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On 14 March, the Staffel gave an unusually detailed return of its strength: 12 operational pilots and 8 (3) aircraft as follows:
The technical defects were enumerated by an Obltn. Dürr, possibly the unit’s Technical Officer. Operations that day included one Ar 234 making photographic reconnaissance of roads in the Remagen–Bitburg–Trier–Koblenz area from 11.53–13.33 hrs. and a P/R of the left bank of the Mosel from Koblenz to Trier was also successful. An attempt to get photos of the left bank of the Rhine from Koblenz to Sinzig was defeated by 9/10 cloud. Airfield cover was again ordered for the 15th and two sorties were flown, covering the northern and southern sections of the target area respectively: 09.03–10.55 hrs.: Stfw. Gildemeister, T5+AH. Biblis – Metz – Sedan – Charleville – Hirson – St. Quentin – Laon – Rethel – Trier – Biblis. About 10 airfields photographed from 8–9,000m, also the tented camp (Field Depot) at Sissonne. Weather cloudless in recce area. 09.36–11.15 hrs.: Ofw. Windhöfel, T5+CH. Biblis – Verdun – North of Chalons-sur-Marne – Château-Thierry – area of Reims – Biblis. About 10 airfields photographed from 8,500m. Weather in recce area cloudless. Opposition: three enemy fighters approached over Château-Thierry. The following day saw another two sorties, primarily over Germany rather than France: 14.43–15.35 hrs.: P/R of the Rhein from Hönningen–Königswinter only partially carried out owing to weather. Photo-reconnaissance of the Mosel from Koblenz to Trier carried out. 15.32–17.08 hrs.: reconnaissance over the Saar front. On the 17th a single Ar 234 photographed Remagen on a sortie lasting from 14.40–15.35 hrs. but the next day was altogether busier: 09.30–11.10 hrs.: P/R from Bingen to Köln, the Remagen bridgehead and roads in the Koblenz – Kochem area. The Allied advances up to, and in places across, the Rhein forced the abandonment of several Luftwaffe bases which now came within artillery range, their resident units having to pull back deeper into Germany. The 1.(F)/100, on the river’s eastern bank at Biblis, was no exception and a local history website records that the Arados left on 14 March. The Staffel reported that it had not operated on the 25th because Schwäbisch Hall was not serviceable but would probably be so by 28th or 29th (the state of the airfield had been queried by Gefechtsverband Kowalewski on the 23rd and given the next day as “no longer serviceable”). The American Seventh Army crossed the river north and south of Worms on the 26th and Biblis was given up without a fight. That day also brought a request that a long-distance connection from the Staffel be switched over to Luftwaffe Signals Exchange 65, the line being urgently needed for communication of operations and photo-interpretation reports. continued on next page …
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PART FOUR |
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