Z srt Sea sa aaa RT a My Bada TMG Gs) oa EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 1933-1945 |LUETWAFEFE SUPPORT UNITS support units involved in command and coordination, administratio communications, courier duties, logistics, training, research and development, ambulance services, search and rescue, weather reconnaissance, aircraft retrieval and salvage ‘operations, field repair, aircraft and tactics development, airfield maintenance and security, propaganda, photo-mapping, mine-clearing, target-towing, aircraft ferrying service, and the evaluation and monitoring of enemy forces. Over 60 per cent of the Luftwaffe’ manpower was assigned to the Flak branch with the bulk of the remainder in the support, command and administrative groups mentioned above. Only a fairly small fraction were actually in the more well known operational fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, transport and ground-attack units that have been documented in so many of the books on the Lufiwaffe. This book covers many of the units in these functional areas 48 well as some combination support and operational units. Only selected units are documented because it would be impossible to thoroughly cover all the thousands of support units, many of which have very little known information and with others only known by their name.’The book concentrates on the units that existed during the war years and does not include those from the 1930s. The training schools were a huge and multificeted organisation and were assigned a large proportion of Luftwaffe manpower and aircraft. They provided training and evaluation for pilots, radio operators, flight mechanics, aircraft gunners and all the other flight crew and support personnel. The schools had the primary mission of training but also had personnel and aircrafe devoted to communications, courier, parts supply and other support flights. Many of the schools also had a small Bergekommando to retrieve and salvage their aircraft that came down in theit immediate area. Aircraft made emergency landings due to fuel shortage, engine problems and other factors and could often be made ready to fly back by simply bringing fuel to the site, doing minor field repairs or towing the aircraft back. The Bergekommando would also salvage and clean up the sites of more extensive crash-landings and other aircraft crashes. The training schools often had a repair facility at theit main bases to do small to moderate repairs with the aircrat later being test flown by a Prifllieger, usually one of their instructors or other staff pilots. The Luftwaffe training organisation has been thoroughly: covered in a two-volume set called Die Flugzenghilrer ~ Ausbildung der Deutschen Lafiwaffe 1935-1945 by Sven Carlsen and Michael Meyer and will not be included in this book. However, the training function was conducted as a subordinate duty in many of the units discussed in this book. Operational units were ako responsible for this _ finetion wit having fairly extensive training duties in their Stibe, Einsatzkommando, of any major airforce, the Luftwaffe had a very large and diverse number ofLUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Stabe tab was a headquarters unit, which was usually responsible for a wide variety of Aw including both operations and support. While itis true that many of the Stibe {were in operational units and planned, controlled and evaluated combat missions, they were alo responsible for support of the men and the administration of their subordinate unit. This could include continued training, communications, courier duties, record keeping, discipfine, mail procesing, promotions/demotions, and requesting and providing replacements, new equipment, ammunition, aircraft, vehicles, maintenance, repair, radio support services, gasoline and the basics such as food, clothing and shelter. The Stab or headquarters staf required some second-line aircraft in a Stabskette or Stabschwarm to carry out these communications and other support functions. Usually if the number of assigned aircraft was in the one to four range they would be in a Stabskette or Stabsschwarm although if it was a large ‘or important headquarters the required aircraft could range anywhere from 5 to 40. In the later case, a separate Flugbereitschaft was normally established and attached to the Stab. The mix between operational and purely administrative, logistical and other support functions could vary greatly from Stab to Stab with units such as Luftparks, Fliegerhorstkommandanturen and au-Kommandos being almost purely administration and support while at the other end of the spectrum a Stab ftom a Jagdgeschwader or Kampfgeschwader would be heavily weighted to the operational side. As an interesting sidelight of an example of a Stab at the extreme side of operations is the Stab/JG 26 starting with Adolf Galland when he was Kommodore and reaching its peak under the command of Major Josef Pips’ Priller. The practice of bolstering the strength of the JG 26 Geschwaderstab began during the Battle of Britain, Soon after Adolf Galland assumed ‘command of JG 26 in August 1940 he began rotating the Staffeln of the Geschwader through ‘Audembert, his headquarters airfield, The Staffel so chosen was called the Fihrungsstaffel, or leader's Staffel, and together with the Stabsschwarm was known as the Fiihrungsverband, or leader's formation. Documentation is lacking, but Galland probably wanted 2 close-up look at his Staffelkapitine, several of whom were quickly transferred from the Geschwader. The practice was resumed when the Geschwader returned to the Channel coast in mid-1941 Galland has stated that he wanted a personal look at the new replacement pilots, but nwo other reasons for maintaining the Fiihrungsverband can be posted: ‘The RAF was just beginning its non-stop offensive. Their formations were initially small, penetrations were shallow, and the new Luftwaffe ground control system had very little time to put its fighters into contact with them. A small formation such as the Fihrungsverband could scramble, gain altitude, and reach the intruders quickly. In the Jagdwaffe tactical system, the leaders scored most of the victories. The ambitious Galland was one of the top-scoring Experten, and with a dozen Messerschmitts guarding his back could attack formations of any size with impunity. ‘The Fithrungsverband lasted through Galland’s tenure as Kommodore, but may have been abandoned by his successor, Major Gerhard Schépfel. When Major Josef Pips’ Priller took over the Geschwader in January 1943, he quickly named it a Fuhrungistaffe. But far more drastic changes in Geschwader organisation were coming. It had been decided in Berlin to send all of JG 26 to the Eastern Front, in exchange for JG 54.The exchange was to be made by Gruppen and Staffeln to ensure continuity of defensive coverage in the West. The frst units to head east were L/JG 26, with 1./JG 26, 2./JG 26, and 3./G 26. Next went 7./JG 26, nominally part of I1L/JG 26. All were operational on the northern sector of the Eastern Front by the end of February. Their replacements were IIL/JG 54, with 7./JG 54, 8./JG 54, and 9./JG 54; and. 4.G 54, nominally part of IL/JG 54. The units had arrived on the Channel Front by mid= February. The 4./JG 54 was merged smoothly into IL/JG 26. But IL/JG 54, a major command, had to enter combat as a whole unit, and after six weeks of training Priller concluded that it was still not up to the strenuous conditions on the Western Front On 27 March, therefore, III/JG54 left the Channel Front for northern Germany. Major Priller’s pessimistic reports to Berlin caused a reversal of the decision to bring the rest of JG 54 to the west. The Geschwader exchange was at first postponed, and then cancelled with plans for L/JG 26 and 7./JG 26 to return to their home Geschwader at the appropriate time. Priller’s Geschwader now contained five experienced JG 26 Staffeln, 4./JG 54, and three new Staffeln just in the process of forming, but only two Gruppenstibe to command this mélange in the air. The new Staffeln resulted from General Galland’s master plan for theUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS E expansion of the Jagdwaffe, in which each Gruppe would be expanded from three to four Suafféln. Ie had been anticipated that JG 54 would soon replace JG 26 in the west and woul add the Staffeln to its three Gruppen; thus the new Stafeln were given JG 54 designations 10./IG 54, 11./)G 54, and 12./)G 54. A the beginning of April 1943, Priller came up with a new, totally ad hoc solution to his command-and-control problem — a Geschwadergruppe. 8./JG 26, one of the best Staffeln in the Geschwader, was ordered to leave IIL./JG 26 and join the Geschwaderstab and 6./JG 26 (the Fahrungsstaffl) at Lille-Vendeville.Priller now had a small Gruppe to lead in the air. The ground controllers treated it asa typical Gruppe, and Allied Intelligence knew it as the Lille Group’. IL/JG 26 atVitry now contained 4./JG 26, 5./JG 26, nd ({rom 1 May) 10./G 54. IUL.G 26 contained 9./JG 26, 4/NG 54, 11./JG 54, and 12./JG 54, On 28 July, 1943, 6./JG 26 returned to its parent Il. Gruppe in exchange for 10./JG 26 (by now renamed from 10./JG 54). The Geschwadergruppe abo picked up 11./JG 26 (ex-11./JG 54) at about this time. These were the two weakest Staffeln in JG 26, and Priller obviously wanted them under his close control. He now commanded (informally) a three Staffel Gruppe, but it had less capability than the previous version, On 6 September, 1943, IIL/JG 26 returned to France after several months in northern Germany and the Netherlands. All of the constituent units of the Geschwader were once again based in close proximity, and Priller, whose other responsibilities left him little time for combat flying, took the opportunity to disband the Geschwadergruppe, returning 10./JG 26 and 11./JG 26 to their parent Gruppen. He kept a Fihrungsstafel, however. 8./JG 26 joined the Stab on the tiny Lille-Nord field and remained under Priller’ direct control until the Geschwader transferred to Normandy on 6 June, 1944, at which time the Staffel joined its parent Gruppe. This Haine He 17 Hs We 48 coded SFWCA blnged to the Kore Fiungekoto vs photographed i Rusia cing the hen Logertarps wie renamed Ste Lufatenkormands Don. Notice the nd the wi ‘Stammbennesichon. The aterat hada RUMI Blak Groen ‘nd 71 Dak Grown Splinter eomoufage ‘cham with 5 ght Blo undesies4 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS (ofp. Heri eneter phonograph of he £1088 belonging to he Beschnader are luerbourg ard one passongor railed rash and Marat, Nort tree ndersides wh ¢ white ule bandUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 5 This photograph shows Msjr Gustav Stab ideo ofa Foote 198 This Hone! He 11H cade PBA FibrngstemeFiogertorgs. twas pied n bow te cock Th Ths Dar 258-5 belonged to tte Sit/Nachagd Divison 1 ‘nd as petographed ithe The aeaft6 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS prabeay 9 brown or sme ado yon fe band The nit ‘Stbmachyapé Dion 1 35th Stabapdsion 1 Stanagdon Wu Fo 888, WEN 018, ded H3sDF of te Stabletd Honvegen seheme with ight ble indore. Loft This photograph shows the Fessler 156 Corpossoy 96-7 variant coded Hos BE olnging othe Sit at Noragen ds the intr of 192-4 Nomey Iwas pained io ‘2 stondord Lutwate RLM 70.71 spite upper surface sche wt 5 Ligh Ble under suraces ‘and had yon ioe green o possibly hveUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 7 is Fol 1863 Storch’ coded KIRA was asigned tthe Korps FlangstttaUFlogrtrps and ltr ote Stb/utote 8. nish Syng ovr Russie ring tent summer a early autuma of 14) and was painted na standard RLM 70-7 oppor surface sinter ‘amoutog schome it 5 Light Bue under urtaces along with yoo furlage bd. Stab/Lufiflotte 6 Badge Messerschmitt Bf 110 ¢ This early Messerschmitt Bf 110 C coded K1+EA belonged to the Stab/Luftfiote 6 in Russia during 1941-42,8 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS A plot rom th Stab IL 3 geting i hs ‘ng gar preparation for a ight 038. The aera 38 eamoutagedin a RUM 70 ack Gren and 71 Cark Green upersuroce ssl schame wt 65 Ugh Bue undersises. closeup photograph of INiodrensen oct Relay This Cowan 4, WN 417, coded Ie, from the Staite 1 was photographed in Instr ine 198. ‘appear tobe painted ser overt wih black fades and an entire pana ront ofthe techieis 156 Cop Soe We 58, aed S816, rom the ‘Sab 1/06 54 was in Fld ring te witer of 10248 hada tanporary winter white por suace camoulage Ahk goon sinter pine ong it yon" fuseoge band and ‘Senmiennzochen as pated hock Tis 1866-2 Store ed NAH was ‘pnd oth StabUG 27 Wha he normal 7-71 spline oppor sitace Shame with 65 ight Bue inier surtaces. The rudér oaks te a gher Colour but that was st the refecton ofthe un UNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 9 veo a Wehumacht, intay dvison could be assigned ‘Storch Thus 1562p, WN 571, codes HD+, belonged ote Stab of the Gassdutchiond Pancorgrenadir Oision in Rusia. had the ‘sin enbiom pated onthe sid fh uselge ‘and was pied ina tended 707 sper Scheme wth yelow furalage band and underwcgtes.10 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Ins Storch belonging tothe Stn 27 woe Taha prob Nort atic in August 1912. Te 15563 We 7, coded oval had wat 2ppears tbe sand Yalow ln paint) ‘wth darker splotches (RUM 72 Sand Brown? ato had This 16.22, W.Ne 428, coded CM:DU belonged he ‘Sab/8Flakdlvision and was photographed ne water‘filed fon usin The Sov’ was painted in he stander splter camouflage scheme along witha yellw fselage band and most lay undensing ps. The photograph is aso of intarest bacaus it shows te amblem sed by ts unit This photograph shows a Fake Fw 19 tat was osed by tho Stab ofthe Wehrmacht ethisaberin dn NederlanderUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 42. Fliegerforstschutzverband, Erprobungskommando 40 and 41 ioker had rested a banc called the Junkers Abang Stadhecteca phn fener 13 bad ono fu A20 wee eqebpod wih mea ey Cae chanical priidaTwo Jacke JuW 38 tee sSdol coe dead coon ats ler The ceva had to wer prtcodve ties and casts te Hold oe Peele es . The first aircraft were Junkers Ju F13, coded D-63, D-168 and D-454 with the W 53 area Wir. 2502 coded D-II28 and WN 1602 soled Deas Al ae ancln wit te srption Tod dem Schiing- (Denon tc ern) ped cathe fucage ids Inthe fling yun ter experinons wee reaper a Dring shit prtns Junkers W Stand Fe 45 were equipped wih Neteeat OS BO a + Lswatécminaine Piogedimachecverband Th ont ans fot ceed eae ie Junkers W 33 sient ken Sve om the Jrkars Company aut eesti ae DYOKAN and WN. 12, D-ODAN, During 1939 ld Domior Do 33 Ronin eee ste D APY, D-AMII and D-AGFVAls drag 1999s ol bos cabns Cesed Thm od other Do 2 wee eq Wah aa eaten So hee ae ‘Surreal: (Songun yop Gur ng Ce Oe hig te ie a not wk wry wal eae Wonk eolased we Gar fos cangh hae Pe apes net dorloped by Bl You dar ed 2) aoe ot er a 1559 and TofS a tout of about S30 ighs were Mew ahich coed eee Sanne (November 1989 to Febrany 1940) Segura tn a ae Nohin (uomer 1945). During operation In TOH US Dads teas aie The Do 23 tna romsined active une September 94 when te la ee oe scoppel. Daring the summer of 93 spectoatly tiny Comte en Wall 58 veton, with te degnaien Pw 58 C-2/UG wae nodiiel tie eel spraying task by Weserflug. These aircraft then became the standard equipment of the unit thal 1845 Disig May’ 1943 Waclng al soiled Ge be of oie Sea RXFNM with anew dvie Ths comied of 0 sabes ner ch wing whic reg This photograph shows sme ofthe Fock a Fe 58C2U60F EprKioa that were instorage an 17 Aor) 1965 at Faber, Germany The aera wre a camouflaged scheme with 8 ight Biv undersides anda Yalow fsolage bond The mi sera was Wee 278, coded KB ond the one anh ft was We 128, ded 88.6H12 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS On | January 1944 while still based at Géttingen, the Fliegerforstschuteverband was renamed Erprobungskommando 40. During 1944 the unit alo operated from Weimar- Nohra (February 1944 to September 1944), Bayreuth (September) and Coburg, where six Fw 585 were destroyed on the ground by strafing Allied fighters on 12 September 1944, The unit was renamed once again on 22 January 1945 and became Erprobungskommando 41, Flying activities by ErprKdo.41 were limited in the remaining weeks of the war and the aircraft were stored at Miinster, Géttingen and FaBberg during April This photograph hows on o he Darin 1 23 belonging tothe ‘hogororstschae lasteter Xa the Smmlemzsichen visi, ees pied ith dark green upper Surfaces fahar a single folour RUM 7007 of possibya sinter Scho using bath Flieger- Colors an 65 ght forstschutzverband, Blue under surtaces. Badge General der Deutschen Luftwaffe and Kommandierender General der Deutschen Luftwaffe th-level_ commanding general ries. The first were general headquarter commands over a country or large regional area, and the second were general iquarter commands over a Luftwaffe wide functional area. They both were responsible for directing, administering, supporting and overseeing all Luftwaffe units and related functions in their area and always had a large Stab and often a directly reporting Flugbereitschaft or Verbindungsstaffel. Many were purely administrative and were mainly concerned with overseeing and directing the Lufigaukommando, logistics, personnel and other Luftwaffe support functions in their regional area or in their specialty function. Some were in active ‘operational combat zones and consequently became involved in the coordination and support of operational units. The following listing provides the reader with a broad overview of these command and support units. 1¢ General der Deutschen Luftwaffe (Gen.d.dt.Lw:) and Kommandierender General der Deutschen Lufewatfe (Komm.Gen.ddt-Lw.) were h yeadquarter commands and were in two different cate, Luftwaffe Regional Commands: Gen.d.dt.Lw.Kanalinseln ~ This headquarters command was responsible for Lufiwalfe operations and administration in the Channel Islands. The Stab was formed in October 1943, fiom the Stab/Flakbrigade 11 and was asigned the Feldpostnummer (FpN) L 45883. Ie was disbanded in May 1945. Gen.d.dt.Lw.beim Oberkommando der Kéniglich Italienischen Luftwaffe — W: formed in Rome, Italy on 10 June 1940 from the Stab des Luftwaffenattaché om and w, commanded by General Maximilian Ritter von Pobl. It was also referred to as the Verbindungsstab Htaluft Rom and was renamed Gen.d.dt.bei ItalufUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS Gen.d.dt-Lw.bei Htaluft ~ This headquarters Stab was formed in August 1941 fiom the Verbindungsstab Iealuft Rom, Ie was later renamed Stab/Gen.d.dt.Lw.in Italien in October 1941 and had the FpN L 16390, The Stab was later renamed again as the Stab/Lufigau- Kommando Siid in July 1943. This Stab also had a Flugbereitschaft which was formed in October 1941 and later became the Flugber/Lufigau-Kdo.Sid in July 1943. The Stab/Luftgau-Kommando Siid was actually formed in April 1943 from the Stab/Gen.d.dt.Lw. in Tunis and actually absorbed the Stab/Gen.d.dt.Lw.in Italien in July Finally, on 27 October 1943, it was once again renamed Stab/Feldhufigau-Kdo.XX VII with the Flugbereitschaft also being renamed accordingly. Both the Stab and Flugbereitschaft were disbanded in September 1944, Gen.d.Luftwaffenfiihrer Nord Norwegen — Was formed in June 19441 at Barcufoss where ie remained until being disbanded in January 1942. Gen.d.Luftwaffe Paris — This command Stab was formed in October 1940 from the Verbindungsstab des Ob..L. beim Chef der Militir-Verwaltung in Frankreich with the FpN. L 27248. It was disbanded on 29 September 1944, Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw.Danemark (FpN 1 40083) — The Gen.ddt.Lv:Dinemark was formed in Grove, Denmark during June 1941 from the Stab/Lufigau-Kommando XI and was commanded by Generalmajor Eduard Ritter von Schleich until I January 1944 when he was replaced with Generalmajor Andreas Nielsen. On 1 May 1944, Generalleutnant Walter Schwabedissen was named commanding General and on 1 October was replaced by General Rudolf Meister. The last commander was Generalleutnant Alexander Holle who was appointed on 23 December 1944. The Stab moved to Skanderborg in September 1944 and was redesignated as Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw-Dinemark (FpN L 34375) on 16 September 1944. In the same month a Flugbereitschaft was added from the Verb,Staffel/IV.Fliegetkorps. Attached units included the Jagdabschnittsiihrer Dinemark, Flugabwehrkommando Dinemark and Lufinachrichten-Abteilung 85. It was disbanded at the end of the war on 8 May 1945. Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw.Finnland — Formed on 1 November 1943 in Rovaniemi, Finland fom the Stab/Lufigau-Kdo.Finnland (FpN L 40083) and clements of Lufiflotte 5, it later became the Stab/Lufigau-Kdo.XVI on 19 December 1944 in Dresden. It was commanded by General Julius Schulz until 23 June 1944 when General Willi Harmjanz replaced him The Stab had a Flugbereitschaft attached to it which was renamed from the Flugber./Lufigau- Kdo.Finnland alo on 1 November 1943. This particular Flugbereitschaft was assigned the operational code ‘A2’ (Staffel letter A) and was later absorbed by the Flugber. /Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw.Norwegen in December 1944. Other units directly attached included the 13.Flak-Brigade and Lulinachrichten-Abteilung 82. Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw.Griechenland (FpN L 23107 & later commanding General of Luftwaffe administration and operations in Greece was formed on 10 February 1944 from elements of the Gen.Kdo./X.Fliegerkorps and also from the Lufigau Stab Griechenland (Feldlufigau XXIX) at Athens-Kiffisia. Ie was commanded by General Johannes Fink up to 11 September when Generalmajor Hans Korte was appointed. A Stabs- Kompanie was formed in March 1944 and disbanded on 2 October. Other attached units included the 19.Flak-Division, Stab/FAGr.4 and SAGr.126, The Stab itself was disbanded in December 1944. 32570) - The Stab for the Gen.d.dt.Lw.Mittelitalien — Was formed from the Stab/Fliegerfiihrer 2 (FpN L 52230) in February 1944 and later became the Stab/Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw.ltalien on 6 September 1944, A Flugbereitschaft was also a part of the command unit and came from the Flugber./Fliegerfiihrer 2 in May 1944, and later in June was reduced to Verbindungsstaffe Ie then became the Verb Staffel/Komm. Gen.d.dt.Lwitalien along with the Stab in September when the VerbStaffel/2.Fliegerdivision and the Flugber./Peldhufigau-Kdo.XXVIII_were incorporated. Other units attached include Lufinachrichten-Abteilung 90, Jagdiegerftihrer Oberitalien, Lufitransportfihrer Mittelmeer, 5.Flak-Division, 25. Flak-Division, 3.Flak- Brigade and 22.Flak-Brigade as well as other operational units. Both the Stab and the Verbindungsstaffel were disbanded in May 1945. 134 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw-Nordbalkan (FpN L 53040) ~ This headquarters command Stab was formed from the Stab/Feldlufigau-Kdo.XXX, part of the Gen.Kdo,/Il.Fliegerkorps and the Luftwaffenkommando Siidost on 29 August 1944 and was based at Zagreb, Croatia. It was commanded by General Bernhard Waber. A Verbindungsstaffel was formed in August 1944 (FpN.L 09473) from Verbindungsstaffel 400 and later became the Verb Staffel/X. Fliegerkorps on 20 November 1944. The Stab also had a Transportstaffel assigned to it, which was formed from the Transportstaffel/IlFliegerkorps in August 1944 and kept its operational code “C3” Stafel letter H). The Transportstaffel was disbanded a short time later on 25 September 1944 Besides the units above, also directly attached was Fliegerfihrer Nordbalkan (ater renamed as the Stab/17.Fliegerdivision), Nahaufklirungsgruppe 12, 1. and IL-/Schlachtgeschwader 10, Nachtschlachtgruppe 10 and 20.Flak-Division, Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw.Norwegen (FpN L 36018) ~This headquarters unit was formed in Oslo, Norway on 15 September 1944 from the Stab/Lufiflote 5 and the Feldlufigau Norwegen and was commanded by General Josef Kammhuber until 10 October when Generalmajor Eduard Ritter von Schleich was appointed for 2 month and followed by Generalleutnant Ernst-August Roth on 15 November. A Flugbereitschaft was attached which came from the Flugber./Lutflotte 5 at Oslo-Fornebu and was later bolstered by the addition of the Flugber./Komm.Gen.d.dt.LwFinnland in December. Directly attached were _hdfiegerfihrer Norwegen, 5.Fliegerdivision, 13.Flak-Brigade and 29,Flak-Division. It was ‘not disbanded until the end of hostilities on 8 May 1945. Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw.Ruminien (FpN L 18500) ~ Initially formed as the Befehlshaber der Luftwaffe Ruminien on 25 March 1944 from the Deutschen Luftwaffenmission Runminien and elements of Lufiflotte 4, and renamed as the Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw:Rumiinien on 5 May 1944, this headquarters unit was based in Bucharest, Romania and was commanded by Generalleutnant Allred Gerstenberg until May when he was replaced by Generalleutnant Rainer Stahel. Directly attached to the Stab was Jagdfliegerfihrer, Flak-Division 5 and Lufinachrichten-Abteilung 81. It was disbanded on 4 September 1944. Komm.Gen.d.dt-Lw.Ungarn (FpN L 54000) ~ This command staff was formed in Budapest, Hungary on 6 April 1944 from the Stab des Generals der Luftwaffe Ungarn which itself had just been formed on 19 March 1944. It was commanded by General Kuno Heribert Fiitterer and was redesignated as Lufigau-Kommando XV on 13 December 1944. Attached to the Stab was Lufinachrichten-Abteilung 84. Other Kommandierender General der deutschen Luftwaffe included _ the Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw.ltalien/Luftwaffenkommando Sitd, and the Komm.Gen.d.dt.Lw-Tunis ako known as Fliegerkorps Tunis, Luftwaffe Functional Areas: These departments generally had no practical function other than acting as a liaison and adviser to the Obd.L. regarding tactics, the relocation of operational units, planning. for personal supplies, et. The Generals did not command any unit beside their own headquarter Stab, During 1940-41 their title was“Inspekteur der ...” rather than General. They included the General der Jagdflieger, General der Kampfilieger, General der Schlachtflieger, Gen.d.Nahkampfilieger, General der Fliegerausbildung, General der Truppentechnik, General der Flak and many more plus the ones detailed below. Gen.d.Fliegerbodenorganisation und des Flugbetriebes — Formed in November 1943 from the Stab/Gen.d.Flugbetriebes which itself was formed in May of 1943. The Stab was later renamed as the Stab/Abteilung Luftwaffen-Bodenorganisation in 1944 and was eventually disbanded in May 1945 at the end of the war. Gen.d.Transportflieger — This commanding general headquarters Stab was formed from. the Transport Fliegerfithrer 1 in August 1943 and had the FpN L 52000. It was disbanded in ‘May 1945.UNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 18 Gen.d.Lw.b.Ob.d.H_ & Gen.d.Lw.b.Ob.d.M - Were only liaison offices between the Luftwaffe and the Marine (Navy) and Hi for their own Stab office although the Kurierstaffel/Ob..H. (later Kurierstaff Kurierstaffel/Ob.d.M. were directly attached to their respective headquarters Stab, +r (Army). The did not command any units except 110) and 4p of the port sid of he F104 fown by General tad ding his inspoeb0n tof he Jager Gesehwadern in 14242 Each nt pointed thei emblem nthe aie oie athernse splinter 7.71 camoutged cameutage scheme with 5 ight Bue lower srtaces Te ara as ungue becuse ‘ Jepdoeschuader emblons which were colectad during his spe tps to various Japdorppen and Sclachruppen during 192-2 ths Ju 522m tatographed in bean essignd tthe Foland and was itera Sb machine ‘ABOVE This view shows the port side of Sonera loftzou Keo Flo EF Closo-p of Goneral Gland a the controls of his personal ara the Soba Fh 14 PCL He alo bad enothor F106 ator wou the emblems that had the Stanmtsnneichen KesawLUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Wetterdienst the Wetterdienst (Meterological Service) started as a civilian operation in the 1920s Triiscomor ease evar to nde eater mtn at and all other civilian or quasi-civiian units, It was composed of a number of Wetterflugstellen (Meteorological flight bases) which flew local and regional weather data gathering fights from their home base using mostly light single-engine aircraft such as the Junkers Ju A-20 and Ju A 35, Focke-Wulf Fw 40 B, Focke-Wulf Fw 47 and Junkers W 34. ‘The localised weather information was supplemented by data through international cooperation to form a more complete picture of conditions. During the 1930s the ‘Wetterdienst became more and more important to the Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht in general and it was gradually mifitarised as an important arm of the Luftwaffe. There were fourteen Wetterflugstellen at the start of hostilities in September 1939 along with five Wettererkundungsstaffeln. (Wekusta), four of which were directly attached to a Lufiflotte through a subordinate Luftkreiskommando with the fifth being under direct control of the Luftwaffe high command. The high command knew that the international exchange of weather data would be mostly cut off in the event of a war, especially the information from the North Atlantic where weather fronts and storms traveled from west to east. Consequently, measures were taken to offset the loss of data by establishing a Zentrale Wetterdienst-Gruppe (main Meteorological Centre), equipping U-Boats with some ‘weather-gathering instruments and a means to report the data, converting a number of trawlers into ocean-going weather reporting ships (Wetterbeobachtungsschiffe), the creation of the Wekusta and Wetterkette units to provide regional and longer-range data by flying weather reconnaissance missions, and later by creating and establishing both automated and manned weather reporting stations often located on remote islands. The five operating Wekusta at the start of the war were Wekusta Ob.d.L. (Berlin-Gatow), Wekusta 1/Lutilotte 1 (Leipzig-Brandis), Wekusta 26 attached to Lufilotte 2 (Wesendort), ‘Wekusta 51 attached to Lufiflotte 3 (Langendicbach), and Wekusta 76 attached to Lufiflotte 4 (Zeltweg). The Wekusta were mainly equipped with twin-engine aircraft such as the He 111 J, Dornier Do 17 P and some Focke-Walf Fw 58 E because of their longer-range missions. The Fw 58 E ako became more and more common in the Wetterfustellen as the 1930s progressed Both the Wetterflugwtellen and the Wekusa flew daily weather reconnaissance flights to gather and record pressure, temperature and relative humidity at various altitudes and then forwarded that information to the Zentrale Wettendienst-Gruppe, which also obtained information from the other sources mentioned above, to develop an overall picture of conditions and forecasts. ‘The localised information was needed by a variety of units including training schools and the coastal artillery while the longer-range weather reconnaissance data often determined whether specific mission could be flown, diverted to a different location or route, or not flown at all As the Wettendienst and the need for information expanded, individual commands and schools, offen formed their own Wetterkette to have current information regarding conditions in their area of interest. The last thing a pilot trainee needed was to run into an unexpected storm or other adverse weather condition during a training flight. ‘Afier the start of the war, che Wetterflugstellen expanded into the occupied territories and new Wekusta units were formed to fly standardised routes into the enlarged operational areas. ‘The principal Wetterflugstellen during the war were Wetterflugstelle 464 (Dokudowo), Wetterflugstelle 464 (Schatalowka), Wetterflugstelle 1228 Udetfeld-Mielec, Wetterflugstelle Amsterdam-Schiphol, Wetterflugstelle Balkan at Belgrad-Semlin, Wetterflugstelle Berlin, Wetterflugstelle Breslau-Gandau, Wetterflugstelle Dievenow, Wetterflugstelle Dresden= Klotzsche, WetterflugstelleErfurt-Bindersleben, Wetterflugstelle Frankfurt/Main, Wetterflugstelle Hamburg-Fublsbiittel, Wetterflugstelle Handorf, Wetterflugstelle Kaukasus, Wetterflugstelle Kiel-Holtenau, Weterflugstelle Kiew-Postwolinsk, Wetterflugstelle Kénigsberg (later at Heiligenbeil), Wetterflugstelle Krakau, Wetterflugstelle Paris-Le Bourget, Wetterflugstelle Madrid, Wetterflugstelle Miinchen-Riem, Wetterflugstelle Miinster~ Loddenheide, Wetterflugstelle Nancy, Wetterflugstelle Norderney, Wetterflugstelle Pardubitz, Wetterflugytelle Pleskau, Wetterflugstelle Prag-Ruzyn, Wetterflugstelle Saarbriicken, Wetterflugstelle Saporoshje, Wetterflugstelle.Stettin, Wetterflugstelle Stuttgart-Bablingen, ‘Wecterflugstelle Viernes and Wetterflugstelle Wien-Aspern. There were other more temporary locations as many of the Wetterfhugstellen. had to move back away from the shrinking front lines in 1944-45, with many of them eventually gathering in Neuruppin where they wereThis Jukers J 880-1 caded 7H wes spre o Weta Dba in Norway ng he lt summer F192 The airerat ad I 2 Brey Gree nave minor pate srayd over fxbase 7071 spor The undeees were panied 65 in Be nde propel hubs nd bade were MBlct-reen UNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 17 disbanded. In April 1942, Wetterflugstelle Wien-Aspern was moved to Shatalovka-East where it was redesignated as Wetterilugstelle Schatalowka-Ost to replace the departed Wekuista 26. It later was moved to Orsha-South on 7 September 1943 and then to Dokudovo in June 1944 where it was renamed Wetterflugstelle 464. On 15 June 1944, a new Wekusta 26 (Ost) was ordered to be set up and it was formed by the disbanded Wetterflugstelle 464 and Wekusta 76/2 in July. Unlike most of the other support units, the Wekusta were assigned operational codes primarily because of their mixed operational/support role. Some of the Werterkette even had an opera their aircraft along with their code jonal code assigned and both types of units often developed an emblem to paint on GroBraum-Wettererkundungsstaffel —Was formed on 15 March 1938 at Berlin-Gatow to test various aircraft types to see which were best suited for weather reconnaissance, to test different measuring and recording equipment, to train crew members and meteorologists in related functions and navigation, and to develop procedures for weather areas. The Staffel tested and evaluated many different aircraft and determined that the Dornier Do 17, Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 86 were the best for the longer-range role. The Staffel was renamed to Wekusta Ob.L.L. on I June 1939, Wekusta Ob.d.L. - Wekusta 1/Ob.d.L. — (FpN L 05356) Established from the civilian Grofiraum-Wettererkundungsstaffel in June 1939, the Staffel remained in Berlin-Gatow for a time before moving to Oldenburg and finally to Bad Zwischenahn in early 1941. It had a large compliment of over twenty aircraft, which was much larger than an ordinary Stafel would have assigned to it.As war clouds started to loom, the Staffel was assigned the operational code “T5) (Staffel letter U) which was later changed to "D7" (Stafel letter H) in June-July 1942. After the ‘ar started, i¢ was transformed into a more military unit and was redesignated as Wekusta 1 Ob.dLL. in July 1940 and in August 1944 as Wekusta 1/OKL, The Staffel served as the premier Wekusta throughout the entire war and was disbanded in May 1945, Temporary detachments fiom this unit formed Werterkette Stavanger and Wetterkette West "VORA ater compleong he unt’ 0D mission Wekusta 1/Ob.d.L. Badge This head-on photograph shows J 8D, coded D7HLH of Wetuste 20 August 19218 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Wekusta 2/Ob.d.L.Badge ‘A Sonor. 880-1 ‘etonging to Welosta ‘Mtoe 1 was photographed in Paty dig 180, B7.6A and was aint nto factory ‘a 7071 splinter Tindal ererat Wekusta 2/Ob.d.L. ~ (FpN L 24693) Was formed at Oldenburg from part of Wekusta 1/Ob.d.L. in June 1940 and moved to its new base at Brest in July. [¢ was primarily equipped with the Heinkel He 11H which was gradually supplemented by the Junkers Ju 88 D-1 in early 1942, which was the best suited aircraft at the time for long-range weather reconnaissance flights. The aircraft served without an operational code until the Staffel was assigned the code ‘D7’ (Staffel letter K) in July 1942, and moved to Nantes where it was to stay for over two years before relocating to Burg, Germany in March 1944 for conversion training on the Heinkel He 177. The Staffel was ordered back to France in July 1944 and relocated to Mont-de-Marsan and in late July to Bordeaux-Merignac with KG 40.When the Allied armies broke out of Normandy, the Staffel was ordered to relocate back to Burg where it was disbanded in September. Wekusta 1/Lufiflotte 1 — (FpN L 32857) This Wekusta, assigned the code B7" (Staffel letter A), was formed on 1 June 1939 at Brandis and moved to ‘Stargard late August 1939 using He 111 J-1 aircraft to fly weather recon naissance missions over Poland in September. After the fall of Poland, the Staffel was moved back to Brandis and in February 1940 to Jesau, Germany Here the unit was re-equipped with Junkers Ju 88 A aircraft in the spring of 1941. Ie was moved again just before the invasion of Russia on 15 June 1941 to Jiirgenfelde and following up the advance of the ground forces relocated to Rakopolye, south of Pskov, Russia on 4 August 1941, to Korovye Selo on 9 October and to Gostkino near Luga on 15 November. During the Soviet winter counter offensive, it was moved back to Pskov on 13 January 1942 and then to Dno in April 1942. The Staffel began to fly regular bombing missions in addition. to its weather flights because of the lack of bomber Gruppen in the a -a during this period In April 1943, it was moved to Pskov once again and then to Jelgava, Latvia in February 1944, Finally, the Staffel ended up in Pirnu, Estonia on 28 July 1944 where it was disbanded on 31 July 1944, with ehe remnants being absorbed by 5.(E) Aufkl.Gr. 122. ‘Wekusta 3 — (FpN L 62875) Created from an expanded Wetterkette Stidnorwegen in January 194, this very small Staffel (usually only about five aircraft), continued to be based at ‘Stavanger-Sola, Norway. It retained the code ‘D7’ (Staffel letters VH to ZH) until isued the new code “4B” (no Staffel letter) in October of 1944. The Staffel flew Junkers Ju 88 D-1s and Ju 188 F-Is on weather reconnaissance missions over the North Sea and northern Atlantic, On 2 November 1944 the unit moved to Oysand, but because this had a short runway they had to stop at Orlandet to fuel up before starting a mission. The Staffel Tis photograph of Heike e118 fart ode unknown) teonaing © Wetuss 2086 ie be does show the ‘tafe Te ai had standard 7 salitr patter ith Sundaes wit on the propel snrUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 19 ABOVE This Honk He coded 87.68 tf ilaso Wu ABOVE: This Juns Wotusteuttone 1 sole nth 6 ight Ble Ades along wh 70 Beck Geen popaer (or 19K. Tho du 88 had @ torreon bes ‘shoe nl ete Wekusta 1./ - Lufilotte 1 Badge ae 7/27) ‘ Note’ og rh ais 4 Junkers Ju 528% of Junkers Ju 52/3m W.Nr, 6187, B7+AA of Wekusta 1/Luftlote 1. The aircraft was lost over the Baltic Sea on 25 June 1941.20° LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Wlaste 5 oe photo Banal Nowey is Heike He 115 cobed 10H of Woluste 5 Advent Sptzbergen sen, Nomey an 18 May 192 but brake trough wh tele ann gear. The Banat Norway ond there hod 2 07 ‘and 85 undersides ‘ton wih yl fuselage Ba. The rear remained there until the end of the war when it surrendered to British forces. The last missions flown were on 8 May 1945 when volunteer crews flew to Kurland (Latvia) 0 many where they surrendered. evacuate wounded soldiers and then on to C Wekusta 5 ~ (FpN L 13189) Came into existence in September 1940 and was formed from. an expanded Wetterkette Nord. During the first month of operations its losses were reported as Wetterkette/Lutiflotte 5 and not Wekusta 5. It was assigned the operational code“ IB" (Staffel letter H) in October which was switched to the new code“D7’ (Staffel letter N) in May 1942. The unit was based in Viernes, Norway and its atea of operations was the extreme North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. It was sometimes referred to as Wekusta/Lufiflotte 5 and both designations were listed in the loss record altho Wekusta 5. A Wetterkette was established at Banak in July 1941 to increase the range of ‘weather flights, which later became Wekusta 6.As the northern front started to shrink in 19-44, this Staffel was merged with Wekusta 3 on 23 October 1944 the official and correct designation was ‘Wekusta 6 ~ (FpN L 51638) Was formed from Wetterkette Banak on 12 September 1943 with the operational code ‘D7’ (Staffel letter P). It moved to Bodo, Norway on 4+ November 1944 as German forces were retreating south out of Finland and was disbanded shortly thereafter Wekusta 5. Badge‘Aor: This Heinkel Het H coded BoA was also otgraphed in the Meraoshorstiy ‘nando topo waa Zona. Fass on 20.4 182 was panto in ‘lack green and fark groan sinter pa surface wih light bve undersides tnd ad anor lo hselage Band ho proper siaers were pated whe. AGH Wie not vory ha his th oy tograph have of atasa 6 icra Jinks Jv a 8 ‘hing oom Barak, Non twas 8 former aera of Melua and had 2 facny 7-71 splinter Eamoufage witha yao tiog Band 2nd wit roel UNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 24 Wekusta 7 — (EpN L 62631) Attached to Lufiflote Reich for tactical weather reconnaissance, this Wekusta was established on 25 November 19444 at Brandenburg-Briest Ie primarily used the late version Junkers Ju 88 G-1 aircraft and was assigned the code "KA (Staffel letter A). On 10 February 1945 it was moved to Stendal and on 13 April 1945 via Uerersen to Husum, where it was disbanded and surrendered to British forces in eatly May, Wekusta 26 ~ (FpN L 32972) Was formed in June 1939 at Braunschweig-Waggum with the code ‘5M (no Staffel letter such as SM+C) and was attached to Lufflotte 2. At frst the unit was primarily equipped with Ju 52, He 111 J and Do 17 aircraft. The unit was relocated to Miinster-Loddenheide on 9 October 1939 and later to Kéln-Ostheim on 23 April 1940 in preparation for the coming offensive in the West. German forces advanced to Brussels Grimbergen in June and remained there for about a year flying misions over and around France and Britain. In August, the unit received some faster and heavily armed Messerschmitt BE 110 Cs because of mounting losses to the slower Do 17 and He 111 aircraft it had been using, On 4 June 1941, it was assigned to the base at Warsaw-Bielany in preparation for the coming attack on Russia where it was responsible for weather reconnaissance flights in the central sector. The first move forward was to Minsk in July and then to Seshchinskaya in early September, followed by another ptember 1941 were suffered during its months in Russia and it relocated to Wiirzburg (via Minsk and Finsterwalde) in mid November for rest and re-equipping with the Ju 88 D-1. The Staffel was ordered south to Trapani, Sicily and moved there between 28 December 1941 and 19 January 1942. A small detachment was sent to Crete on 20 May 1942 to cover the eastern Mediterranean and it was first known as Wetterkette Kreta and later Wekusta 26/1. It was re-designated 2s Teilstaffel Siid-Griechenland in July and moved to Tatoi from Iraklion in November. The main unit in Sicily began co fly more and more general reconnaissance missions and convoy escort missions in addition to its weather flights and these continually increased especially after the Allies occupied North Africa and invaded Sicily, Wekusta 26 moved to Frosinone, south-east of Rome, on 10 July 1943 and was subordinated under ‘Aufkl.Gr.(F) 122 where its role was completely tactical reconnaissance except for a small Meteorological Kette. On 13 September it changed bases again to Perugia where it was offically re-designated as 6.(F)/Aufkl.Gr.122 in June 194. nove to Orsha on 34 irly heavy losses This Arado Ar 22 ‘aro weNe 1012, coded TOES was 50d by Wott 5 fora shor tie inthe summer 18010 suppy weather Unrinatay the avert crashes ‘ear Dagar (near Bonk) Norway Story ater take-off forthe return tgh ‘2 Gemany on 25 August 188 and vasa complet ss. The Arado was painted 9 stand UM 7 Biack-reen ‘and 71 Dark Green spline upper surface oho wth 65 Light Ble underside. The Wotuste 5 ‘mbiom was pained ‘on just Bin the cock22 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Tis unter Ju 094 of Wekusta 25 as ptoagraphea in Ora, standard 7071 spier ‘ameutage scheme 70Bleck Green Pade. alo appears ndonving ts and probably hada yellow foslge band wl. Ini uncertin whether ths Janes 80-1 of Wekusta 27 ti had the oer Wekust 25, cade of sH orhad been remarked with the new Wekusta 27 ade 05H vas photographed 9 Tato Greece in 1363 ond mior squiggle spoted ‘overt base 70-7 “liner omoufege chem. Te fselege band should have ‘mgt eve Deen et ver yellow band om ts provi omer As already mentioned, a new Wekusta 26 (Ost) was formed on 15 June 1944 at Dokudovo in central Russia to support that sector of the front for Lufiflotte 6. it was assigned the code “SMV (Staffel letter U, such as SM+CU) and moved to Kolberg in December and later to Neubrandenburg where it was disbanded on 14 February 1945, Wekusta 27 — (FpN L 53048) Was formed out of the Teibtaffel Siid-Griechenland at Tatoi, Greece in June 1943 and assigned the code QS" (no Staffel letter) It flew weather and general reconnaissance missions for over a year before being moved to Semilin, Yugoslavia where it absorbed Werterflugstelle Balkan on 1 September 1944 as part of the general German retreat ), Hungary where it from Greece. In October it was relocated to Szombathely (Steinamangy was disbanded in December 1944, Wekusta 51 — (FpN L 02349) Asigned the code “47” (Staffel letter H), this S in Roth near Niirnberg during August 1939 with a compliment of Do 17, He 111 J and ufiflote 3. It was relocated to Langendiebach on 3 October 1939 in preparation for missions on the Western Front, and then after the French armistice moved fel was formed Ju 52 aircraft to serve again to Tossus-le-Buc, France. Weather reconnaissance missions were flown around the British Isles during the air battle and later included longer-range flights over the Bay of Biscay and North Atlantic. In September 1942, the Staffel was relocated to Nantes, France, then 0 Rennes on 1 August 1943 and to Tours on 13 June 1944, After che Allies started to break out of Normandy, it moved to Nancy for a few Ww September 1944. It was disbanded there on 24 October 1944, with the remnants b absorbed by Wekusta 1 -ks before going to Jiiterbog, Germany in East never materialised Jin June 1944 when Wekusta 60 — The plan to establish this unie for Lufiflotte 6 in th but the Lufiflote did receive its own weather reconnaissance Sta Wekusta 26 (Ost) was formed. iar Do 172-2 We 188, cobes Mok of Wott 26 sk, sei (0718 Sapamter 18 The reer usage was broken of eter har trom enamy te ur ‘isin or by an ‘enemy boning aac ‘nthe aril. Tho Dorner was pated i 1 stndard 707165 eckUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 23 Thi Hine He 114 ended sToGH of Wetusta 5 ats on an ail in France ‘waiting ts next msi The swastika {nd Boentrouze are the outine-oni syle she photograph vos probe taken in 1982071988. The Hein! wos painted ‘na sondard factory 7-74-85 point Wekusta 76 — (FpN L 00009) Was established to support Lufiflorte 4. Wekusta 76 was formed in July 1939 at Zeleweg, Austria with che code "52." (Staffel letter A). Te moved to Schweidnitz in Silesia to fly weather missions for the campaign in Poland and then back to Zeltweg in October afer the hostilities were over: The unit ‘was relocated to Wien-Aspern in early 1940 and mainly conducted flight taining there before being raised to operational tatus in April 1941 for the offensive in the Balkans. It moved to Plovdiv (Philippopolis) in Bulgaria on 13 April 1941 and then to Rzesz6w in south-eastern Poland in May where it flew weather reconnaissance missions during the opening phases of the invasion of Russia, In mid-August with the front moving eastward the unit vas ordered to Vinnits, south-west of Kiev where it stayed for over three months before moving to Nikolayev in October which was its home until August 1942. The southern sector of the Russian front expanded tremendously with the push into the Caueasus in 1942 and it was soon recognised that it was too large for just one Wekusta Pig: Thi Junkers Ju 80-1, coded ATG of Wetusta I was photographed in Nate, France {she crew as bonding for anathr masini 99 or 144. Iewas camoulsged in on uns fchame consisting of ight olor ether 65 Light Bus o 76 ight Gray over sprayed with 2 {ark color (ether 71 Dark Green or 7075 Dark Gro] wave mir squiggle. The code Twas ‘ry sma so this was probably a aplacement aircraft forthe 8D, WN: 4308, coded 4746 hat had toch nto Bay of Biscay in obrary TKS ator running out of Junkers Ju 88 A WANr. 5940, 52+RA served with Wekusta 76 and was lost in Russia on 14 April 1942.24 Its not hard dott ti Dorner o 17 Pat had Weng Rin Main’ on The photograph was taken i 509 and the Donor was pie is a standard 70-71 Spier upper srace vith 6 ght Bue undersides. LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS ‘inion whe Ie was decided to split Wekusta 76 into two and the parent Staffel was disbanded on 31 July 1942 at the same time that Wekusta 76/1 and Wekusta 76/2 were created. Wekusta 76/1 was moved to Mariupol and later to Novocherkassk in November 1942 while Wekusta 76/2 was relocated to Volchansk after forming to support the northern half of this sector. From. Novocherkassk, Wekusta 76/1 moved to Zaporozhye on 21 February 1943, to. Focsani, Romania in March 1944, Mamaia and Buzau in April and to Debrecen, Hungary in May. Wekusta 76/2 also began the long retreat back by moving to Nikolayev in September 1943, Odessa in November and Proskurov in December before leaving Russian territory for Jasionka, Poland on 29 January 1944, Both Wekusta 76/1 and Wekusta 76/2 ended up in ‘Szekesfehérvir, Hungary, SW of Budapest, where they were both disbanded in September 1944.As far as the code was concerned, the 52: (Staffel letter A) was on aircraft lost by both units although there has been some speculation that Wekusta 76/2 used the code ‘52: (Staffel letter B) ‘Wetterkette Nord ~ Was formed in April 1940 at Langendiebach with crews and aircraft from Wekusta 26 and Wekusta 51. As Norway was occupied, it moved to its new base at Stavanger where the aircraft flew their missions still marked with the codes of the former units. The Kette was expanded to a full Staffel and moved to Vaernes in September 1940 where it was renamed as Wekusta 5 the same month. Wetterkette Siidnorwegen — Also referred to as Wetterkette Stavanger, this small unit was formed in late 1941 asa detachment of Wekusta 1 Ob.d.L. to cover the gap in reconnaissance hts between Wekusta 5 and Wekusta 1 Ob.d.L.When the new operational code ‘D7’ (Staffel letter H) was assigned to Wekusta 1 in the summer of 1942, this Kette was assigned the Staff lettersVH to ZH for its aircraft, although in actual practice many letters from AH to ZH were reported operating out of Stavanger. It ull Staffel and became Wekusta 3 in January 1944 ns later expanded to a Wetterkette West — This unit was also a detachment of Wekusta 1/OKL at Rhein-Main airbase to provide service for Lufiwaffenkommando West. The Wetterkette started operations fon 1 September 1944 with Junkers Ju 88 S-3 aircraft still marked with the “D7” (Staffel letter H) code, On 23 March 1945 it moved to Ingolstadt and on 1 April to Husum where it was recombined with its parent Wekusta 1 Weather reconnaissance flights were also conducted by some operational units with long-range aircraft such as KG 40, FAGr.5, SAGr.129 and SAGr.130. They would fly combination weather and general reconnaissance missions with Meteorologists from the Wetterdienst. os asin tt Weterugstee Rin Main AIGHT: This Junkers $2 bolonged oan unknown weather ‘nt prteby one a te Wererfugstatlen. It was photographed in Germany during 1820 1943. The abe has att be identiUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS Flugbereitschaften cither a Stabskette/Stabschwarm or an attached Flugberetschaft. However, the Stabskette/Stabsschwarm versus a Flugbereitschaft question can only be answered on a unit by unit basis, and even then without certainty due to the destruction of wartime documents. One observation can be made for certain though and that is if a higher headquarters or command was large enough or important enough to warrant its own Flagbereitschatt (duty or on-call flight), then it definitely did not also have a separate Stabskette or Stabsschwarm. Generally, if the number of aircraft authorised to support the official duties of the Stab or Kommando (command or headquarters) exceeded four ot five, then a Flugbereitschaft was established as part of its table of organisation, Any Stabskette or Stabsschwarm that may have already existed was incorporated into the Flugbereitschaft. In most cases, especially for the higher headquarters and commands, the Flugbereitschaft was custom tailored with a separate KstN (Kriegsstirkenachweisung — wartime able of organisation) for each one, being dependent on individual needs in terms of aircraft types and the number required. Since the Flagbereitschaft usually had a Feldpostnummer that was the same a its parent unit, it then becomes nearly impossible to identify when a particular Flugbereitschaft was initially established. Sometimes, the Flugbereitschaft would be assigned a sulfix of its parent headquarters Feldpostnummer — for instance, FpN L 52039 D might have been the Feldpostummer of the Flugbereitschaft for Lufiflottenkommando 1, rather than a separate FpN of its own (the ‘D’ at the end of the FpN for the Lufiflottenkommando indicating the Flugbereitschafi). There were no definitive rules for using these sub: which were issued at the unit level if needed and at their discretion. For the Lufiflotten, it seems certain that each one had its own Flugbereitschaft by October or November 1939.A loss report entry for the Flugbereitschaft/Lufiflotte 4 on 28 November 1939 is the earliest date documented so far. There were literally hundreds of Flugbereitschafien which could be found in many different types of units such as a Fallschirmjigerdivision, Fallschirmjigerkorps, _Feldluftgau-Kommando, —Flakkorps, Fliegerdivision, Fliegerilbrer, Fliegerkorps, Komm.General der Luftwaife, Lufilotte, Lufigau- Kommando, Lufigau Stab 2.b.V., Luftwaffe Kommando, and some Geschwader formations including Flugiberfuhrungygeschwader 1 {also the Flugiberfuhrungsgruppe) and Fliegerverbindungsgeschwader 2, Flugbereitschaften were alo attached to special units such as Flugberbeim Befehlshaber Serbien, Flugberbeim Befehlshaber Mitte, Flugber.beim Befehishaber Bulgarien, Flugberbeim Befehlshaber Rimanien, Flugber.des Befehlshaber Siidgriechenland, Flugberdes Reichsfiihrer-SS, Flugber.des Reichsminister Todt, Flugber. Angriffstihrer England, Flugbereitschaft G.L. (Generalluftzeugmeister) ~ Duty flight, Chief of Air Force Supply and Procurement, Flugbereitschafe Generalluftzeugmeister (Flugber. G.L.) - Duty flight, Chief of Air Force Supply and Procurement, Flugber.Gencrallufizengmeister (Adlershof), Flugher.Generalluftzcugmeister_(Villacoublay), Flugber Ob.L, (Oberkommando der Luftwaffe), Flugbe. OBS and Flugbe. RLM Staaken. Some of the Flugbeteitschaften were assigned Verbandskennzeichen (operational codes) but ‘most operated aircraft still with their individual Stammkennzeichen. T: communications and courier duties of a headquarters staff could be provided by Flugber./Luftflotte 2 — Because there were a very large number of Flugbereitschatten, it would be impossible to provide a detailed breakdown of each one so we will concentrate on the Flugber. Lufiflotte 2 to provide a more detailed picture of this important communications unit, As mentioned above, whether a headquarters had a Stab flight or a Flugbereitschaft depended entirely on the number of aircraft they needed, For example, one to four aircraft would probably be assigned to a Stab flight (Stabskette) while a large headquarters such as, Lufiflotte 2 might have 30-40 aircraft in a Flugbereitschaft ~ a few of which would be designated as Albert Kesselring’ personal transports and could not be used for other duties without permission, The Flugbereitschatt for this Lufflotte was formed in February 1939 at Braunschweig-Waggum and was moved to Miinster in October after the start of hostilities. For the campaign in the west, it was based in Brussels, Belgium starting in July 1940 and stayed at that location until the start of Operation Barbarossa when it was moved to Warsaw,26 © LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Poland in June 1941, Lufiflotte 2 and its Flugbereitschaft fought on the Eastern Front for about six months being based at Minsk in July 1941, Orsha in August and Smolensk in ‘September. After that, it was moved to the Mediterranean and was based in Rome-C starting in December 1941, where it remained until September 1943 when it was relocated Betas cunios ie lrceo ees ie es eae ec ene June 1944 The Verbindangstael os fal dibanded om 6 Sepener 1948. In February fasta 1943, the Flugbereitschaft was assigned the operational code ‘FS’ (Staffel letter H) although erged0t% tian ise wes tee reharked wad Courisned to cae dick Seaerkeamessdeen! texgncen | =e consisting ofa shield with crossed batons and a small"2" underneath to distinguish them from Med Ket the other Phgherciuctaf im. A sample of rome of the saat signed thin unt | Sr hated in dhe following lon information toomaoned “These aitera were damaged by Aled bombing at Cimino Aerodrome (Rome) on 18 Bean and 19 July 1943 (source: Generalquarticrmeister 6.Abt. Loss Reports) eon Fgh Sante Do 217 K-1 Wr. 44601 Do 217 K-1 Wr. 4485 aust: Do 217 E-4 WNr. 4329) Shown dring te Do 217 E-4 WNr. 5387 ‘we of 194242 ju 88 A-4 WNr in Russia witha temporary winter hte appr surface sche. appears to have ad yolow ondonon tis bie tbe nied over in wie Ju 52/3m Wr. Ju 52/3m WNr. He 111 H-3 WN Fi 156 C-3/trop — W.Nr. 3m W.Nr. 3 juss Some of the other aircrafé included Fh 104 coded SG+GB, Do 217 K-1, WNr. 4429 coded CF+PB (before going to F5+FH) and Do 217 K-1 WINr. 4486 BELOW: Ths Comer 00217 coded MBAA belonged othe Fvgbr/tutone Sand was in Alkurt Find March 144, The airrat had ogy srayed patchwork of winter hit overs more standard green spina scheme was to porsnal transport of GenteJesefKanmhuber assigned by the command pennant on the nse. ABOVE: A Junkre Ju 894.5, WN: 058, coded BLN, named ‘Gert was photographed ‘north Aiea smetine during ate 191 or 1982 The ara nas assigned ote Fiugbex Autti 2 nd te colour photograph shows twas pointed ina sand yolow uper surface wth dark gran squiggles. 2 whte oselage band an prop bubs, long wt LM 70 Back Gren propel ldsUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 27. Ther was # stack contrast Between this dork-colured Heinkel He 46 cadedRT+AY and While oat the bes quel thi photograph shows an of ners W/34 i coded 814C8, te surrounding snow. The eeraftwas assigned othe FugbacRLM and hada splinter 70. which was assigned tothe FgberLute at Landsbut n May 195. The orignal Light Bek Green and71 Dark Graonupposurace and Slight Blu under surfaces. thada paint scheme (RLM 02 Grey Green? ad been overspayed with darker cour lrehes low feseloge band and code ltrs otined inthe sme colour = notice it alo had ais iplce ofthe normal res. The esl 186 2 Store; coded OK+NY elnge tthe ti-krown Fogbr/Lw Befeisaber Mien September 141, Fom te ite that canbe seen, ath be ai that was painted ina dark groan scheme poss te standard 7-71 Above: photograph ofthe emblem of the nto pater) with 5 ght Ble undersides Fiogber/tlote Ion» F186 ‘Starch Flugber./ Lufiflotte 1 Badge The Fesoler Storch’ was ne ofthe most widely tong the support nts Here, ti 18 6-2 Wine 428, coded 81-8, ote Fugber uff 1 Is shonin Rusia curing sander 727 spite tem scheme eon with 1 yl fuselage band fad andenving ts.28 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS nis Messorchmit Bf 1080 coded AI-AX, was alo assigned tthe Fligber AM and was photographed in Krehhain Germany inthe soromr of 140 Ii act eotrmine the lou scheme butt appears tobe RLM 02 Grey-Green overall witha ylow hseage band intron of he Balknkrous ABOVE: This Fsolr F861 coded WLINOB, of the FugberDb lL. was parted ina fod n France ding 19 The Storch had anil actory 70-71 splinter schome ith all lack codes. AIGHT A busy sane at Gute, Germany in August 1588 ‘hte aircraft He 70 coded WL-OVT Ju 8 € coded WLALGA W/3¢ coded0-OTUX and W34 coded D-001H the Fogbor/LtpekGutenlel parked wit some BY 18 Ds ofthe Sad ond 11462 Aussi, summer 18H, J 522m, WN 5HT, coded TOM. of he Fiver i being ‘roped for anothr mission. Pained ie stardard RAS 70 Black Gren and 71 Dark Grose Esler pattern wth lack under sures, he Jonker ao had yoo ule band tnd andering ts LEFE This Messorschmit B18, WN« 210, coded RC‘ of the FuphecLutfat 4 came to get in Soe, Rosi 0 July 198. was flown by Ba: Brunsann andi boing looted ovr by hn ad some oer Lftate personne. The BF 108 had what leks tbe {002 Grey Greon and 71 Dar Green spiner per surface with 85 igh lve undersides ‘nd yoo iselage band Sar 4 ABOVE: i F155 C3, WN $413, coded NASKH, of th Pgbor Fars Il was ‘horographed an ely day m Russi rng the wintorof 14-42 Ivas pained in a ‘Sanders 70-71 epletr pattern with 5 Light Ble under srtaces and yelowandervig psUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 29 Another Messerechmit Bf 108 coded 1Y‘CA, belonging to the Fogbr/tttote¢ was potogaped in the ser of 1959 ‘nd was finshed an overall2 Grey. Green camoutge Seheme with a white codes. roosts he code 1Y.CA mght have been pated on he upper wing surace tutti hard 0 ta for sure because a the argo the photograph, Bolo: This Messerschmitt 8108 coded 120A, belonged io the Fogber/tlote 4 in August 159 when he photograph was an. appro be painted in 2 RIM 02 Grey Sreen ‘vera Scheme and ed whe codes withthe DA aso onthe wing upper surfaces {LOW Ad Hider ana Hermann Ging sake hands in ront ofthe F186, ode RAR boonging othe FugborRUM at Wolsplt Geminy in re 1980. The pant schome onthe Store’ was probaly RLM 02 Grey-Green or Light Gry. 0: Asthersrcraf of the lugber/ Lutte this Drier Do 172: coded YHA, sls photographed n September 19 Ths eeraft was finshed ina standard 7071 ‘sinter upper arface with 5 ight Blue unde ides, wih blak codes, ‘ABOVE: Tis solr F186 1 coded CEGX was parked on «Rusun fd inthe summer 0 182 whon the photograph ves taken. was asied tthe Fugbr atte Tad had 2 commanding general ponant onthe ti wa camoufged ia stenderd facta RLM 70 lock Green and 71 Dar Green sinter scheme and hada yl fuselage band, nderuing ps and ron ote propa spinner The nder sro was pained 65 Ligh ue AGH Tete known Verbandstenneichen 1 (Stl eter Al was used bythe ote 4 fo relatively shor time hrom Jl to Noverbr 1888 Thi Ju S20 te code 1:7? and was photographed in Sepiember 18 p69 tbe pnted in nfl 02 Grey Green overall scheme wih Back engine cowings ond exhast bands on he ws.30 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS =e These wo photographs show F186 C-Store Win 5572 coded BH WG belonging tothe ugh. Fegerars, which had crashed in Russia (24 ly 142 and sutered 80% damage. These two colour ‘phowgraphs were taken sho ato th rash and clearly ‘shows he 70.71 splinter camouae scheme, yo ool band and white outined Stanmkennvichon ‘BELOW: To Fvgbr/Rathorps operated tis Fi 1560-3, WIN 5216, caded MK Win Russi ust before he Pathog as sanded The Kp was par of Hearesazuppe Sié during the opening of Barbarossa and had its wn Fugberotscat unlit as disbanded on 10 pri 182i conral Rusia. The ugbratschat was passed onthe Rfikauion which nae the any lok unt under te Kore tht tne. The ‘Storch hed a standard 70.71 spinor camosage witha yellow fuselage band a underwing tips The omblon a squee sets wth a0 ‘ak leave and no scarso teILROk Korps nthe gine over was ‘eatin in use by he 12Rikdisin at as for 9 shor tine. BELOW The Fugber/Fagerfver Anika als operated at east one ‘Sor sts by ths photograph of 155 Cap, WN SI, coded PPCCL akn in th sumer of 182 Ings pated nthe desar scheme of LM 79 Sond-Brown and 78 ight Bue under surfaces The codes were Back and here were ro whe theatre martngs. This isle F188 CSch bolonged othe Fugber/tutga Kae Moskav and was ptoraped in ussie tring 192 Only te eter ofthe Stannkennzechen canbe Scent phtoyraph(70+72 chad a standrd factory 771 splinter upper surface ‘amodtge scheme wt the rere sean embem for thunk This Reselor 156 C3 ‘Storey WN S87, coded NB+MN, longed to tho ‘ugboriogerkorge Vl and was the personal transport of Gavan Richtoten.Ithad 2 70.71 spinor upper surtaca scheme with 65 Light Blue undersies,yollow undoing tips anda command pemant onthe a.UNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 31, LEFTANO BELOW These 0 photographs of «Dorner Oo 2158 thod 70.715 the aslage ies, ond» white fuselage band undervng tos and propel spines Flugber./Lufiflotte 2 Badge Fh 104 coded BIsKB bonged othe FugborFlepertops lt appears tobe pintad 3 Light Grey or possibly 2 Grey Green ovral and clear shows tho emblom used by This Hooker He 11H WiNe 2977, coded VOUX, ‘as photographed at ‘erat had a standard 70 17165 tarry emote, fuslage band pls the command pennant onthe ta as ltr coded NosKA32. LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS AlGHT Ano BeLow. en Costinsen, tis Fw 58 coded 0-0POW was asgned othe FugberWenrmachs: bench dor iederinde and based in The aotgraph was takon ‘nthe aut of 1982 The pint scheme This lost-up of th nase of F186 3 WN 18, coded KH YM boanged to Fugherdutfote 4 and wes used by Genera Alexander Lh and it aso oles good view of te embiem used byte un. es aoa ite east ory te factory spite 70.71 ‘ameutoge scheme. Lor became te st commander o Lute 4 when twas formed Fn Mar 186 ara inthe same month he was promoted to Ganeal der Fagor. He was promoted to General Oberst in May 194 asa renad fr is efor in he Balkan campaign, ‘nd conned to command Late unt Jy 182 Phowgraphe in Jsionka Russia in July 18, tis 18 3, WEN S158, coded KH YM, ‘wae asined tthe Fugber Luft # nd wes the persona anspor for General Aleande Lt he utlotan Chet. The upper surface pant scheme seas tobe a uniform (ark gro oveal butt was probably a standard factry 70-71 sper scheme. The Figbarotschot wos hsed at Krak in th ery weeks of the wa in tho Est, ‘moved to Jasiona on 10 Jy 194, and thon ono Maripol on November 198 where it stayed ul Oe sprig of 82 The phteraphis note sharp although t does oer neath few views Fugher/Ltga Keo Nonvogon ‘Store The solar 155 C2 WAN: 408, coded WAKE twas akan in October 188) meter Norway or Finland Is pointed na standard factory 707 splintar pater wih back code eters onda other markingsUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 33, Tis 1563 Store coded CEO, eloged tthe Fugen 1 and was Bhoterapedn ssa mat Merch 192 Iho a ype factory 72.7 spine pattem long wa low alge Gand and underwing tps, ls a command pennant on he user. BELOW Rosle F186 C-vp, WN 88 coded 65+MS was assigned 0 the Fugbruttote 6 and was photographed in Rusia btwn ts masons The photograph shows the emblem wl along tha mysterious aml white circle onthe upper ta was pained ina standord factory 72-71 splinter pattern and had a alow fzeage bend and ABOVE: The Rgberiu:Kéo.Ost was assigned te Verbandkenneichen 9 (Stafel te ‘ioe summa of 1942 which i wl in ti ghtograph of 155 ‘Store’ Belonging totharunt taken in September 1942 The Figberetschat came tom te FugbecFiegartorgs Vin Aoi ofthat year and comin to use the ld cod XY (Stal ‘tr A fora fow months. The aban ca jst be sean onthe nase ond the Scat had 9 70-71 splinter pater wth a yelow fceage band and prababy undeaing sh BELOW The Fugbr/vc Kd Ost used the Verbondskemzsichen KF (Sttl tr A rom Aptos ly 1902 ond tan svitched to 8S eter Hl. twas renamed tt Agden 6 on 8 kay 189 and continued ous the 8” code wel th spring of Ise whan sith to KF Statler H). Tis F158 Chad th code KIRA and loge othe Fgbor LX. Oss te photogaph must havo been taken same ine enveen Api an July 1942 Note the emblem pated on he rear of he nose. ABOVE: A closer vow ofthe F186 CSch coded KV RA, of tha Fugber/Am Ko Ost Fussia dering mid 1982 Th code‘K (Sate eter had an imeroting stort being assigned 0 ‘StobRiegernsion 5nd thn nDetabe 1809 the FutrungstetePlogekorsV The Firongstat wee clstonded nthe summer o 149 bt the code wes sed in paral byte FugberFlegerorps V frm Apr 140 The al step wes whe he ‘ugboraischat was renamed othe ‘Fugbe/LXo.Ostin Aon of 1902 The dviig Ine ‘betoen the ALA 70 Black Green and! Dark Gren jst b enon the eriial photograph Flugber./Lw.Kdo.Ost Badge34° — LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Fock Wl Fa 1894-1, WNe 188, coded KEWL was asinod tthe Rugbor tute 2 nd as phooprphed in tho summer of 194. The art hada standerd factory 70-1 splot camullagefnsh and because the uote ‘wasn Russi unt December also hada yolow usloge bond. ABOVE: Focko-Wi Fw 19 was asioed tthe Fugber/uttione 2 aa is shown being inspected by General Keseeang, The 189 ada standard lectry 70-71 splinter pain Scheme withthe familar Fugber/Lftowe 2 emblem ust boo the cock -IGHT The Fugberabhorps operated tis Focko- Ws Fw 19, We 1% coded KC in ssn daring the later al af 19. The aera ote fay new and was fasted in 9 UM70 Black Groen and 71 Dak Green upper srtcespitor amoufoge scheme wih 65 igh Blu undersides and yolow fuselage bands LEFT The FugberLutt 2 a8 a0 of the lest ofthe ‘upboreschaten ad operated «wide vaety of aeat Ths Heinkel He 111442 coded NG+J0, was photographed 0 North Ata in 191 and was painted in the over sand-oow ‘desert sehome wi a white fsoage ban. rs Deleved ath Germans used the sand-elow Haan pan fo tine berth ‘own ALM 78 Light Blue and 79 Yl Brown pants were vainbe, The Junkers J 52m coded BT+AY nas operated byte Fugberetscatutlone 2 betveon November 1509 andthe summer of 14. twas probe the personal anspor of Gener Felny, ha lied t name his traf Schwch(Shoh. Itappears tobe painted an oer RLM 2 Grey Groen fish wth lack coming and avraust Bands one wigs. Unusual, thet lea of he Stamelannzichen was painted whiteintr. 529, WN 1948, coded WL+AFOE rm 0 ‘nino ea Santtsugboratschat in old cing Sotoner 1989s pointed whe over wih black tsi cing nd wing exhaust shies Notice that ‘10d te nomalaatonl sina io addon tothe red tresses inal si postions fsalage ses and upper and [avers twas probaly rom the predecessa of ane the unt tat ater became Santshugbratschat 7 UNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 35 Sanitatsflugbereitschaften hile the majority of injured and wounded men were taken to a front line dressing important to transport the critically wounded to a medical facility as soon as possible. The first trials with ambulance aircraft took place at the end of 1937 when a few ankers Ju 52/3m aircraft (with the inscription San.Flz, | to 4) were operated by KG 253 at ha. However, the exact accomplishments and fate of this small detachment is unknown. lised with Kricgsstirkenachweis (KstN - Wartime Table of Organisation) 5393 (L) dated 1 November 1938 for the Sanititsflugbereitschaften (Duty Ambulance Flights) and called for one physician officer, 13 NCOs, two men, three ambulance Junkers Ju 52/3m aircraft, each capable of taking eight stretcher cases, and two buses. The next unit was formed at Stendal in early 1939 and eventually became Sanititsflugbe Another new unit was formed late in August 1939 to serve in the Polish campaign and it later became Sanititsflugbercitschaft 11.The next Sanititsflugbereitschaft was formed in early 1940 by X.Flicgerkorps to support the invasion of Denmark and Norway. Shortly after the spring 1940 campaign in Norway, the number of Ju 52s was increased to five or six and the stretcher capacity to 12.’The bulk of the Sanititslugbereitschaften were then formed on 8 March 1941 in preparation for the coming operation Barbarossa. Three further Sanititsflugbereitschaft were formed later, which brought the total number formed to eleven. ‘On the basis of experience gained during the 1941 campaign in North Affica, each Sanititflugbereitschaft was provided with four Fieseler Fi 156 ‘Storch’ short take-off and nding aircraft to pick up wounded directly behind the front and fly chem to the tear for further transport. A ground ambulance section (Krankenkrafiwagenzug) with 12 ambulances ‘was eventually incorporated into each San.Fhighereitschafe during 1943-44, giving the unie an increase in total strength to around 130 personnel. A Sanititsly subordinated to a Fliegerkorps, but in practice, was often under a Lufiflotte and sometimes even under a Fliegerdivision. Records include ten numbered units; San.Flugber.-8, San.Flugber.11 and San.Flugber.17 plus San.Flugber (S), San.Flugber Smolensk, San Flugber2.bV. and Sanititsstaffel Wismar, Some of the airborne ambulance units were assigned an operational code in late 1944 and early 1945 with only one being identified to date — San.Flugber.2 with ‘B (Guaffel letter H). The only other units that may have also been assigned an operational code ‘were Sanititsflugbereitschaft 8 and 11, with all the others having already been disbanded, The new service was forn itschaft 7. ereitschaft was theoretically ‘LOWE This ie another photograph fu 520, Wie 1388 coded WLsAFOE ost had bean camouflage in 2 presor standard ‘Lit 798424 roan ‘and 71 Dak-Groen splinter scheme wt tig Bue deride long vith ed eosses in ht cto na sk poston. The een, tater at Sends sting ay 19836 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS Tivo Sontits Junkers painted over hen ter trace ele was oppied and 19 he rear what appears to be WLLAHE? again with te later pointed ot They belonged to an unnown evry Sanatsgbrotschatt ‘in Poond dung Sopamter 58 Note tat reas rel had a er aes Fieseler Fi 156 D-O W.Nr. 5227, coded GATG as it appeared at the start of the campaign in Russia in 1941. It was later photographed downed by enemy infantry fire between Pskov and Loznitsy in northern Russia ‘on 14 November 1942. The Sanitats ‘Storch’ belonged to Sanitatsflugbereitschaft 1 Aussi, winter 142-43, this 16-1, We 8228 coded GASH, of ants ugh ie barked and endy forts net mission. thad# med winter whitefish overs 7-71, Splinter scheme and th low fselage band, nthe background was tho F186 CI-QV banging othe Verbindngsstat a Lutte. solr 1560 WN 528 coded ATH of Sanititsugberetscha 1 photographed ‘ter ough ann in rotor ssa nether 112° 19 The aeratt wos poitad Ing sandra RLM 70-71 splinter scheme wih 5 Light Ble under surfaces an yellow fuselage bana had th ambulance ro crosses in whe cel in pce ofthe rare! BatenceueUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 37 Sanititsflugbereitschaft 1 (FpN L 47724) —Was formed in Kénigsberg on 8 March 1941 with a complement of three Ju 52s which was later increased to 5 of 6 along with a number of Fi 156s in 1941, Ie was transferred to Ostrov in northern Russia in August 1941 and to Riga-Spilve in September 1941 where it remained until it was disbanded in October 194, Sanititsflugbereitschaft 2 (FpN L 12042) ~ Was formed in Poznai (Posen), Poland in March 1940 as Sanititslughereitschaft/X.Fliegerkorps and served in Norway up to December 1940 before being sent to Sicily and then moving to Athens, Greece in May 1941 Iewas in Athens that che unit was renamed Sanitiesflughereitschaft 2 on 7 July 1941. The unit was then sent to North Africa and supported the Affika Korps until it was relocated back to Sicily in late 1942. It was based at Trapani fora few months and was ordered to Castell Vetrano in Sicily during January 1943. It was later asigned to Frosinone, Italy in October 1943 and ‘An al whit FaselerF 1880-0 coded 0-EMAW, was photographed in Silo southern Iain 181 te eats correct hen it belonged to Suntsgberotschat asta ant (then named SantstgberetscatvX.Flegerorps ntl May 1847 whan twas sntto ‘Athens, Greece and oficial renamed) was in Si up to May 13, Fig oars basen North Aca in the summer of 192 his J 2m, WA 218, ROLAC, i Senet lugber2 shows te dea of underside. hada white fselage band ond ntvig tps along wth some heavy exhaust stains onthe wings LEFT Th F1860-trop, coda KNA0? was photographed in Noth Ace n 182 and was signed to SaniitsFogber2 There were ateast four 156D-tivops sening nth are dng 198243 coded KNOB, KN) KN, OK and N/ON- siti imposside ping exacty hich his ‘Store was. The art was paid ina splinter scheme of 7 lack Green and 1 Dark Groen with Light Blue andesges.Ivhad a white faslage band and imran sil adhe ed band and white cco swastia an that. BEOWSA Fessler Fil60- rap, coded KN? 05.4023, both assigned to Sits Fiber? were Potgantodn North tice the sumer of 942 Bat airfare sin thei da roenEvopean ge Scheme bua and had been ‘285 Aemantined enh, F860: 1rops srig in this es ing 1982 1909 coded 108, KV KN OK and 00-0 impossible to anclusely dently his ‘Storch: However cid stil have tered bandit cee stop ‘BELOW White of poor qual, ts phtoraph is ‘inarosting because shows Storch’ wth the Verbanastemsoichon 5 o Santis Fugber2 The Fiesele 156 had the code B8.0H ad wae ‘apureinKcingon, Gemany i May 19 The individual aerate was oid in ia or alow bt because ofthe gal Jmgossbl to determine the camoulge scheme38 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS finally was sent to the Eastern Front under the command of Lufiflotte 6 whe \der of the war until being disbanded on 8 May 1945. Sanititsflugbereitschaft 2 was assigned the operational code ‘BS’ with the Staffel letter"H’. Examples of Fi 156s operated by that unit include BS+JH, B8+KH, B8+NH, B8+OH, B8+PH, B8+QH, B8+RH and BS+SH. it served out Sanititsflugbereitschaft 3 (FpN L 40864) ~ Was formed in Berlin-Staaken on 8 March 1941 and spent nearly all of its operational service on the Russian Front. Under the command of Lutiflotte 2, it was stationed in Backe-Nowe in August 1941 and moved to Gorodishche, Russia in January 1942, to Smolensk in April 1942 (now under Lufiflotte 4) and the returned (© Gorodishche in June. The unit was based in Tusov during September and November 1942 and was then transferred to Kirovograd in December. During 194 stationed at Anapa beginning in March, Borisovka in May, Poltava in August and finally to Kiev-West in September. The Sanititsflugbercitschaft retreated back to the west with the rest of the German forces and was ultimately disbanded on 23 October 1944, solr 186 D-tivop We 578 coded "ND+00 shown thing over Russia in 19 nee ished in standard RLM 70.71 split upper srtce scheme wth ight ‘ve undersides and hada yolon uselage an. This photograph of esol F forthe ‘Store ‘A snowy scene was captured wth his 1860-0 Store, coded GMSB, in Bjlovar, Conti inthe intr of 14445. The arr ‘wa tins normal sumer 7-71 spit scheme witha yallow fuselage band and ndonwig tis. 50S coded KOZ ambulance acrat was taken in Rosia rng tho winter of 14-42 Theat bolanged to Sniitstonborotschat 3nd od 8 ‘wor nintr whe camouoge scheme aver ‘andor 72-71 splinter scheme wih 5 undersses ‘lus the normal od erases is show on azn [ak, which was o good landing and take-a fiatdThe Fessler ison, 07, coded CX belonging Sanastuer haa shown in usa abot have ‘nun soldier loa boars. Thesvent hada stand splinter ennouogeschome og wt ra UNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS 39 Sanititsflugbereitschaft 4 (FpN L 30260) ~ Formed in Dresden on 8 March 1941, it was transferred to Warsaw; Poland in July and later to Orsha, Russia in September. While at Smolensk on 1 July 1942, itabsorbed Sanititsflugbereitschaft 11 and remained in the area until February 1944 when it was ordered to Borisov where it was based until 10 June 1944. After that the unit retreated to the west for service in France and was disbanded on 17 September 1944 at Baden-Baden Sanititsflugbereitschaft 5 (FpN L 53218) ~ This Sanititslugbereitschaft was formed in Miinster during the spring of 1943. The only documented evidence of the unit was a crash in Hungary (November 1943) listed in the loss reports and another document listing its disbandment on 17 September 194 Sanitatsflugbereitschaft 6 (FpN L 40768) — Was formed at Miinster-Loddenheide on 8 March 1941 and served under Lufiflotte 2 on the Eastern Front until both were moved to Catania, Sicily in January 1942, From Catania Sanititsflugbereitschaft 6 was ordered to Naples, Italy in February 1943 and then farther north in the following months. During September 1943, the unit was based atVicenza and was re-equipped with Italian SM-81 and SM-82 thr engine transports, The unit turned over its Italian transports to the newly formed Sanititsflugbereitschaft 2.b.V. in April 1944 and returned to Germany to be re-equipped with Junkers Ju 352s for what was to be the GroBraumsanititsfugbereitschaft. Only a few of the new aircraft were actually assigned and they never were used operationally. The aircraft were then turned over to 15./TG 4 and the Sanititsflugbereitschaft was disbanded on 23 October 194. Sanititsflugbereitschaft 7 (FpN L 41117) ~ Was formed at Stendal in early 1939 under another name and served in Poland and Norway. It was then sent to Greece where it was stationed in Kalamaki near Athens between April 1941 and September 1944 where it was renamed as Sanititsflugbereitschaft 7. When Greece and the lower Balkans were evacuated, the unit retreated to Hungary and was disbanded in October 1944, ea White Sania fugboratsehaton sos Fesoer F885 ond Junkers us almost, exclusiva his poagraph saws that Foote Wt Fw Cwae modi othe Sante roland rated forte tai The ing sandra 7071 ‘actor spter scheme and ha the eles pated oer ‘tsnormal Balantove Mis tnt S28, We 585 WAKER was assigned to Soniats Fugbec and was ‘Stade, Germany ante phoapraph tas an inthe summer of 152 ‘eas pointed white ‘veal with lack ‘moor cwdngs ad ‘ngs ad ad bath the ed roe nile ‘andthe norma Balentrovz ini pesitons Nosce thoy ha oak tho AHEP of to Kemoiehon sal because ofthe soi nig40 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS LEFT: Behind he He 46 Cte pared 156 D-1ap, We 865, coded CTU, wach belonged 0 ‘Sant Fgh in Yagosovie uring he eturn (F196 The Stroh’ ata factory 70-71 spler ‘cameulage scheme with yoo tuslage band ard ardarwing tis oe Sanititsflugbereitschaft 7 Badge This ker. 2m of Sans Fgh was named ater ixEwald Seite who was wounded ding @ mission ‘2 2 January 196 The phat was ake ater in 19 and rt ada standard 70-71 splint paint with 6 ph ue undorsids, Junkers Ju §2/3m WAN. 5637, coded VD+ZA was assigned to Sanitatsflugbereitschaft 7 and was shot down by enemy aircraft south of Crete on 15 October 1942. Sanititsflugbereitschaft 8 (FpN L 36987) ~ Was formed in March of 1941 as part of the general mobilisation in preparation for the attack on the Soviet Union. On 21 April it arrived at Breslau-Gandau in Silesia, probably to form up, tain and await assig later, on 11 July, it moved to Bardufoss in northern Norway for attachment to the Luftwatfe forces operating in northern Finland under Lufiflotte 5. It remained in this theatre for the balance of the war and was stationed at Kemi on the Gulf of Bothnia from September 1941 to September 1944. After the yetween Finland and the Allies was signed in Moscow on 19 September 1944, San.Flugber.8 departed Kemi and moved to Bods in northern Norway where it was ordered disbanded on 13 April 1945.A handful of personnel were still there at the time of the surrender on 8 May, but without aircraft. During its service in northern Finland and Norway, San.Flugber8 flew hundreds of medical-evacuation missions along the Front south of Murmansk ailifiing wounded troops belonging to the 20th Mountain Army (Gebirgaarmeeoberkommando 20), Luftwaffe personnel and Finns to rear area surgeries and hospitals. Unit aircraft strength appears to have varied little during this period: on 10 January 1943 ie reported three Ju 52s and five Fi 156s on strength and on 1 September 1943, three Ju 52s and four Fi 156s. «Several months sticeUNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS a. LEFT The emblem of This Junkers Ju 529m, WN SM, coded BUY, was assigned to Santsteugberstschat 8 Sanéhtsogberotactan'@ in Fld durin 1942 Tho eeraftwes pained a standard RLMO.71 sper epper isshown inthis close-up sface camoufee scheme wih 6 Light Blue undersides. Ithd a ylion fselage band ‘nko. 23m, and undering tp, al ack Wine 203, with he ‘Starmtennsichen Br. les and red ercss markings in he standrd si postions Junkers. 522 had he code T1¥GM and was photographs th sume of 1944. The cade" normally essocated mt Auf 0 rena o# NAGruppe in Api 19450 the Norway in had been doa availabe The Ju 82 bloga to Sits Fugter8 and proteby had «70-7 spine pate although ts hedto discern o9aph ‘ABOVE: Junkers Jv 522, WN 308, coded B11 in winter hit camouflage shown in Norway The Tane Ju belonged 0 Santas Fygber#and was staoned in ‘and Danmark ram te summer 9 und May 198 Norway Fiand te ELD: Tis Fesoler F186 0-0 UGH The st wo ltrs of Wi 52 coded AT of tenmsichen n hi ‘Str we Srieugberotschat 8 was Boeyraphed in intand during 1943 cade The F 16 D1, WN S22, leas painted ina standard RLM 70-71 coded GAT. belonged to Santis Fugber Splior shame wih rd erosses'n all and was photographed in Fnand during to Foatons and yelow tselage bond. sumer 964 I ada stander factory 0 The acral probably ad ‘Block Groen and 71 Dark Goon epinor ning sb amoutage scheme with yao uslage This ‘Store had tandem ending gar twas F 16 O-thrap, WN 578 GBT wich was ‘assigned o Santis Figbr8 m Flan daring he summer of 184, The sir bad 9 ‘andar factory 7071 sper schame wth a alow flag band and underig ts42 LUFTWAFFE SUPPORT UNITS This Junkrs Jo 52, Wn 6880, codes D-TABX belonged Suntiatugbora Schaf 1 in the winter of182840 Irnes pained white overall eth lack aes and ngs comings ond ng exaust sis The location on standard tlgned hrzontalyn ‘white ccleon# ted band This 156 D-trop, WN 874, cde BH WH probably ad 7071 spitor comoutoge shame long with its yoo fasolage band and underwing ips. boiongedto Santas Fugbert7 and wes pltegraphea i fouther Fuse ine, Sanitatsflugbereitschaft 11 This unit, formed in August 1939, was one of the very early Sanititsflugbereitschaften and served in the Polish campaign and then was based at Staaken afterward. During the bitter winter of 1939-40 it flew supply missions from Norderney for the inhabitants of the isolated islands in the North Sea, From April 1940, it was under the command of Lufiflotte 3 and flew in France where it was officially named Sanititsflughereitschaft 11. In December 1941, the unit was transferred to the East under the command of V. Fliegerkorps based at Smolensk. And in April 1942, it came under the command of Lufiwaffenkommando Ost where it was renamed Sanititslugbereitschaft 4 on 1 July 1942. A new Sanititsflugbereitschaft 11 was formed at Le Bourget, France in 1943 and was quickly transferred to the southern front in Russia where it was based in the Crimea under Lufiflotte 4. During 1944 the unit returned to Firth, Germany via bases in Hungary and Czechoslovakia and was ultimately disbanded on 23 April 1945. tis possible that this second formation was assigned an operational code in lte 1944 but the code is unknown. Sanititsflugbereitschaft 17 (FpN L 47955) —This Sanititsflugbereitschaft was formed in Wien-Aspern on 3 March 1941 where it remained until March 1942 when it was transferred to Nikolayev in Russia, From there it moved to Maikop in October and to Zaporozhye in February 1943. The only other base identified is Voroshilovsk. It was disbanded on 17 September 1944 after returning to Aspern. Sanititsflugbereitschaft 2.b.V. (FpN L 60007) ~ Formed in April 1944 with Ital ‘SM-81 and SM-82 transports from Sanititsflugbereitschatt 6, it operated in northern Italy vas disbanded on 17 September 1944. Sanititsstaffel Wismar & Sanititsstaffel Smolensk — These were unofficial names for units based at these locations, Sanititsflugbereitschaft 2 was based at Wismar and Sanititsflugbereitschaften 4 and 11 were based at Smolensk Sanititsversuchsstelle Jiiterbog — Medical Experimentation Centre Jiiterbog. Equipped with some Heinkel He’ 111, He 70 and Junkers Ju 87 A aircraft, this testing station was responsible for evaluating the effects of extreme flight conditions like diving, loss of oxygen, etc. on the human body The on thing known regarding te photograph ‘shows F360 ded NMS, of Santis Figbecit in Puasa ding 1962 Ascanbe sean it ‘had a erty winter twhtecamoufage temporary part ver the stondordtetry scheme,UNITS, AIRCRAFT, EMBLEMS AND MARKINGS FI.Gr.z.b.V 7 (FLG.z.bY. 7) is difficult to fit into any book on the Luftwaffe because it was such a ‘unique unit ~ commanded and administered by the SS but with the Luftwaffe providing maintenance, technical support and pilots. The unit served as the primary communications and courier unit for the SS and supported that branch right up to the end of the war. It was formed in Berlin-Tempethof on 1 November 1942 as the FLGr2.bV. 7 with a Stab and 6 Staffeln to support the Waffen-SS and the Gestapo, in their pursuit of resistance groups in occupied territories, or Bandenbekimpfung as referred to in German records. The unit was directly subordinated to the Reichsfihrer-SS and chief of the German police, Heinrich Himmler, An Erginzungstaffel was formed during June 1943 at Tempelhof, was moved to Strausberg in September and finally to Deutsch Brod in January 1944 where it was based through the rest of 1944. The Gruppe operated principally in Eastern Europe and Italy with Nonway being the only western country to be visited by aircraft of the unit. Western Europe had very good transportation and ground communications that allowed quick movement of troops, officers, onders and messages whenever needed so aircraft were not as necessary although Italy was the exception to that statement. On 29 February 1944, the unit was expanded by another Staffel (7./FLG.2bN. 7) and redesignated as Fliegergeschwader z.bN. 7. At some point a special Einsatzgruppe was formed with aircraft for reconnaissance and ground attack, mainly using the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 and Junkers Ju 87 ‘On 12 December 1944 the total strength of the Geschwader was 90 aircraft of various types, 24 officers, 254 NCOs, 115 privates and 3 civilian office staff. When the unit was disbanded is in question as one source says gives the April-May 1945 period, and another lists 10 January 1945. The unit was equipped with various types of aircraft although the Fieseler Fi 156 ‘Storch’ was by far the most common type with most of them converted for light ground-attack. Unfortunately, no details have been found about what kind of weapons were installed, but it was most probably light machine guns or underwing racks for small anti- personnel bombs. These aircraft were designated as KampBtdrche ~ also designated as the Fi 156F in some records. The Focke-Wulf Fw 189 and Junkers Ju 87 were used for ground attack with their standant weaponry. The Focke-Walf Fw 58 "Weihe” douiled in the role of light transport and photo-reconnaissance aircraft. One Junkers Ju 52 and a few Sicbel $i 202 "Hummel" were used as transports, the latter being, a light single-engined aircraft. A single Italian Saiman 202 was also used for communication duties. Ti Fliegergruppe 2bV. 7 (FLGr2bV, 7) and later Flicgergeschwader 2b. 7 Stab/Fliegergeschwader z-b.V. 7 (FpN I 49001) ~The Stab was formed at Tempelhof and moved to Létzen in East Prussia during September 1943. It was operationally subordinated to the Kommando-Stab Reichsfiihrer-SS and organizationally under the Kdo.Flugh Ber. 2/VII Aibling, In December 1944, the Stab was based in Salzburg-Gnigl in Austria under the command of Oberstleutnant Heinz Heinsius. He held this position from 2 December 1943 to 10 January 1945. On 12 December 1944 the Stab had one Ju 52/3m, one Focke-Walf Fw 58 and one Fieseler Fi 156 all at Ainring, Germany. 1.Staffel/Fl.Geschw.z.b.V. 7 (FpN L 49251) ~This Staffel was commanded operationally by Hoh.SS und Polizeifihrer Ost, SS-Obergruppenfiihrer Wilhelm Koppe. From November 1942 to December 1944 the Staffel was based in Krakow, Poland and the unit Staffelfihrer \was Ltn.Dudde. On 12 December 1944, the unit had two Focke-Wulf Fw 585, twelve Fiescler Fi 156s and one Siebel Si 202 on strength in Krakow: 2.Staffel/FI.Geschwaz.b.V. 7 (FpN L 49660) ~The Staffel spent its first year (November 1942 to November 1943) at Daugavpils (Diinabung, Latvia before moving to Idrita, Rusia in November and to Riga-Spilve, Latvia in January 1944.Then, in September 1944 it was ordered to bases in Poland under SS-Obergruppenfithrer Koppe. In December 1944, the unit was based at ‘Tschenstochau (today Czestochowa) just north of Krakow. The Staffelfhrer was Hpen. Zimmermann and on 12 December 1944 it had nine Fieseler Fi 156s and one Focke-Wulf Fw 58.