1./NSG 9 deploys to the battle area (Page 20)

When the Fiat CR.42s of 1./NSG 9 first deployed to the battle area, on 10 March 1944, they did so in two stages. A new source gives a more detailed breakdown of their movements.

Aircraft Movement Control at Caselle signalled Bologna that CR.42s E8+AH, EH, FH, GH, JH, SH and VH had taken off at 14.32 hours. The message said that six aircraft were involved but seven codes were given.

Bologna Control later confirmed that JH, AH, CH, SH, VH and two more (whose codes British Signals Intelligence did not hear clearly) had arrived between 15.45 and16.00 hours.

At 15.30 hours next day, Bologna advised Piavono Control that CR 42s E8+EH, FH, JH, CH, SH, VH and AH had left between 13.38 and 14.15 hrs.

The fact that CH appears in two of the messages and GH in only one suggests that the latter was singalled in error and that CH was the true marking of the aircraft concerned. If this inference is correct, the reference to GH in the book should read CH.

New sources: UK National Archives, Government Code and Cypher School: German Section: Reports of German Army and Air Force High Grade Machine Decrypts.

 

Fiirst operations (Page 22)

From OB Südwest's morning report of 12 March 1944:

On the night 11./12.3, during the evening hours, our own Nachtschlachtflieger combatted unloading in harbour at Anzio-Nettuno. No further operations could be carried out owing to deterioration of the weather.

OBSW120344

From the morning report of 13 March:

III. Air Situation:

During the night of 12/13 March no enemy air activity reported. In several operations, some Nachtschlacht aircraft attacked artillery and AA positions which were firing, as well as machine gun nests in the beach head with well-placed bombs. Fires were seen between Anzio and Nettuno. Reconnaissance aircraft screened the Italian coasts.

Supreme Commander South West (High Command Army Group C) Operations Officer No. 2691/44, Top Secret.

ROEM3LUFTLAGE

Fiat CR.42 at Viterbo (Page 22)

The code "EH+FH" recorded on CR.42 MM. 90843 can now be confirmed as a transcription error. The typed draft of MAAF Field Intelligence Unit's Technical Intelligence Report No. 18 gives the code as E8+FH, showing it was an aircraft of 1./NSG 9. The mistake seems to have crept in when the final printed version of the report was prepared.

The Junkers Ju 87 (Page 25)

The Ju 87 had been pressed into the night harassment role before, in North Africa. On 11 September 1942, Fliegerführer Afrika complained that flame dampers unsuitable for the Ju 87 had "again been delivered" and that "the issuing of equipment known to be unuseable is, from an operational and supply standpoint, quite incomprehensible". On 28 October, 24 night harassing sorties had been made by St.G 3 against Eighth Army artillery positions, tanks and vehicle concentrations near El Alamein. On 15 November a request was made for “20 flame dampers for night Stukas” to be sent to Nofilia-Nord (An Nawfaliyah, Libya).

New sources: ULTRA QT 4637, QT 6544; Canadian Department of National Defence, Directorate of History and Heritage, Kardex system.

 

navtag
GBplate next back homelink NSG9link appxs ch14 ch15 ch13 ch12 ch11 ch10 ch09 ch08 ch07 ch06 ch05 ch04 ch03 ch02 ch01