Flak Abteilung 469

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

paul peters
Flak Abteilung 469
Sat Mar 13 20:46:28 2004
217.123.103.125

Are there any specialists on this board who could tell me more about Flak Abteilung 469, such as type of guns. In October 1944 they achieved their 100st victory near the river Meuse in the southern part of the Netherlands. All info welcome.
Paul

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve W.
Flakscheinwerfer-Abt. 469(v)
Sun Mar 14 01:35:14 2004
64.12.116.196

The Flak-Abteilung bearing this number (469) was a searchlight (Scheinwerfer-) Abteilung (= Battalion). On 18 Oct 44 it was located in the s'Hertogenbosch area of Holland under Flak-Rgt. 100. It had searchlights rather than Flak guns. Searchlight units were "credited" with victories the same as the regular Flak units, only they were viewed more as "assists" instead of shoot-downs. You can find additional information about it at website www.ww2.dk .

Steve W.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

paul peters
Fl. Abt. 469
Sun Mar 14 17:47:49 2004
217.123.103.125

Steve,
Thanks for your reply. The "Kriegstagebuch of 88AK" tells that this Abt. shot down its 100st a/c. No other unit is mentioned.
Paul

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve W.
Hmmmm.......
Sun Mar 14 21:42:39 2004
205.188.208.75

Do you suppose it's possible that in the crisis of the summer of 1944 in the West the Abteilung somehow acquired or incorporated some stray Flak-Batterien equipped with light or heavy guns? That would not normally be the practice for a searchlight unit, but in the confusion of the withdrawal from France some pretty strange things happened. I bring this up because of the high-quality primary source you are using. Accordingly, I would say that the matter is still open to discussion in the hope that some confirmation can be obtained to tilt the probability one way or the other.

Steve W.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

paul
Flak Abteilung 469
Mon Mar 15 21:40:31 2004
217.123.103.125

Of course it is a possibility that in the hectic days of October 1944 with the Allies advancing to the river Meuse the Germans put retreating or stragling Flak units under command of a still good operating unit to protect the rivercrossings of the Meuse. But it must have been an experienced unit as they scored their 100st victory (according KTB)
Paul