7 June

Back in Germany, Maj. Griese had attended a conference with I.JagdKorps at which the immediate re-equipment of one Gruppe with the Ju 88 had been agreed on. In addition, II./NJG 6 was to return from Italy “within the next few days” and Griese decided that it should be the one to convert to the new type (the G-1 model, as it transpired). The conference’s other decision was to re-establish a third Staffel in every Gruppe (since no aircraft bearing its codes were detected over Italy during June, it would seem that 5./NJG 6 had been in abeyance).

Night of 7/8 June

The II./NJG 6 reported that six of its aircraft had operated from Perugia during the night. During a bombing mission to road junction east of Orvieto, an unidentified machine with a white belly passed over a Wellington, flying at 1,400 m. on a reciprocal course. The Germans had no success to report however, just that a Bf 110 had broken its undercarriage when landing.

On the 8th, NJG 6 was notified that the temporary detachment to Luftflotte Reich of Hptm. Hollborn, Staffelkapitän of 4./NJG 6, had been changed to a transfer.

Night of 8/9 June

Five Bf 110s patrolled in the Viterbo-RietiI area without contacting the enemy. All they had to show for their efforts were two machines—those of Fw. Pata and Lt. Mahr — 25% damaged in craslandings in Perugia. Traffic associated with the return of eight aircraft to Ghedi by 06.00 hours was the last R/T activity from the Gruppe in Italy that was overheard by MAAF Signals Intelligence.

Night of 9/10 June

Ten Bf 110s operated in the Viterbo area, once again without making any sightings. A Beaufighter chased one without success and a Wellington of 231 Wing on a leaflet-dropping mission saw possible white fighter flares at 6,000ft SW Lake Trasimeno and between Forence and Arezzo. Another of the Wing’s Wellingtons, leaving its target area of Trieste ,was followed for nearly 10 minutes by an unidentified aircraft “with a rounded tail” and a white light on its starboard wing . This pursuer stayed at about 800 yards astern and was eventually lost by evasive action. Given the description and location, it is possible that this was a Ju 88 C or R Luftbeobachterstaffel 7 which had outposted some of its aircraft to Villaorba at the time (eight were there on 10 June).

10-12 June

On the night of 10/11 June, all operations had to be cancelled because of bad weather. Next day, Hptm. Griese (the Gruppe’s Liaison Officer with Jafü Oberitalien) reported that Luftflotte 2 had given the order for II./NJG 6 to return to Germany. One Bf 110 flew from Bologna to Ghedi during the day and five were active between the latter place and Perugia. Once again, night operations were prevented by bad weather.

The II./NJG 6’s aircraft arrived back in Germany on the afternoon of 12 June, some with unserviceable radios. The Allies were aware of the move, hearing six machines in contact with flying control at Munich and using the callsign Schwalbe.

So ended II./NJG 6’s second and final deployment to Italy. One British medium bomber had been shot down in exchange for three Bf 110s lost on operations; two 25% damaged in crash landings; one with a damaged undercarriage and three which taxied into craters, presumably suffering some minor damage in the process. In addition, at least one machine was left behind: during the Summer of 1944, Field Intelligence teams examining Perugia aerodrome found the remains of Bf 110, WNr.5546, destroyed under a collapsed hangar.

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