22.08.2017

Research notes - Unit strength reports part III

As I have described the weekly and later on in the war strength reports from the Generalquartiermeister 6 Abt I thought I should present how these looked at Luftflotte level.

I have been fortunate to locate some examples of such strength reports from Luftflotte 5 - the center of my research interest - in the attachments to the war diary of said unit for October 1943.

These were collected daily and as you see they contained not only the number of aircraft and crews - but also the location of the unit.

Details on detachments were also included as shown in the below examples for II. and III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 5, which both had a detachment (Kommando - abbreviated Kdo.) in Alta and at Pontsalenjoki respectively.

I am always interested in the columns of such reports - what do they represent -  and what can we thus expect to find in more cryptic versions of these documents? By cryptic I refer to the teleprinted versions of these reports which would be sent to higher commands in abbreviated and shortened form - often as numbers with the letter x as divider.





For these reports we have the following columns:


  • Verband
  • Ort
  • Flugzeuge
    • Muster
    • Soll
    • Ist
    • Dazu zugewiesen, nicht übernommen
    • Klar
      • Einsatzhafen
      • Ausserhalb
  • Besatzungen
    • Ist
    • Einsatzbereit
      • voll
      • eingeschränkt
  • Einsatzfähig
  • Vortag
Translated this would read:

  • Unit
  • Location of the unit - airfield, landing ground or station
  • Aircraft
    • Aircraft model and subtype
    • Established strength (number of aircraft)
    • Current strength (number of aircraft)
    • Additional number of aircraft allotted but not yet taken on strength
    • Number of aircraft ready for operations
      • At the reported airfield, landing ground or station
      • In other locations
  • Aircrew
    • Current strength (number of complete crews)
    • Number of aircrew ready for operations
      • Fully ready
      • Limited readiness state
  • Summary - count of aircraft and crew to use for the tactical operational state of the unit on this date
  • Summary - count of aircraft and crew to use for the tactical operational state of the unit  on the previous day

And as always I check the Verteiler - the list of units which this document was distributed to in copy. As you can see here this copy is the one that was distributed to the Ia - the head of operations. In addition copies of this document was distributed to:
  • Chef der Generalstab
  • Two copies to different offices of the Oberquartiermeister
  • One to the Gefechtsstab located in Kemi, Finland
  • One copy to the chief engineer, Chef - Ing. 
  • The last copy to the Luftgaukommando Norwegen.
In following the paper trail one can expect to find copies of these in all the above mentioned archives or war diaries - and although most of the Luftwaffe archives was destroyed you can get lucky!

Enjoy and have a nice day!    

22.03.2017

Daily eBay scan - He 59 attached to the KGr.z.b.V.108 in Bergen most likely early April 1940

Another interesting photograph currently on offer to the highest bidder, a very nice photograph of an Heinkel He 59 in a Norwegian Fjord.



The aircraft obviously originated from the Küstenfliegerstaffel 3./106 - as revealed by the code M2 + YL.

But there is another identifying feature in this photograph - the vertical bar with a superimposed number (seen in the photo as a ligth reflecting white spot on the vertical bar). This identifies the aircraft as belonging to Kampfgeschwader z.b.V. 108, one of the units composed for transport to Norway during the Operation Weserübung - the invasion of Denmark and Norway on April 9th 1940.

According to the war diary Quartermaster General (Generalquartiermeister) of the General der Luftwaffe beim Oberkommando der Marine, the 3./106 was one of several units that were to allocate aircraft for "Weserübung". On March 2nd 1940 the number of aircraft that were possible to allot to this "training exercise" were:

1) He 59 D
3/106 11
1/906 9
3/906 10
Schule Pütnitz 2
Schule Parow 2
Schule Bug 4
Nachschub:
LP Holtenau 7
Za Tr'de 1
2) He 59 E
Schule Warnemünde 11
Schule Pütnitz 7 ) Zusatztank und Rumpf_MG eingebaut bzw. einbaubereit
Schule Parow 1 )
Schule Bug 2 )
Schule Dievenow 8
Ergänzungs Gruppe 3

In addition, four He 59 D was at the Bachmann company, and two at the wharf at Pillau. These were counted as being ready for operations by April 1st, while two He 59 E from the Blindflugschule See at the wharf in Schleswig was not going to be ready for operations by the above given date.

So all in all 84 He 59 were supposed to be ready for operations in the airlift during the invasion of Norway by the count at beginning of March 1940.

All the He 59 was to be gathered at three locations, Wittensee, ZA Travemünde and Parow, while the crew were to be sent to Kiel were they would be briefed and then distributed to the above mentioned locations.

The available aircraft were to be distributed in 7 Staffeln of approximately 10 aircraft each - and the individual aircraft marked with coloured rings (we have seen that they ended up using vertical bars) and numbers. (Bezeichnung der Staffeln durch Farbringe und Nummern as it is written in German).

This aircraft was photographed in Bergen in western Norway. The order for the use of He 59 from the I./108 stationed at Norderney on Wesertag - April 9th 1940 - a unit consisting of 1/108 and 2/108 equipped with He 59 and 8/108 with Ju 52/See - was to transport an army infantry company consisting of 150 to 150 personnel from Norderney to Bergen.

You can in fact see a He 59 taking off - showing the same backdrop as in this photograph - in the following film on YouTube:




17.03.2017

Treasures from the archives Vol 03 - Location of further remains of the Luftwaffe on April 26 1945

Another little snippet of information from the archives - this time the location of the tattered remains of Hungarian and German air force unit as they were stationed in mostly southern Bavaria and Austria on April 26th 1945.

I have tried to color code the units a bit this time:

7 Jagddivision and subsidiaries in blue

Luftwaffenkommando 4 and subsidiaries in green

18. Fliegerdivision and subsidiaries in yellow

17. Fliegerdivision and subsidiaries in orange

8. Jagddivision and subsidiaries in red

Kommandierende general der Deutsche Luftwaffe in Ungarn in brown

Luftgaukommando XVII in purple

Kommando der Königliche Ungarische Luftwaffe in grey

Klick on the icons to get further information on units located at the site.

There is a bit of a mystery here also. According to most sources I have seen, the 8. Jagddivision - code name BUSSARD - was located at WOLFSLEITHEN.

The only Wolfsleithen I have found using my sources which are primarily the internet - is a reference to a field in a really old overview of property from Bavaria.

My guess has been that the 8. Jagddivision was located at a location which today is only a street name in Herzogenaurach called Wolfsleite. In fact there are two very similar names close to Harzogenaurach - the street mentioned above - and another street called Wolfsleithe in Cadolzburg.

It would be very interesting to see if the online community will be able to solve this mystery and come up with the exact location of the late war HQ of the 8. Jagddivision - so that all the Wolfsleithen followed by a questionmark locations given on various websites could be updated.


15.03.2017

Treasures from the archives Vol 02 - Location of the flying units of 7. Jagddivison on April 26th 1945

Using the report on the Dislozierung (location) of the units of the 7. Jagddivison reported by Major in Generalstab Ross at 2220 hours in the evening I have created the following map:


Treasures from the archives Vol 01 - The flying personnel of Jagdverband 44

Wading through the collection of documents amassed over the years one from time to time stumble upon a small interesting tidbit - a piece of information one want to share even if it has been published in altered or rewritten form earlier.

Going through parts of my collection of documents originating from captured German documents filmed at Alexandria, Virginia today, I found this message transcribed by me below.

It is the list of flying personell, ordered by rank, which was to form the I. Gruppe of Jagdverband 44 or JV 44.

It is in my opinion interesting to read these messages in unabridged and original form, and in the original language - it will ultimately lead to the ability to read condensed and translated work with a more critical eye.

This unit must have been the most top heavy unit of any airforce in times with regards to rank - the first 12! listed here would have been at least leading a Gruppe in more normal circumstances, the first 8 Geschwader or hold even higher commands.  The next 7 on the list from number 13 through number 19 would have been expected to be leading Staffel formations.

It is also of interest to note the units these pilots were amassed from - note especially how many experienced pilots that were now gathered in from the training units more as a last ditch effort to defend the last remnants of the failed Third Reich.

Enjoy!

And if you would like to read more on this intriguing unit I would suggest you start saving for a copy of the book by Robert Forsyth with Eddie J. Creek and Arthur Bentley - hard to come by but definitely worth the hunt!



+ KR LSMR 0183 27/4 2330 .=
AN LFL KDO 6, LOHENGRIN .=
- G E H E I M -

BETR : FERNMUENDL. RUECKSPRACHE MAJ. SCHUERMEIER - HPTM. GUTOWSKI 27.4.45. - FLUEGZEUGFUEHRER - AUFSTELLUNG J.V. 44. - 
ROEM EINS 
1.) GEN LTN. GALLAND STAB GEN D JAGDFLIEGER.-
2.) OBERST STEINHOFF J. G. 7.-
3.) OBERSTLTN. BAER E. J. G. 2.-
4.) MAJ. BARKHORN J G 6.-
5.) MAJ. HOHAGEN NACH LAZARETT-AUFENHALT.-
6.) MAJ. SCHNELL J G 102.-
7.) MAJ. HERGET REISESTAB GEN. KLEINRATH.-
8.) MAJ. BRUECKER ROEM EINS / K G (J) 51.-
9.) HPTM. KIRCHMAYR E J G 2.-
10.) HPTM. ESSER J G 106.-
11.) HPTM KRUPINSKI ROEM DREI / J G 26.-
12.) HPTM WUEBKE ROEM ZWEI / J G 101.-
13.) OBLTN BLOMERT FLG. L SCH. D LW.-
14.) OBLTN STIGLER E J G 1.-
15.) OBLTN FABER GEN D JAGDFLG.-
16.) OBLTN HONDT J G 11.-
17.) OBLTN WALTER J G 105.-
18.) OBLTN RICHTER E J G 2.-
19.) OBLTN GRINBERG J G 7.-
20.) LT STRATE ROEM EINS / K G 51.-
21.) LT FUHRMANN E J G 2.-
22.) LT BELL E J G 2.-
23.) LT HOFMANN ROEM ZWEI / E J G 2.-
24.) LT FAERMANN J G 7 ( IM GEGENSEITINGEN EINVERSTAENDNIS BEIDER DIENSTSTELLEN BEI AUFSTELLUNG J. V. 44).-
25.) LT NEUMANN J G 7.-
26.) LT ROTH ROEM DREI / J G 102.-
27.) LT SACHSENBERG ROEM ZWEI / J G 52.-
28.) LT SEUFERT E J G 2.-
29.) OFHR. WEINDL K G 51.-
30.) FJ.- OFW FROEHLICH K G 51.-
31.) FJ - OFW KAISER JAGDFL. HEIM BAD WIESSEE.-
32.) FJ - OFW SCHUHMACHER E J G 2.-
33.) OFW KLANTE E J G 2.-
34.) OFW DOBNING J G 103.-
35.) OFW HAASE 2./ J G 105.-
36.) OFW KNIER J G 101.-
37.) OFW NIELINGER J G 103.-
38.) OFW RECKERS J G 110.-
39.) OFW SCHWANEBERG J G 103.-
40.) FELDW. KAMMERDIENER FLG. L SCH D LW.-
41.) FW STEINER ROEM EINS / J G 11.-
42.) FW TRENKE ROEM EINS / K G (J) 51.-
43.) UFFZ. POEHLING 6 / K G (J) 51.-
44.) UFFZ. MUELLER 3. / FR FL SAMMELGR.-
45.) UFFZ. SCHALLMOSER E J G 2.-
AUF ANFORDERUNG J.V. 44 SIND KEINE FLUEGZEUGFUEHRER BISHER KOMMANDIERT WORDEN.-
ROEM ZWEI VON J. V. 44 WURDEN KEINE BILD - ME 262 UEBERNOMMEN.=
JAGDVERBAND 44 BRB NR 80/45 GEH GEZ. GUTOWSKI HPTM +



14.03.2017

6. Abteilung des Generalstabes der Luftwaffe (Generalquartiermeister) - part IV b

I just realized that I wrote the part a of this post in 2013 - time really flies! But finally I am back on track an continuing my paper trail journey into the archives of the 6. Abteilung des Generalstabes der Luftwaffe (Generalquartiermeister).

Last post presented the records as they were presented after evaluation and preparation - both as detailed loss records and as statistical information. I stated that I would split the part IV into two blog posts - after further consideration - and more records showing up - there might be more than two!

An intriguing question would be - how did these records get to the Generalquartiermeister 6. Abteilung? 

The answer is rather simple - under ordinary circumstances when the lines where open - these were transferred from the commanding units - the units at Luftflotte level - to the address O.K.L. Gen.Qu.6.Abt. (Kurfürst) using Fernschreibern - teletypewriters.

Kurfürst was the code name for the Reichsluftfahrtministerium - the building complex housing the RLM and presented in detail in part I of this blog series.

So - what did such a message look like and contain? I have been fortunate enough to locate a few from the Luftflotte 6 quite late in the war, and below you see an example of the first part of the message as it was prepared to be transferred


All the information necessary for the preparation of the loss records are contained in the documents - but the messages received at the Generalquartiermeister took another form. The document above was the one delivered to the people operating the Fernschreibern, the teletypewriters or TTYs as they are called in english. One of the examples of a TTY device was the infamous Enigma machine - which in addition to transferring the information also encoded it.

At the receiving end - after decoding - a message would look like this - and even if I have not been able to locate a genuine 6. Abteilung loss record - this is how the message would look - with the teletypewriter paper strips glued to a backing paper.


Entry 2., 3. and 4. of the above mentioned document ended up in the loss record of February 7th 1945, with lfd.Nr. 29, 59 and 28 respectively. And the records as they have been transcribed from the Gen.Qu.6.Abt. loss record into my database is shown below. Note that some abbreviations has been made with regards to the information - and that the aircraft codes have been omitted since none of these aircraft were considered as missing.

Entry #2 Loss record for 5.(F)/122 on January 18th 1945

Entry #3 Loss record for 2./N.S.G.4 on January 18th 1945

Entry #4 Loss record for 3.(F)/22 on January 20th 1945


For some reason record 1. is not present in the Gen.Qu.6.Abt. loss list - something I will have to investigate further.

Stay tuned for more instalments in this series - I promise that the waiting time for the next one will not be 4 years!

10.03.2017

Late war Luftwaffe airfields and landing grounds vol 01

I find a peculiar interest in locating the late war airfields and landing grounds, from where the remains of the Luftwaffe tried to stay operative.

During the latter stages of the war when the Luftwaffe retreated on all fronts - new landing grounds and airfields where steadily taken into use. These were photographed and information on them reported. Such reports can be found in the remaining war diaries of higher headquarters particularly.

I have used the nomenclature as it appears in the reports, and translated it to english for the readers convenience for Airfield Massin - if you have problems deciphering the information - just let me know and I will add further comments).

Note that I have used both the longitude and latitude as well as the Planquadrat information to try to lokate the sites. Since you only have minutes in the longitude and latitude reference, the given Planquadrat reference will give a higher degree of accuracy.

Flugplatz Massin 
D 10 441 Aufn.Dat. 8.3.45 (Photographic reference D 10 441, photographed on March 8th 1945)
Planquadrat 15 Ost 43 297
52° 45' Nord 14° 52' Ost (Latitude: 52° 45' North Longitude: 14° 52' East)
51 km NNO Frankfurt/Oder (Located 51 kilometers NortNortheast of Frankfurt/Oder)
3 km NW Massin (Located 3 km Northwest of Massin - todays Mosina)
keine Baulichkeiten (No buildings)
Abstellboxen u.Abstellplätze am N u.S.Rand (Revetments and dispersal (aircraft parking) on northern and southern edges of the airfield)
Größe 1050 x 110m (Size of the airfield 1050 by 110 meters)




Flugplatz Freiwaldau
D 10 445 Aufn.Dat. 15.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 52 515
51° 27' Nord
15° 06' Ost
35 km NNO Görlitz
2,5 km N der Ortschaft
1 Halle, Unterkünfte am N Rand
Abstellboxen u.Abstellplätze am S Rand
Größe 1000 x 950m




Flugplatz Powunden
D 10 457 Aufn.Dat. 9.3.45
Planquadrat 25 Ost 05 245
54° 53' Nord
20° 34' Ost
19,5 km NNO Königsberg Pr.
SO der Ortschaft
Hallen am N u.O Rand, Unterkünfte zerst.
Abstellboxen am N,O u.S Rand
Größe 1850 x 1250m





Flugplatz Wallmannshof
D 10 458 Aufn.Dat. 16.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 72 286
51° 47' Nord
17° 48' Ost
94 km NO Breslau
SO der Ortschaft
keine Baulichkeiten
keine Abstellboxen
Größe 1500 x 600m





Scheinflugplatz Karstenbrügge II
D 10 466 Aufn.Dat. 23.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 43 297
52° 45' Nord
14° 50' Ost
49 km NNO Frankfurt/Oder
4,5 km ONO der Ortschaft
keine Baulichkeiten
keine Abstellboxen
Größe 650 x 90m




Flugplatz Marienwerder
D 10 469 Aufn.Dat. 22.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 44 889
52° 45' Nord
14° 50' Ost
49 km NNO Frankfurt/Oder
4,5 km ONO der Ortschaft
keine Baulichkeiten
keine Abstellboxen
Größe 650 x 90m





D 10 472 Aufn.Dat. 23.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 44 853
53° 08' Nord
14° 46' Ost
35 km SO Stettin
SW der Ortschaft
keine Baulichkeiten
Abstellboxen am N u.S Rand
Größe 1100 x 280m




D 10 473 Aufn.Dat. 24.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 53 371
52° 33' Nord
15° 01' Ost
40 km NO Frankfurt/Oder
2,5 km S der Ortschaft
keine Baulichkeiten
keine Abstellboxen
Größe 500 x 200m




D 10 474 Aufn.Dat. 23.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 53 617
52° 26' Nord
15° 33' Ost
69 km ONO Frankfurt/Oder
2 km W der Ortschaft
keine Baulichkeiten
keine Abstellboxen
Größe 500 x 200m



D 10 475 Aufn.Dat. 23.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 53 615
52° 27' Nord
15° 35' Ost
73 km ONO Frankfurt/Oder
2,5 km NO der Ortschaft
keine Baulichkeiten
keine Abstellboxen
Größe 430 x 200m



D 10 476 Aufn.Dat. 23.3.45
Planquadrat 15 Ost 53 616
52° 27' Nord
15° 36' Ost
74 km ONO Frankfurt/Oder
2,5 km ONO der Ortschaft
keine Baulichkeiten
keine Abstellboxen
Größe 400 x 200m



16.02.2017

End of hostilities - Vol 03 - Sardinia - Villacidro - Part 2

In addition to the 12 Ju 88s covered in part 1 there were a coule of handfuls of other aircraft models found at Villacidro, and you can find them detailed in the table below.

No Type of aircraft Works No. & Acceptance date Markings Engine type and No. Remarks Loss record
13 Ju 52
W.N. on fin 3549 on rudder 22 
-
-
Wrecked
14 Me 109 W.N. 18454G white
-
Wrecked Info
15 Me 109 G W.N. 10895 H + on white band
-
-

Info
16 He 111 H-II W.N. 110157 I H x H (yellow) R
-
Wrecked
17 He 111 H.II W.N. 7112 I H x F (white) H
-
Crest. "Vestigium Leonis" in black on white shield.
18 He 111 H.II  W.N. 7257 I H x L (outlined white) X
-
Wrecked
19 He 111 W.N. 8125 I H x D (yellow) P
-
Wrecked
20 Fi 156 W.N. probably 0098
-
-
Burnt out

21Fi 156
-
-
-
Burnt out
Other aircraft models found at Villacidro

I have not been able to find loss records for the KG 26 aircraft listed here.

Maybe a KG 26 expert can give a hint towards why these were seemingly not reported in the loss records?

14.02.2017

End of hostilities - Vol 03 - Sardinia - Villacidro - Part 1

This post will contain details on the aircraft remains located on or around the airfield at Villacidro - the location where the second largest collection of Ju 88s were found on Sardinia.

I am writing this partly on request from a reader who work on Ju 88 units and wanted to see what was in the reports on that particular aircraft model.

There were 12 Ju 88s found at Villacidro - and the wrecks must have been in a reasonable condition - as identifying features were found on a lot of them.



No Type of aircraft Works No. & Acceptance date Markings Engine type and No. Remarks Loss record
1 Ju 88 A-4 Trop
-
3 Z - C (green) D
-
Wrecked
2 Ju 88 W.N. 2398
W.N. 3984
F I - D (white) H
-
Wrecked
3 Ju 88 A-4 Trop W.N. 1143 F I - D (yellow) T
-
Crest. Yellow lion with red tongue and claws on black shield. With Heidelberg written above
Info
4 Ju 88 A-4 W.N. on fin 5658 I H x D (blue) R
-
Wrecked
5 Ju 88 A-14 W.N. from main plate 088
014
4665
I H x B (blue) R
-
Wrecked
6 Ju 88 A-14 W.N. from main plate
088
014
4407
I H x B (outlined yellow) T
Jumo 211 J
Crest. "Vestigium Leonis". Lion in black on yellow shield. Info
7 Ju 88 W.N. 0140568 4 D x G (white) S
-
Crest. Yellow shield with black diving eagle.
8 Ju 88 W.N. 0144408
-
-
Crest. "Vestigium Leonis", black lion on yellow shield. Info
9 Ju 88 A-4 W.N. 0144320 I T x C (outline yellow) T
-
Wrecked Info
10 Ju 88 A-4 W.N. 0144285 I T x D (outlined white) S
-
Wrecked Info
11 Ju 88 A-4 W.N. from main
plate
4587 
I T - D (blue) R
-
Wrecked Info
12 Ju 88 A-4
-
I T - F (outlined yellow) T
-
Wrecked
Ju 88s found at Villacidro

There are a few interesting features here - note that the aircraft unit codes are written with a capital I (Italy), and not the number 1 (one). This is most likely due to the fact that the messages were transferred using radio and/or teleprinter equipment - and later written up based on that communication. I have seen a lot of the same in German communication on teleprinter strips and there they often use for example "roemisch 3 KG 54" to state that he communication relates to III. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 54.

What we have here is a nice collection of  KG 26 (code 1H and 1T), KG 30 (4D), KG 76 (code F1), KG 77 (code 3Z) aircraft.

The report I am quoting is produced after November 24th 1943 - and one of the III./K.G.26 aircraft listed here was recorded as lost on November 18th 1942 (note the interesting location name in the German loss record!):

http://www.aviationhistory.no/ref_db/lw_loss_public.asp?lossid=144011



08.02.2017

End of hostilities - Vol 02 - Sardinia - Olbia

Second part of this series will detail the information on aircraft found on the airports in the Olbia area.

In the list wreckage is listed as being located in three places:


  • On the airfield Vena-Fiorita, which should be the current Aeroporto di Olbia Venafiorita
  • In a location called Posiana - Ettore - I wonder if this is on the street Via Ettore Pais between Spiaggia Bianca and Golfo Aranci - maybe some Italian friends can help us out here?
  • The third location is just stated as in the vicinity of Olbia. 

The aircraft remains located at Posiana - Ettore was a Bf 109G-6, from III./JG 77 - given away by the fact that it carried the well known crest with a wolfs head and the motto Wanderzirkus Ubben. The aircraft was dismantled for shipping, and the markings as given by the document was apparently 1 + X painted over J + X. My theory is that the tactical marking on the aircraft was '1', and that the J and X are the remains of the Stammkennzeichen.

In my opinion this is the remains of Bf 109G-6, WNr 18254, where the J + X refer to the remains of the Stammkennzeichen SO + JX, but in the report referring to the underwing markings which would read S + O on one wing and J + X on the other wing.

I have not been able to tie this bird with 100% certainty to the III./JG 77 during their stay at Sardinia - but there is one loss which could be referring to this - obviously with an incomplete WNr 1825:

http://www.aviationhistory.no/ref_db/lw_loss_public.asp?lossid=126146

I have not been able to locate a loss record for WNr 18254, I would just love it if someone came up with a comment to this post which was relevant to solving this!

More to follow on the other airframes in the Olbia area later this week...


07.02.2017

End of hostilities - Vol 01 - Sardinia

This time I am moving to another area. As I realise that the time I use for a more research intensive blog post is too long - I would like to put in some short blog posts to keep posting on a more regular basis in a hectic day to day life.

Even so - the post is based on use of period archival references - this time coming from the National Archives in London.

The report I am quoting gives some interesting insight into the meticulous work the allied forces did as they overran German occupied territory or the territories of their allies.

As the title suggest, I am starting with a report on Sardinia with an overview of the aircraft inspected on the various airfields there. As my family has a special relation to this island I fould it a nice place to start. Today known as a holiday island - then very much a part of the defence of the 'soft underbelly of Europe'!
CONFIDENTIAL
ABANDONED ENEMY AIRCRAFT - SARDINIA

Signals have been received giving details of 121 aircraft inspected on the airfields in Sardinia, bringing the total for the Italian campaign, including the aircraft examined in Corsica, up to 1643.

SARDINIA

SARDINIA BORORE
1
Me 109
MILIS
5
He 111
1
Fw 190

1
Fi 156
ORISTANO
1
Ju 88

1
He 111

5
Ju 87

1
Fi 156
OTTANA
1
Ju 87

8
Fw 190

1
Fi 156
SENORBIA
8
Me 109
DECOUCMANN
6
Ju 88

8
He 111

1
Ju 87

1
Me 410

7
Me 109

1
Fi 156
VILLACIDRO
12
Ju 88

4
He 111

2
Me 109

2
Fi 156

1
Ju 52
ELMAS
19
Ju 88

9
He 111

3
Me 109

1
Do 24

1
Fw 200

1
Go 242
MONTSERRATO
2
Ju 88

4
Me 109

2
Go 242
TOTAL
121


I will come back with more - as an updated reported more than doubles this number - ending up at 278 aircraft!