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