Books on KG 26

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Mike Heslop
Convoy KMS 31 Attack by KG 26 Oran 11-11-1943
Tue Feb 5 21:15:15 2002
195.238.2.213

On 11-11-1943 about 40 miles from Oran in the Med, convoy KMS 31 was spotted by single aircraft at about 6 pm
this aircraft radioed back information about the convoy and subsequent attacked by about 53aircraft from K.G 26 assisted by K.G.100 followed.
four ships were sunk including the Belgium ship SS Carlier
seven aircraft were shot down including the original spotter plane.

How can I find any details of these units, where they were based.and who was involved
reply in English if possible.

Any information at all will be welcome

Regards
Mike Heslop
England

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Rabe Anton
KG 26 Attack on Convoy KMS 31
Tue Feb 5 21:59:37 2002
198.26.123.36

Mike,

Ah! A nice worthwhile query you have there.

In my opinion, as almost always with good historical methodology, you should begin with the most general sources, i.e., the literature. This means searching the official British histories of the war with especial focus on the naval war in the Mediterranean. The Air Historical Branch of the Royal Air Force has very fine semi-published volumes on the air war in the Med which will doubtless include this convoy attack. Hinsley, et al, British Intelligence in World War II, may very well comment on the intelligence dimensions of this attack.

Torpedo los! is a German-language unit history of KG 26. It is, so far as I know, the only organizational history of KG 26 available.

My file copies are not to hand, but I believe it very likely that ULTRA: Main Series of Signals Conveying Intelligence to Allied Field commands (NY: Clearwater Publishing, 1979) will provide a few signals intercepts
related to German air activities on 11 November 1943.
A librarian can assist you in locating this microfilm.
The original materials, of course, are lodged in the PRO,
and examining them there might very well be easier than
obtaining the requisite microfilm.

Good luck on your research.

RA

[Richard T Eger]

For a discussion of KG 26 Ju 88 and Ju 188 losses in Norway in 1945, including book references, see the topic "Museums with Luftwaffe aircraft - 3" on the "Archives in Scandinavia" forum.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

David Pausey
Achtung Torpedos los /Schmidt BOOK review needed.
Sat Feb 15 10:50:13 2003
195.92.67.68

Hi
Can some one tell me if this a good book on KG26's opp's & does it have a loss list?.Is it worth buying?
Best Wishes
David

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

BN
normawlnj@aol.com
Torpedos los!
Sat Feb 15 11:29:29 2003
195.93.33.182

Has c. 30 pages of losses, by Staffeln. Not a comprehensive history in the style of Balke's history of KG2. I found it to be a rather 'patchy account that looks briefly at the principal areas of KG26 ops. However, given that histories of Luftwaffe units are few and far between,it is,perhaps, worth buying for that reason alone.
BN

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

David Pausey
Many thanks BN. (nm)
Sun Feb 16 20:13:16 2003
195.92.67.68

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Nick Beale
Achtung, Torpedos Los!
Sun Feb 16 18:07:02 2003
212.159.50.176

It has some quite interesting recollections in it (the author was a KG 26 Staffelkapitän IIRC) but don't trust it 100% on the specifics. For instance, he gives a vivid account of an attack on the Allied convoys coming from Corsica in August 1944 to land troops on the French Riviera.

Just one problem with that: I've done a fair bit of research on the Luftwaffe in this campaign and the convoys weren't attacked while at sea, only once the landings were in progress. I guess he's confused this with another action.

Also, the extewnsive loss lists of personnel may be helpful but lack details of the aircraft, precise locations, times and all the other stuff you'd hope to find if you had the original Verlustmeldung.

My copy's a softback which keeps the cost down a bit.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

David Pausey
Hmm food for thought there Nick,Thank you (nm)
Sun Feb 16 20:14:26 2003
195.92.67.68

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Jim P.
Unfortunately that is the problem with....
Mon Feb 17 00:33:24 2003
67.242.219.141

'recollections'. Memories aren't all that accurate. I've heard the same from numerous sources -- why, or how, would someone remember specifics from 60 years ago? For instance, Adolf Glunz, while with JG 26, flew at least 30 different airplanes as recorded in his logbook(s) up until 1944. After that there are no details at all.

[Richard T Eger]

The reader is referred to the "References & Reference Materials" forum, the "Books on Luftwaffe flying schools - 2" topic.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

For discussion and references on KG 26, the reader is referred to the thread "Books on attacks on ships - 3" on the "References & Reference Materials" forum.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

From within a thread on 12 O'Clock High!:

Johann Palsson
Re: Junkers Ju 88 ISBN 1-86126-431-3
Mon Sep 1 12:26:33 2003
130.208.240.126

Have those individual accounts been published before?

Are there accounts about KG30 and KG 26, other then those from the book of: Stahl, Herrmann, Baumbach or Rudi Müller?

Regards,
Joahnn Palsson

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Bob
USS Lansdale DD426
Wed Oct 1 16:54:22 2003
66.202.87.42

Can anyone tell me who sank the USS Lansdale (dd426) on 20 April 1944? What type of aircraft, etc. and any other information would be helpful. A good friend's uncle was on board and told me of his experience.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Steve W.
Lansdale
Wed Oct 1 17:19:08 2003
64.12.96.139

"20.4.44: III./KG 26, together with I. and III./KG 77, flew an evening torpedo attack on the 87-ship convoy UGS 38 eastbound from Gibraltar and shared in the sinking of 3 freighters and 1 U.S. destroyer (USS Lansdale) while losing one Ju 88A-4."

The KG 26 unit history by Rudi Schmidt does not cover the attack and there is no unit history for KG 77. Consequently, it's not possible to identify which Ju 88 crew dropped the torpedo that sunk the Lansdale.

Steve W.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Bob
Re: Lansdale
Wed Oct 1 17:26:23 2003
66.202.87.42

Thank you Steve.

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Laurent Rizzotti
Torpedoing of HMS Arethusa on 18 November 1942
Wed Apr 21, 2004 10:20
62.34.213.6

At 18h00 on 18th November 1942, Arethusa in company with the 15th Cruiser Squadron was in approximate position 33 degrees 39 minutes North, 20 degrees 47 minutes East, covering the convoy Stoneage sailing from Alexandria to Malta.

At 18h05 she was attacked by two or three torpedo bombers (no more details in reports) and seriously damaged by one torpedo hit.

I'm searching the unit and nationality (German or Italian) of the attacking planes.

Thanks in advance

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Ed West
German
Wed Apr 21, 2004 21:58
64.7.186.133

I have no other details.

Source:

http://www.hms-arethusa.co.uk/letter.html

Regards,
Ed

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Laurent Rizzotti
Thanks but...
Wed Apr 21, 2004 22:29
212.194.95.113

Most probably in this case the source for the nationality of the attacking planes is British, and so not 100% reliable.

In all what I have found on this attack, I have never seen the plane type identified in the British reports.

In many cases, British saw Germans planes when there were in fact only Italians.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Antonio Maraziti
German He.111
Wed Apr 21, 2004 22:54
82.51.151.148

It was a German He.111 of KG.26.
Source:
"Le opeazioni degli aerosiluranti italiani e tedeschi
in Mediterraneo", STORIA Militare n. 42, March 1997

Antonio

(Altavista translation of book information:

"Le opeazioni of the Italian and German torpedo bombers in Mediterraneo", Military HISTORY n. 42, March 1997

Regards,
Richard)

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

John Manrho
Confirmed by KG 26 book
Wed Apr 21, 2004 23:11
81.205.242.244

The attack was executed by 6 crews of 6./KG 26 (He 111), 2 crews did not return. Source: KG 26 book by Rudi Schmidt, page 153.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Laurent Rizzotti
Thanks a lot
Wed Apr 21, 2004 23:57
212.194.95.113

That was exactly what I was searching.

As a bonus, I would like to konw if you have the names of the two lost crew, to have all the killed/missing of this battle.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

John Manrho
Only one....
Thu Apr 22, 2004 21:02
81.205.242.244

17-11-42, He 111H-6, WNr. 4569, 1H+AP, 6./KG 26
Ogfr. Franz (or Hans?) Fritz
Ofw. Martin Graf
Uffz. Paul Gottschlich
Uffz. Wilhelm Baier
Ogfr. Georg Mack

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Laurent Rizzotti
Thanks again. I guess all were MIA ? (nm)
Fri Apr 23, 2004 20:46
212.195.167.118

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

John Manrho
Not sure....maybe Baier survived, check WASt (nm)
Fri Apr 23, 2004 21:13
81.205.242.244

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Laurent Rizzotti
OK, Thanks again (nm)
Fri Apr 23, 2004 21:43
62.34.126.201