22 November 1941?

How many unserviceable Bf 110s did 7./Z.G. 26 leave behind when it moved to Derna?

Do you have anything on II./K.G. 26 moving to Crete in November 1941?

Do you have anything on when 3. Staffel of I./J.G. 27 that was converting to Bf 109F returned to Africa?

Thanks very much.

Andrew Arthy
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#8

Post by Andrew Arthy » 15 Apr 2019, 01:27

Hi Neil,

I would really like to be able to help further with this, but to answer those questions I'd have to go through quite a lot of document pages, and unfortunately I don't have the time at the moment. Hopefully someone else can step in and provide some answers. Sorry I can't be of further assistance.

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

Richard Anderson
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#9

Post by Richard Anderson » 15 Apr 2019, 01:56

Neil,

7./Z.G. 26 was at Trapani before going to Derna. The records I have don't identify where a unit left unserviceable aircraft when they moved.

In October 1941, II./K.G. 26 was at Eleusis with 6. at Buzeau, Romania. It moved to Kalamaki, so Zakynthos not Crete, in November without 6.
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

WAKEN
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#10

Post by WAKEN » 15 Apr 2019, 08:02

Thank you very much Andrew and Richard

WAKEN
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#11

Post by WAKEN » 22 Aug 2019, 09:02

This article gives the following unit strengths for 27 Dec 41: https://rommelsriposte.com/2008/11/23/t ... perations/
I./JG27 - 24 Bf 109F
II./JG27 - 24 Bf 109F
I./StG1 - 32 Ju 87
I./StG3 - 30 Ju 87

Does anybody have the late December strength for the following units:
I./LG1 - Ju 88
II./LG1 - Ju 88
III./LG1 - Ju 88
II./StG2 - Ju 87
III./ZG26 - Bf 110
III./JG53 - Bf 109F
III./JG27 - Bf 109F

In addition does anyone have any details on aircraft losses in the above units in the period 18 Nov 41 to 31 Dec 41?

Thanks

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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#12

Post by DrG » 22 Aug 2019, 22:53


WAKEN
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#13

Post by WAKEN » 22 Aug 2019, 23:47

Thanks for that... before I consider buying it can anyone confirm the level of detail that the book goes into?

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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#14

Post by DrG » 23 Aug 2019, 02:49

Here you can see a brief preview of the book: https://www.calameo.com/read/000796297cea4f3013ec4

WAKEN
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Re: Luftwaffe in Africa theater 18 Nov 41

#15

Post by WAKEN » 23 Aug 2019, 11:04

thanks, I have ordered the book.

Any information on units strengths in late December and losses in November-December gratefully accepted in the meantime...

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