HANS PETER HEISENBACH (DE) - Air attacks against Leros (German bomber missions on the Mediterranean

la vita ai tempi delle batterie international meeting, open court of primary school – Lakki, Leros 14th sept 2015

~ Hans Peter Eisenbach ~ Air Attacks against Leros

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Air Attacks against LEROS A briefing by Wing Commander ret. Peter Eisenbach

© Hans Peter Eisenbach 2015

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

PRELUDE – PRELUDIO ‐ προανάκρουσμα

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

3. September 1943 The Italian armistice was signed in CASSIBILE near Syracuse, Sicily.

DICK ROOKS DE HAAR STRONG

BG CASTELLANO MONTANARI SMITH (48)

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

8. September 1943 The Italian armistice was made public. German troops started to disarm Italian forces.

Rhodes

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

15. September 1943 On the islands CORFU and CEFALONIA Italian troops refused to hand out their arms.

CORFU

CEFALONIA

General Gandin Commander Division Acqui

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

15. – 21. September 1943 The Italian division „Acqui“ was annihilated in fighting and revenge actions.

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

15. – 21. September 1943 German dive bomber, deployed to ARAXOS, played a key role during the battle.

Ju 87 on their flight to Cefalonia on 15.9.43 Original photo taken out of Ju 87 with the call sign S7+GH by war correspondent Willy Bloch

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

15. – 21. September 1943 German dive bomber pilot flight log showing the missions against Cefalonia and Corfu.

15 16 17 Ju 87 on their flight to Cefalonia on 15.9.43

21 22 23 24 Corfu

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

10. – 17. September 1943 British forces took the opportunity to invade the Italian Aegean islands.

Prime and War Minister Winston Churchill

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

This ends the prelude, the battle for the Dodecanese started on 26 September 1943 with an air attack against the harbor of Portolago. A strong German bomber force was deployed to Greece for this campaign.

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Bomber Units

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Bomber Units For the Battle of Leros approx. 160 bomber and dive bomber were available.

Do 217

Ju 88

Ju 87

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Bomber Units I. Wing Training Group 1 was based in Eleusis with 25 Ju 88 I. Gruppe Lehrgeschwader 1

Eleusis

25 Ju 88

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Bomber Units III. Wing Training Group 1 was based in Castelli with 32 Ju 88 III. Gruppe Lehrgeschwader 1

Kastelli Crete 32 Ju 88

Castelli airfield Crete

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Bomber Units II. Wing Combat Group 51 was based in Saloniki with 21 Ju 88 II. Gruppe Kampfgeschwader 51

Saloniki

21 Ju 88

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Bomber Units One squadron with Dornier Do 217 E was deployed to Athen Kalamaki 5. SQN KG 100 was based at Athens/Kalamaki from 24.10.43 to 10.12.43.

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Bomber Units One destroyer squadron with Ju 88 was deployed to Eleusis 11./ZG 26

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Bomber Units Saloniki Eleusis Eleusis Kalamaki Castelli

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 The „Luftwaffe“ started to bomb LEROS from 26.09.1943 on.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Main targets were batteries and Navy installations at Leros.

CIANO FARINATA

Mount Marcello

Mount Clidi

Mount Meraviglia Mount Cazzuni DUCCI Heavy Artillery

Mount Scumbarda SAN GIORGIO

LAGO Mount Appetici

Parteni Bay Island of Arcangelo

CIANO Grifo Bay

FARINATA

Leros

Alinda Bay

LAGO Gurna Bay Pandeli Bay

Portolago Lakki

DUCCI

Portolago Harbour

Heavy Artillery Major threat for the German landing force.

SAN GIORGIO

Serocampo Bay

899 CIANO FARINATA

763 690

LAGO

763

508 306 DUCCI

250

432 388

Heavy Artillery Medium Artillery SAN GIORGIO

899 CIANO FARINATA

763 690

LAGO

763

508 248

306 113

DUCCI Heavy Artillery Medium Artillery Air Defense Artillery

250

432 262

SAN GIORGIO

388

749 888

989

899 CIANO

FARINATA

906 211

763 690

LAGO

763 127 508 248

306 113

DUCCI 227 Heavy Artillery Medium Artillery Air Defense Artillery Artillery and Air Defense

250

432 262

SAN GIORGIO

388 281

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Formation of Ju 88 heading for Leros from Kalymnos.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Formation of Ju 88 heading for Leros over Telendos.

TELENDOS KALYMNOS

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 over Leros attacking Portolago.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Portolago harbor after air attack.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Formation of Ju 88 heading for Leros from East.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Formation of Ju 88 heading for Leros from East.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Area around Mount Meraviglia after bomb attack.

.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 from Castelli / Crete on their way to Leros over Astypalea

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 Air attack against gun position SAN GIORGIO

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Gun position SAN GIORGIO on Mount Scumbarda

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 Air attack against gun position SAN GIORGIO

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 Air attack against gun position SAN GIORGIO

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 Air attack against gun position 432

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 Air attack against gun position 432

Photo: Marsland Gander, The Daily Telegraph

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 Air attack against gun position 432

Photo: Marsland Gander, The Daily Telegraph

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 bombing Cazzuni / Portolago area.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 bombing Cazzuni / Portolago area.

Portolago Bay

Cape Angistro

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Bombs over Cape Angistro.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 bombing Gun position DUCCI on Mount Cazzuni.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 bombing Gun position DUCCI on Mount Cazzuni.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 bombs falling in Mount Crumidi area, near gun position 248.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Ju 88 bombs falling in Mount Crumidi area, near gun position 248.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Alinda Bay and Gurna Bay in the focus of Ju 88 gunner.

1. View 2. View

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Alinda Bay and Gurna Bay in the focus of Ju 88 gunner.

Gurna Bay

Mo

e M

t un

r

lia g i av

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Gurna Bay and Alinda Bay in the focus of Ju 88 gunner.

Alinda Bay

Alinda Bay

Gurna Bay

Gurna Bay

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Pandeli Bay and Mount Appetici seen from Ju 88.

Meraviglia

Pandeli Bay

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 After the battle. Gun Position PL 127 on Mount Meraviglia.

PL 127

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Air attacks against gun position FARINATA.

German Ju 88 Bomber Air Raids against LEROS 1943 Bomb impact on gun position FARINATA on Mount Marcello.

Picture: Tony Rogers 2012

German Ju 88 Reconaissance aircraft Ju 88 over Cos.

German Ju 88 Reconaissance aircraft Ju 88 over British war ships „Credential Force“ October 9, 1943.

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Dive Bomber Units

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

German Dive Bomber Units Besides the Bomber units, also Dive Bomber units were available for the battle for Leros.

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 In June 1943 the Luftwaffe deployed 30 Ju 87D to Megara ‐ I./Stukageschwader 3

I. StG 3 MEGARA

StG = Stuka Geschwader; from October 18 an renamed: SchG = Schlachtgeschwader

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 I. Wing Dive Bomber Group 3 in MEGARA was the main Actor in the Aegean Sea

I. / StG 3 MEGARA

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 Based on the flight log reliable and widely complete information are available.

Fritz, 22 I. / StG 3 MEGARA

+ 31.03.44 KIA Russia

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 The flight time from MEGARA to LEROS was 80 minutes.

I. StG 3 MEGARA

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 The total operating time from MEGARA‐LEROS‐MEGARA was 185 minutes.

I. StG 3 MEGARA

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 The total operating time from MEGARA‐Rhodes‐MEGARA was 245 minutes!

I. StG 3 MEGARA

Target: War Ships Royal Navy

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 In June 1943 the Luftwaffe deployed 30 Ju 87D to ARGOS ‐ II./Stukageschwader 3

I. StG 3 MEGARA II. StG 3 ARGOS

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 One Squadron was also deployed to Rhodes

I. StG 3 MEGARA II. StG 3 ARGOS

13. StG 151

German Dive Bomber units Greece 1943 13. Squadron Dive Bomber Group 151 (Eleusis, Argos and Rhodes)

Training flight with Ju 87R ( R = extended range ) – Greece 1943

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 1943 The first Ju 87 mission were flown in support of the landing operation in Cos .

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 1943 Only few dive bomber missions were flown on 3rd and 4th of October.

Stukas

Truzzuli

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 1943 From 5th October on also Stuka Ju 87 dive bomber started to attack LEROS.

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 1943 The missions are recorded in the Flight Log book of a Stuka Pilot.

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 1943

Leros Leros HMS Penelope HMS Carlisle, Panther

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 9, 1943 Cruiser HMS Carlisle after air attack at 12.00 hours C‐time by I. / StG 3 MEGARA

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 1943

Leros 35 Ju 87 Leros & Levitha 42 Ju 87 Leros & Royal Navy Leros Batteries

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 1943 22. October: Air attack at against wireless station at Astypalaia

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions October 1943 26. October: Air attack of 17 Ju 87 against harbor of Portolago

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions November 1943 10. November: Air attack of 21 Ju 87 against LEROS

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Battle for Leros

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Battle for Leros Started on 12. November 1943

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Battle for Leros Started on 12. November 1943

Lt Cdr Ramseyer, Roal Navy, mentioned in his report of 15th November 1943: “Naturally from shortly after daybreak the island [Leros] was heavily bombarded by stukas and Ju 88s. During daylight hours I think it is true to say that at no time has the sky been clear of enemy activity.”

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Battle for Leros Day 1 ‐ 170 122 Bomber 48 Dive Bomber

Day 2 ‐ 130 68 Bomber 62 Dive Bomber

Day 3 ‐ 176 80 Bomber 96 Dive Bomber

Day 4 ‐ 188 102 Bomber 86 Dive Bomber

Day 5 ‐ 170 89 Bomber 81 Dive Bomber

German Air Force Activities – Daily sorties Bomber and Dive Bomber

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Battle for Leros German Air Force Activities – Daily attack waves (generic/abstract) Day 1 ‐ 170 122 Bomber 48 Dive Bomber

Day 2 ‐ 130 68 Bomber 62 Dive Bomber

Day 3 ‐ 176 80 Bomber 96 Dive Bomber

Attack Waves

Day 4 ‐ 188 102 Bomber 86 Dive Bomber

Day 5 ‐ 170 89 Bomber 81 Dive Bomber

Day 1 – 8 waves 21 Bomber 21 Bomber 20 Bomber 20 Bomber 20 Bomber 20 Bomber

Day 2 ‐ 7 waves 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 17 Bomber

Day 3 ‐ 10 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 12 Bomber

Day 4 ‐ 11 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 17 Bomber 17 Bomber

Day 5 ‐ 10 15 Bomber 15 Bomber 15 Bomber 15 Bomber 15 Bomber 14 Bomber

24 Dive Bomber 24 Dive Bomber

24 Dive Bomber 24 Dive Bomber 14 Dive Bomber

24 Dive Bomber 24 Dive Bomber 16 Dive Bomber 16 Dive Bomber 16 Dive Bomber

24 Dive Bomber 24 Dive Bomber 14 Dive Bomber 14 Dive Bomber 10 Dive Bomber

24 Dive Bomber 19 Dive Bomber 19 Dive Bomber 19 Dive Bomber

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions 12. – 16. November 1943 For the Battle of Leros 57 Junkers Ju 87 dive bomber in two wings were available.

I. Gruppe Schlachtgeschwader 3 II. Gruppe Schlachtgeschwader 3

Megara Rhodes

30 Ju 87 27 Ju 87

Image: Ju 87D of I./StG 3 Megara, Greece 1943

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions 12. – 16. November 1943 Waiting for the next mission. Megara 1943.

•S See attached whistle.

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions 12. – 16. November 1943 Ju 87 Dive Bomber of Schlachtgeschwader 3 over the Aegean Sea 1943.

Bomb impact at the battle ground.

Photo: Marsland Gander, The Daily Telegraph

Photo: Marsland Gander, The Daily Telegraph

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions 12. – 16. November 1943 The missions are recorded in the Flight Log book of a Stuka Pilot.

Missions of 1st squadron from MEGARA

German Ju 87 „Stuka“ Dive Bomber Missions 12. – 16. November 1943 Two missions per day were flown from MEGARA.

12.

13.

24 Ju 87

TOT 9.00 San Giorgio

24 Ju 87 Unclear mission

Tota l all units

62

14.

96

15.

86

16.

TGT Mount Meraviglia

‐ 81

Stuka bomb impact – photo taken by a British officer

Castle

Mount Meraviglia

Alinda Bay

Ju 87 ?

Castle

Mount Meraviglia

Alinda Bucht

Castle

Mount Meraviglia

Alinda Bucht

Mount Meraviglia

Alinda Bay

Stukas over Leros photo taken by a German Fallschirmjäger

Stukas over Leros ‐ photo taken by a German Fallschirmjäger

Mount Meraviglia

“The Germans launched a heavy attack on Meraviglia at first light on 16 November. All types of aircraft, including Stukas and outmoded seaplanes, flew more than 600 sorties against the British positions and strafed anything that moved”

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Battle for Leros After the Battle for LEROS. Some photos from Mount Meraviglia.

P.L. 127 Command Post on Mount Meraviglia

P.L. 127 Command Post on Mount Meraviglia

P.L. 127 Command Post on Mount Meraviglia

After the Battle

P.L. 127 Command Post on Mount Meraviglia

P.L. 127 on Mount Meraviglia No 4 Gun Position

P.L. 127 on Mount Meraviglia No 6 Gun Position

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

The last Action ‐ SAMOS The last Stuka air raid was directed against SAMOS on November 17.

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

The last Action ‐ SAMOS The last Stuka air raid was directed against SAMOS on November 17.

X

Air Attack against SAMOS

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

The last Action ‐ SAMOS Samos was attacked by 41 Bomber and 35 Dive Bomber.

Air Attack against SAMOS

Vathy after air raid of a dive bomber.

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Air Attacks against LEROS This was a briefing given by Wing Commander ret. Peter Eisenbach

In memory of all soldiers of all nations, who were killed during the battle in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in 1943.

In memory Italian soldiers of Division Acqui

In memory of all sailors killed during the Battle for the Aegean Sea

Are very special and personal memory to those sailers killed in action by German dive bomber of I. Gruppe Stukageschwader 3 MEGARA during the air attack on October 9, 1943 in the Straits of Scarpanto (Karpathos) west of Rhodes. Namely:

Cruiser HMS CARLISLE ALLEN, Joseph, ASKEW, Samuel, BLUNDELL, Charles, DAINTON, Stanley, DANIELS, David, DAVIES, Leonard, DESCOMBE, Frederick, GARRATT, Frederick, HEIGHWAY, Jack, HUCKER, Albert, HUNT, Patrick, JONES, Charles, KITE, Roy, MACKINTOSH, George, MALLETT, James, MAYNE, John, MCLINTOCK, Robert, MITCHELL, Raymond, RADCLIFFE, Ernest, RAPSON, Kenneth, SOUTHWOOD, Kenneth, WILLIAMS, Eric,

Destroyer HMS PANTHER ATKINSON, Harry, AYRE, Alfred, BARNES, Arthur, BLOOMER, Kenneth, COURTNEY, Albert, COWDROY, William, CRAMPTON, Henry, CRAWFORD, Ralph, CROUCHER, George, DAVIES, Henry, EASTMAN, Walter, FURNISS, Harry, GALE, Walter, GOLDMAN, Jack, GREEN, Peter, HALL, Leslie, HEFFERNAN, Claude, HEYES, Joseph, JEWELL, Charles JONES, Henry, KEENE, Victor, KIRTON, Ernest, LEWIS, Horace, MCHUGH, James, MILLER, Tom, MOSS, Harold, O'NEIL, John, PRITCHARD, Lionel, SEARLE, Henry SPENCER, Harry, STUBBS, Albert, THOMAS, Frank, THORNTON, Ernest, TURNER, George, VELLA, Paul, WEBSTER, Harry

Destroyer HMS PANTHER

„Harry“ + 9.10.43

Able Seaman Henry Larsen SEARLE, Uncel of Simon Rawson

In memory Italian soldiers killed in Kos

In memory British and Italian soldiers killed on Leros

In memory New Zealand soldiers killed on Leros

In memory German soldiers

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Air Attacks against LEROS This was a briefing given by Wing Commander ret. Peter Eisenbach

Thanks for your attention.

Leros 2015 Conference „LIFE AT THE TIMES OF BATTERIES“

Any Questions?

15.‐ € Ju 88 Ju 87 pictures and pages of flight log can be seen in my book.

Day 1 – 12.11.43 122 Bomber, 48 Dive Bomber „Stukas“ Ju 87, 18 Destroyer, 34 Fighter, 30 Reconaisance aircraft, 60 Transport aircraft Day 2 – 13.11.43 68 Bomber, 62 Dive Bomber „Stukas“ Ju 87, 24 Fighter Bomber, 12 Reconaisance aircraft, 20 Transport aircraft Day 3 – 14.11.43 80 Bomber, 96 Dive Bomber „Stukas“ Ju 87, 24 Fighter Bomber, 34 Fighter, 22 Reconaisance aircraft, 23 Transport aircraft Day 4 – 15.11.43 102 Bomber, 86 Dive Bomber „Stukas“ Ju 87, 49 Fighter, 24 Reconaisance aircraft, 22 Transport aircraft Day 5 – 16.11.43 89 Bomber, 81 Dive Bomber „Stukas“ Ju 87, 30 Fighter, 16 Reconaisance aircraft, 20 Transport aircraft Gemäß KTB SKL