Bookie's Focke-Wulf 190 / Ta 152 Page



14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 in the Far North, January 1943 - February 1944

- see Jägerblatt Februar/März 1995, p.15

Introduction

In 1943 and 1944 a small FW 190-equipped unit flew fighter-bomber missions from Petsamo in the far north of Finland (now Pechenga in Russia), and achieved success disproportionate to the small number of aircraft it had on strength. The unit was 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5, and despite operating obsolete variants of the FW 190 and facing the unique challenges of flying in the Arctic Circle, the Staffel demonstrated the effectiveness and value of Kurt Tank’s aircraft as a fighter-bomber, particularly against shipping targets.

Formation [1]

14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 was formed on 15 January 1943 from elements of 11./J.G. 5 to serve as a semi-autonomous Jabostaffel. Experienced fighter pilot and nine-victory ace Hptm. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn was given command. Others assigned to the new fighter-bomber Staffel included: 23-year old Uffz. Kurt Dobner, who had claimed one aerial victory with 11./J.G. 5 in September 1942; Uffz. Albert Wittmann, who had been with IV./J.G. 5 since at least the spring of 1942; Oblt. Karl-Friedrich Koch, who had previously served with Z. J.G. 77 and shot down two enemy aircraft in 1941; and Fw. Friedrich Hammesfahr, who had been with 11./J.G. 5 in December 1942.

The unit initially took on strength eleven FW 190 A-3s from 11./J.G. 5, and for the next year 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 flew only FW 190 A-2s and A-3s (mostly the latter), at a time when those variants had been superseded elsewhere by the FW 190 A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, F-3 and G-3. Aircraft that were later added to the unit’s inventory came from other elements of J.G. 5, and from the Kjeller repair facility near Oslo in southern Norway.

Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn [2]

Known as ‘Straks’, Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn was born on 7 September 1914 at Lübeck in northern Germany. He joined the Luftwaffe in pre-war times, and was the Gruppenadjutant of I.(Jagd)/L.G. 2 in September 1939 with the rank of Leutnant. He became Staffelkapitän of 2.(Jagd)/L.G. 2 in 1940, and claimed a total of five aerial victories over France and Britain. His next appointment was to lead 2./J.G. 77. After briefly serving with 7./J.G. 77, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of a new unit, 12./J.G. 5, on 1 July 1942. In February 1943 he became the first Staffelkapitän of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5. Hptm. Strakeljahn was a very important figure to the pilots of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5. According to one of his men: “Hptm. Strakeljahn was like a father to us - he was a very good officer”.

Table: Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn Aerial Victories [3]

Date Rank & Name: Tally Unit Type Location Time

19.05.40 Lt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 1 Stab I.(J)/L.G. 2 Lysander Lille 14:25

19.05.40 Lt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 2 Stab I.(J)/L.G. 2 Hurricane Le Cateau 14:28

24.08.40 Lt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 3 Stab I.(J)/L.G. 2 Spitfire - 16:30

30.08.40 Lt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 4 Stab I.(J)/L.G. 2 Spitfire - 19:02

20.10.40 Oblt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 5 2.(J)/L.G. 2 Spitfire - -

11.07.41 Oblt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 6 2.(J)/L.G. 2 I-15 - 13:08

17.07.41 Oblt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 7 2.(J)/L.G. 2 I-16 Rata - 06:07

15.04.42 Oblt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 8 2./J.G. 77 Pe-2 - 10:33

01.07.42 Oblt. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn: 9 7./J.G. 77 Yak-1 - 17:17

Operations [4]

From its base at Petsamo, 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 flew missions primarily against Russian ships moving along the Barents Sea coast. Many operations were flown to the area of the Rybachiy Peninsula, which juts out into the Barents Sea 40 km north-east of Petsamo. Murmansk was another popular objective. Aside from shipping, 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 attacked airfields, harbours, and the vital Soviet railway running south from Murmansk. Based alongside the Staffel at Petsamo were the Messerschmitt Bf 109s of the Geschwaderstab and the III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 5, which provided the unit with fighter escort.

14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5’s first recorded loss occurred on 18 February 1943, when an FW 190 A-3 was involved in a landing accident at Alta airfield in northern Norway. Alta was probably where the unit undertook its training and preparations before being deployed to its operational base at Petsamo.

On 10 March an FW 190 A-3 belonging to the Staffel was slightly damaged in a Soviet strafing attack on Petsamo airfield, and ten days later the first FW 190 was lost on operations, when Fw. Friedrich Hammesfahr was shot down by fighters and wounded at Varlamovo near Severomorsk, eighteen kilometres north-east of Murmansk. Hammesfahr made it back to base and recovered from his injuries, and later served with the Focke-Wulf company, flying all FW 190 variants up to the FW 190 F-9, as well as the Ta 152.

For three weeks from 9 April, 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 focused its efforts on Soviet airfields in the Murmansk area, destroying a Hurricane on the ground on 19 April. Two pilots were lost to anti-aircraft fire in April. The first was Uffz. Kurt Dobner, on 5 April. He and some comrades attacked a 7,000-ton freighter with bombs, and then strafed ground targets, setting two barracks on fire. Soviet anti-aircraft guns on the coast then downed Uffz. Dobner west of Murmashi. Uffz. Kurt Wendler managed to fly back to Petsamo on 13 April and bail out of his damaged FW 190, but his parachute failed to open and he was killed.

14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 was at the peak of its success in the late-spring of 1943. In a three-day period early in May, the Staffel reported sinking two Soviet submarines, a freighter and an auxiliary. On 7 May German reconnaissance aircraft spotted a convoy sailing across Motovskiy Gulf, and late that afternoon six FW 190s of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5, escorted by a Schwarm of Bf 109s, flew a mission to attack the ships, which were protected by twenty Hurricanes and P-39s. SC 250 bombs were dropped on the convoy, and Uffz. Karl-Heinz Froschek sank an ‘M’-class submarine, while the Staffelkapitän hit and sank a 2,000-ton auxiliary. However, the Luftwaffe escort fighters had no luck in the aerial combat.

On 8 May it was the turn of Uffz. Walter Pohl to taste success, as he claimed an ‘M’-class submarine sunk. Finally, on 9 May Hptm. Strakeljahn reported hitting and sinking a 3,000-ton freighter. The commander of Luftflotte 5 congratulated the unit as follows:

“To: 14.(Jabo)/JG 5 Petsamo 11.5.1943

For the excellent successes of the past few days my very special appreciation.

Generaloberst Stumpff”

Praise for these feats also came from the highest level of the German administration:

“From Fliegerführer Nord (Ost) 16.5.1943

To: 14.(Jabo)/JG 5 Petsamo

Following teletype for attention of all personnel:

‘The Führer has expressed his recognition of the attacks on shipping carried out by the Jabos of Fliegerführer Nord (Ost), and further conveys his wishes that these operations be continued with all available means.’”

However, the losses continued to mount for 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5, and two more pilots were lost to Soviet anti-aircraft fire in May, on the eleventh (Lt. Günther Busse) and 22nd (Lt. Claus Biwer).

Soviet submarine M-122 was reported lost between mid-May and early June 1943 near Tsyp-Navolok, and possibly fell victim to the FW 190s of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5, although it may have been sunk by mines.

While attacking a pair of ships off Cape Pogan on 18 June, two FW 190 A-3s of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 were lost. Flying an aircraft marked ‘Black 9 + ’, Fw. Hünlein struck the mast of the vessel that he was attacking, and crashed to his death. Uffz. Pohl was hit by anti-aircraft fire in ‘Black 8 + ’, and died when he crashed two kilometres west of Cape Pogan.

On 28 June a rigger named Stahlsmeier was sent by air to 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5. He was to fit ETC 501 bomb racks to the unit’s FW 190s. The unit received four FW 190s from other units in June 1943, so perhaps he was needed to modify these aircraft, but further details are not known.

In early July, Hptm. Strakeljahn crash-landed his FW 190 A-3 ‘Black 5 + ’ at Petsamo due to anti-aircraft fire, although he was uninjured. Soviet anti-aircraft fire accounted for two more FW 190s in August. Ofw. Böttger was shot down at Pummanki on 1 August, but was rescued unhurt by a Do 24 of 10. Seenotstaffel.[5] Another FW 190 from 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 was damaged by Soviet anti-aircraft fire on the eighteenth.

Hptm. Strakeljahn received the Ritterkreuz on 19 August 1943 for his outstanding leadership. In September 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 suffered no losses, the only month in the unit’s existence for which this was the case. 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 was using a special anti-shipping weapon in late-September 1943: SC 500 bombs fitted with ricochet discs. They were dropped in a glide attack to mast height, with bombs released 50 to 100 m from the target. The bomb then skimmed along the water to hit the ship. None of the first six of these bombs dropped by the unit sank, although it is not known if any vessels were hit.

Fw. Reichel and Uffz. Kleemann became lost after a mission on 5 October 1943, ran out of fuel, and bailed out of their FW 190 A-3s about 40 km west of Passvik. Both men were injured. Kleemann’s aircraft, FW 190 A-3 W.Nr 0132 219 ‘Black 3 + ’, had been repaired at the Kjeller repair facility between 22 August 1942 and 6 May 1943, after suffering 35 per cent damage at Herdla airfield on 10 August 1942 whilst with 3./J.G. 5.

On 25 November 1943 the Jabostaffel took part in a large combat over northern Finland, during which two pilots of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 made victory claims. Uffz. Rudolf Gerndt claimed an Airacobra shot down at 11:54 south-east of Petsamo airfield, and five minutes later Ofw. Richard Luy claimed to have downed an Il-2 two-and-a-half kilometres east of the airfield (he had previously claimed one aerial victory with 6./J.G. 5 in 1942, and two with 9./J.G. 5 in 1943). 23 other victory claims were made for destruction of Il-2s and fighters by III./J.G. 5 pilots, while German anti-aircraft gunners claimed a further eleven aircraft destroyed.

14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 had flown over 1,000 sorties by the end of 1943 (with Fw. Albert Wittmann flying the 1,000th), and had sunk at least 39,000 tons of shipping. Losses were slight over the winter of 1943/1944, probably because operations were limited by bad weather. Lt. Karl-Heinz Froschek was wounded by anti-aircraft fire on 14 February 1944, and he was the unit’s last casualty. He had been attacking Kiestinki railway station when he was shot down in an FW 190 A-2 marked ‘Black 2 + ’.

Re-designation [6]

In February 1944, 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 was re-designated 4./S.G. 5. The new Staffel took on two FW 190 A-2s and thirteen FW 190 A-3s. 4./S.G. 5 operated under Luftflotte 5 in the north until 17 May 1944, when it became 1./S.G. 5.

Hptm. Strakeljahn continued to command 4./S.G. 5 after the re-designation. However, he was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II./S.G. 4 on 19 May 1944. On 6 July 1944, while flying FW 190 F-8 W.Nr 931 018, Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn was killed by anti-aircraft fire near Dünaburg (modern Daugavpils in Latvia).

Aircraft Used by 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 [7]

Throughout its existence, 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 took on 34 aircraft from other units (five A-2s and 29 A-3s) and eleven from repair (one A-2 and ten A-3s). Thus the most FW 190s the Staffel could have operated was 45. Of these, the Werk Nummern of at least twenty are known (two A-2s and eighteen A-3s). There were never more than three FW 190 A-2s on strength, and a maximum of fifteen FW 190 A-3s were on strength at the start of October 1943.

A reasonably simple modification was undertaken to convert the FW 190 fighters into fighter-bombers. They were given the ETC 501 rack under the fuselage, round pieces of metal were installed inside the inner edges of the wheel walls to secure the rack, and the wheel doors were removed. Some of the Jabos were fitted with the exhaust flaps of the FW 190 A-5. All of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5’s FW 190s had the outboard MG FF cannon and associated underwing bulges removed. Aircraft of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 used SC 250 and SC 500 bombs, with the SC 250s and SC 500s sometimes fitted with a plate at the front to ensure that they detonated above the ground.

Camouflage and Markings [8]

The FW 190s of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 carried the standard RLM 74/75/76 camouflage scheme, and did not use any theatre markings. The aircraft had large black individual numbers outlined in white. The Staffel emblem was carried on most aircraft: a bomb and bow on a white (or possibly blue) circle outlined in black, and it was applied to the engine cowling on both sides. There is some debate over the colours of the unit’s emblem.

Some of the 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 fighter-bombers had heavily mottled fuselage sides. In the autumn of 1943 ‘Black 5 + ’ had an overspray on its sides, probably of RLM 74, through which some blue could be seen. The aircraft had suffered a direct hit from an anti-aircraft shell in the rear fuselage, and the subsequent repairs necessitated some overspraying with dark colours. ‘Black 6 + ’ of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 had some overspray behind the exhaust, but not much behind the aircraft number. There was some repainting aft of the fuselage cross on the starboard side. The unit’s aircraft usually had the early type of national insignia with a black cross, white edges and then black edges, although ‘Black 6 + ’ had only a black cross with white edges. Spinners were generally RLM 70, with a third in white, although some of these FW 190s had a thin white stripe around the RLM 70 spinner about half-way along.

Kjetil Åkra’s colour profile of Hptm. Strakeljahn’s FW 190 A-3 can be found elsewhere on this site.

Conclusion

14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 had a difficult role to perform, and that it did so well is testimony to the efforts of the unit’s pilots and its leader, ‘Straks’ Strakeljahn. Flying outdated FW 190s, 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 suffered a number of losses, particularly to anti-aircraft fire, but exacted revenge by seeking out and destroying an impressive amount of Russian shipping, as well as successfully raiding other targets on land.

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Appendix: 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 Losses [9]

Date Type W.Nr Markings Pilot: Fate Cause Location % F/H

18.02.43 A-3 0132 274 ? ? - Landing accident Fl.Pl. Alta 30 F

10.03.43 A-3 0132 255 ? - Strafing attack Fl.Pl. Petsamo 10 -

20.03.43 A-3 0132 268 ? Fw. Friedrich Hammesfahr W Shot down in combat, bailed out Varlamovo 100 F

27.03.43 A-2 0125 495 ? ? - Belly-landing due to engine trouble S. Fl.Pl. Alta 15 H

29.03.43 A-3 0132 254 ? ? - Pilot error on landing Fl.Pl. Petsamo 60 F

05.04.43 [10] A-3 0130 323 ‘Black 14 + ’ Uffz. Kurt Dobner M Anti-aircraft fire W. of Murmashi 100 F

13.04.43 A-3 0132 215 ‘Black 1 + ’ Uffz. Kurt Wendler + Anti-aircraft fire, bailed out N.E. Fl.Pl. Petsamo 100 F

??.04.43 A-3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

11.05.43 A-3 0130 524 ‘Black 7 + ’ Lt. Günther Busse + Anti-aircraft fire Pummanki Bight 100 F

22.05.43 A-3 0132 102 ‘Black 3 + ’ Lt. Claus Biwer + Anti-aircraft fire Cap Tsyp-Navolok 100 F

17.06.43 A-3 0130 471 ? Oblt. Karl-Friedrich Koch - Engine trouble Fl.Pl. Petsamo 60 H

18.06.43 A-3 0135 528 ‘Black 8 + ’ Uffz. Walter Pohl + Anti-aircraft fire 2 km W. of Cap Pogan 100 F

18.06.43 A-3 0135 488 ‘Black 9 + ’ Fw. Ewald Hünlein + [11] Hit mast of vessel N. of Cap Pogan 100 F

07.07.43 A-3 0135 508 ‘Black 5 +’ Hptm. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn - Crash-landing due to anti-aircraft fire Fl.Pl. Petsamo 30 F

01.08.43 A-3 0132 255 ? Ofw. Böttger - Anti-aircraft fire, rescued by a Do 24 Pummanki 100 F

01.08.43 A-3 0135 446 ? ? - Accident due to pilot error Fl.Pl. Petsamo 20 H

18.08.43 A-3 0132 167 ? ? - Anti-aircraft fire Eyna Bight 10 F

05.10.43 A-3 0130 523 ‘Black 15 + ’ Fw. Berthold Reichel W Became lost, ran out of fuel and crashed 40 km W. of Passvik 100 F

05.10.43 A-3 0132 219 ‘Black 3 + ’ Uffz. Hans-Günther Kleemann W Became lost, ran out of fuel and crashed 40 km W. of Passvik 100 F

28.10.43 A-3 0137 012 ? ? - Take-off accident [12] Fl.Pl. Petsamo 10 F

25.11.43 A-3 0130 399 ? - Strafing attack Fl.Pl. Petsamo 20 -

28.12.43 [13] A-3 0132 167 ? Fw. Helmut Culemann + Anti-aircraft fire Rybachiy Peninsula 100 F

14.01.44 A-? ? ? ? ? Damaged, cause unknown ? dmg H

14.02.44 A-2 0122 179 ‘Black 2 + ’ Lt. Karl-Heinz Froschek W Crashed due to anti-aircraft fire Kiestinki/Louhi 100 F

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Appendix: 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 Aerial Victories [14]

Date Rank & Name: Tally Type Location: Altitude Time

25.11.43 Uffz. Rudolf Gerndt: 1 Airacobra S.E. Fl.Pl. Petsamo: 200 m. 11:54

25.11.43 Ofw. Richard Luy: 4 Il-2 2.5 km E. Fl.Pl. Petsamo UE-8.3: 700 m. 11:59

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Appendix: Photographs and Colour Profiles of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 Aircraft

Code Remarks

‘Black 1 + ’ Colour profile in Weal, p.47

‘Black 4 + ’ Three photographs in Bergström & Pegg, p.285

‘Black 5 + ’ Photograph in Weal, p.31; same photograph, uncropped, in Smith et al., p.64 & Bergström & Pegg, p.286

‘Black 5 + ’ Photograph in Smith et al., p.64; same photograph in Bergström & Pegg, p.286

‘Black 5 + ’ Colour profile at

‘Black 5 + ’ Colour profile in Janowicz, Vol. III, inside cover

‘Black 6 + ’ Photograph in Smith et al., p.65; same photograph in Rodeike, p.102; same photograph in Bergström & Pegg, p.287; same photograph, much smaller, in Janowicz, Vol. I, inside cover

‘Black 6 + ’ Colour profile in Janowicz, Vol. I, inside cover; colour profile in Bergström & Pegg, p.287

‘Black 9 + ’ Photograph in Smith et al., p.66; four photographs in Bergström & Pegg, p.288

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Appendix: 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 Pilots [15]

Name Remarks

Lt. Klaus Biwer Born 17.05.24 in Köln. + 22.05.43 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5

Uffz. Böttcher With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43, fate unknown

Ofw. Böttger With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 01.08.43

Lt. Günther Busse + 11.05.43 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5

Fw. Helmut Culemann Born 01.09.19 at Lübeck. + 14.02.44 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5

Uffz. Kurt Dobner Born 24.12.19. M 01.04.43 or 05.04.43 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5

Uffz. Walter Fohl, Kohl or Pohl With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43, + 18.06.43 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5

Lt. Karl-Heinz Froschek or Froscheck With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43, W 14.02.44 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5, fate unknown

Uffz. Rudolf Gerndt With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43 and 25.11.43, with 1./S.G. 5 23.06.44, alive in 2003

Fw. Hartmut Getthard With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43, fate unknown

Uffz. Gössl With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43, fate unknown

Fw. Friedrich Hammesfahr With 11./J.G. 5 11.12.42. W 20.03.43, returned to unit. Became a test pilot 12.43, alive in 2003

Fw. Ewald or Walter Hünlein + 18.06.43 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5

Uffz. Hans-Günther Kleemann With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43 and 05.10.43, fate unknown

Oblt. Karl-Friedrich Koch With Z. J.G. 77 30.07.41 & 24.10.41. With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43 & 17.06.43, with 4./S.G. 5 25.05.44

Ofw. Richard Luy Born 09.10.06. With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 25.11.43, with 4./S.G. 5 20.03.44, M 01.08.44 in Latvia

Uffz. Otto Quander Born 04.12.20 at Lomnitz. With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43, + 25.05.44 as a Fw. with 4./S.G. 5

Fw. Berthold Reichel W 05.10.43 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5, fate unknown. A Fw. Berthold Reichel was killed 21.10.44

Uffz. Rump With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43, fate unknown

Lt. Walter Schneller With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43, with 1./S.G. 5 22.06.44

Hptm. Friedrich-Wilhelm Strakeljahn Born 07.09.14 in Lübeck. Staffelkapitän, + 06.07.44 with II./S.G. 4

Fw. Stefan Türk With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 autumn 1943, with 4./S.G. 5 24.02.44, wounded with 4./S.G. 5 27.03.44

Uffz. Kurt Wendler Born 22.09.20 in Röhrsdorf. + 13.04.43 with 14.(J)/J.G. 5

Fw. Albert Wittmann With IV./J.G. 5 in spring 1942. With 14.(J)/J.G. 5 03. or 04.43 and autumn 1943, fate unknown

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Appendix: 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 Aircraft Codes [16]

The FW 190 A-2s and A-3s of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 were marked with large black digits outlined in white. As the table below demonstrates, several digits were used more than once, and there is no known FW 190 with the code ‘Black 13 + ’.

Code Variant Remarks

Black 1 + A-3 Lost 13.04.43

Black 2 + A-2 Lost 14.02.44

Black 3 + A-3 Lost 22.05.43

Black 3 + A-3 Lost 05.10.43

Black 4 + A-? Photographed 13.04.43

Black 5 + A-3 Flown by Strakeljahn in May 1943, 30% damage 07.07.43

Black 5 + A-3 Flown by Strakeljahn, probably in November 1943 [17]

Black 6 + A-? Photographed in the summer of 1943

Black 7 + A-3 Lost 11.05.43

Black 8 + A-3 Lost 18.06.43

Black 9 + A-3 Lost 18.06.43

Black 9 + A-? Photographed in late-1943

Black 14 + A-3 Lost 05.04.43

Black 15 + A-3 Lost 05.10.43

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Appendix: Order for Re-designation of 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 [18]

“Der Reichsminister der Luftfahrt H.Qu., den 28.1.1944

und Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe

Generalstab Gen.Qu.2.Abt.

Az.11b16.10 Nr.7413/44 g.Kdos.(IIA) 30 Ausfertigungen

.Ausfertigung

Betr.: Etatisierung der 4./Schlachtgeschwader 5.

1.) Mit sofortiger Wirkung wird die durch Luftflottenkommando 5

auf dem Kommandowegs aufgestellte 14.(Jabo)/J.G. 5 in

4./Schlachtgeschwader 5

2.) Durchführung durch Luftflottenkommando 5.

3.) Der Staffelkapitän erhält die Dienststellung und Disziplinar-

befugnisse einem solchen gem. L.Dv. 3/9, § 14.

4.) Unterstellung regelt Luftflottenkommando 5.

5.) K.St.N. für 4./S.G.5 gem. Liste der Einheiten Nr.1257 (L).

6.) Besetzung der Planstellen unter Rückgriff auf die kommandowei-

se bestehende Staffel

a) für Offz. durch L.P. im Benehmen mit General der Schlachtfl.,

b) für fliegenden Personal durch General der Schlachtflieger,

c) für übriges Personal, Flugzeuge, Kraftfahrzeuge und Gerät

durch Luftflottenkommando 5.

7.) Kriegsgleiderungsmäßig im Sinne der Bes.Anl.2 zum Mob.Pl.(L)

gehört die 4./S.G. 5 zum Luftgaukommando III.

Ersatztruppenteil ist durch Lg.Kdo.III festzulegen.

T. 8.) Durchführung ist durch Lfl.Kdo.5 zum 1.3.1944 an Gensz.Gen.Qu.

2.Abt. zu melden.

Verteiler:

(nur im Entwurf, an zuständige Dienststellen des

Generalstabes und des RLM, sowie an beteiligte

Kommandobehörden) I.A.

gez. v. Seidel

Für die Richtigkeit:

[signature]

Hauptmann”

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Appendix: Order of Battle Material [19]

Date Higher HQ C/O Base Type/s Strength Serviceable

17.05.43 Luftflotte 5 Hptm. Strakeljahn Petsamo FW 190 A-3 11 7

Bibliography

Primary Sources

NA AIR 40/2415, A.I.(K) Reports 402-520 Vol 20, October – December 1943

NA HW 1, Government Code and Cypher School: Signals Intelligence Passed to the Prime Minister, Messages and Correspondence 1940-1945

NA HW 5, Government Code and Cypher School: German Section: Reports of German Army and Air Force High Grade Machine Decrypts

BA-MA RL 2 III/58

Friedrich Hammesfahr, Letter 10 November 2003

Luftwaffe victory claims films

Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. loss material

Summarische Verluste – Flugzeuge

Secondary Sources

Christer Bergström & Martin Pegg, Jagdwaffe: The War in Russia, November 1942-December 1943, Classic, 200?.

Krzysztof Janowicz, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Volume I, Kagero, Lublin, 2003.

Krzysztof Janowicz, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Volume III, Kagero, Lublin, 2005.

Jochen Prien, Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 77, Teil 3: 1942-1943, struve-druck, Eutin, undated.

Peter Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug: Fw 190 A, Fw 190 “Dora”, Ta 152 H, struve-druck, Eutin, 1998.

J. Richard Smith, Chris Goss, Andrew Arthy, Nick Beale & Robert Forsyth, Schlachtflieger: Luftwaffe Ground-Attack Units 1937-1945, Midland, Hinckley, 2007.

John Weal, Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, Osprey, Botley, 1996.

Electronic Sources

Kjetil Åkra, ‘JG 5 in 1943 Part I’, , 1996.

Kjetil Åkra, ‘JG 5 in 1943 Part II’, , 1996.

Andreas Brekken, ‘Eagles Over Norway’,

Olve Dybvig, ‘Luftwaffe SIG’,

Michael Holm, ‘The Luftwaffe, 1933-45’,

Jürgen Rohwer, ‘Seekrieg’, http://



NB – Mombeek’s book covering the Jabostaffel is on my wish list of books to obtain!

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[1] Luftwaffe Victory Claims Film C. 2035/II; Åkra, ‘JG 5 in 1943 Part I’; Bergström & Pegg, The War in Russia, p.285; Holm, ‘Jagdgeschwader 5’; Janowicz, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Volume III, p.39; Rodeike, Focke Wulf Jagdflugzeug, p.102; Smith et al., Schlachtflieger, p.64; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.30

[2] Hammesfahr, Letter 10 November 2003; Luftwaffe Victory Claims Film C. 2031/I; Åkra, ‘JG 5 in 1943 Part I’; Bergström & Pegg, The War in Russia, p.285; Brekken, ‘Hauptmann Friedrich Wilhelm Strakeljahn, Staffelkapitän’; Holm, ‘Schlachtgeschwader 4’; Janowicz, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Volume III, p.29; Prien, Jagdgeschwader 77, p.1820; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.31;

[3] Luftwaffe Victory Claims Film C. 2031/I; Prien, Jagdgeschwader 77, p.2399; Information via Russell Guest

[4] NA AIR 40/2415, A.I.(K) Report No. 443/1943; NA HW 1/1782; NA HW 5/357; Hammesfahr, Letter 10 November 2003; Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt.; Luftwaffe Victory Claims Film C. 2035/I; Åkra, ‘JG 5 in 1943 Part I’; Bergström & Pegg, The War in Russia, pp.285, 286; Dybvig, ‘Losses with Fw 190 A in Norway’; Holm, ‘Jagdgeschwader 5’; Janowicz, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Volume III, pp.30-34; Rohwer, ‘Seekrieg 1943, Mai’; Smith et al., Schlachtflieger, pp.64-66; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, pp.30-31

[5] Janowicz, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Volume III, p.33, says that he made a belly-landing, but the aircraft was reported lost.

[6] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen 14.(Jabo)/JG 5; Bergström & Pegg, The War in Russia, pp.285, 287; Brekken, ‘Hauptmann Friedrich Wilhelm Strakeljahn, Staffelkapitän’; Holm, ‘Schlachtgeschwader 5’. Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.31, incorrectly states that the unit was re-designated 4./S.G. 4 and sent to the Mediterranean theatre.

[7] Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen 14.(Jabo)/JG 5; Åkra, ‘JG 5 in 1943 Part I’; Smith et al., Schlachtflieger, p.65; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.31

[8] Åkra, ‘JG 5 in 1943 Part II’; Bergström & Pegg, The War in Russia, p.287; Smith et al., Schlachtflieger, pp.64-66; Weal, Fw 190 Aces of the Eastern Front, p.31

[9] Hammesfahr, Letter 10 November 2003; 14.(Jabo)/J.G.5 Summarische Verluste – Flugzeuge; Brekken, ‘Eagles Over Norway’; Dybvig, ‘Luftwaffe SIG’. Red text shows speculation.

[10] says 1 April 1943, Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. and Summarische Verluste – Flugzeuge say 5 April 1943

[11] Brekken, ‘Eagles Over Norway’, says Walter Hünlein

[12] Genst.Gen.Qu.6.Abt. says landing accident

[13] Brekken, ‘Eagles Over Norway’, says 29 December 1943

[14] Luftwaffe Victory Claims Film C. 2035/I

[15] Hammesfahr, Letter 10 November 2003; Luftwaffe Victory Claims Film C. 2032/I; Brekken, ‘Eagles Over Norway’; Janowicz, Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Volume III, p.39; Smith et al., Schlachtflieger, pp.64-66

[16] Bergström & Pegg, The War in Russia, pp.285-286; Brekken, ‘Eagles Over Norway’; Dybvig, ‘Luftwaffe SIG’; Smith et al., Schlachtflieger, pp.64-66

[17] The two aircraft marked ‘Black 5 + ’ are probably the same.

[18] BA-MA RL 2 III/58

[19] Price, Luftwaffe Data Book, p.???

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