Recon Unit in the East

[Abicht]

While conducting research on aerial recon over the eastern front from 1939-1945 I have been taking notes on recon units, dates, and areas they conducted sorties.

For example I noted a specific unit, then the date the sortie occured and the location the aerial photos was taken. From this list I wonder if anyone has a complete list of the units that operated on the eastern front from 1939-1945. Also interestingly enough, the last photo recon mission I have been able to document and see the actual photos for was on April 15th 1945.

The AOK "unit" I wonder may have been from Corp level HS 126s or the like? Thoughts? Also I hate to ask this but what exactly does NAG stand for and what does it directly translate to? Is it night recon (which they did do)?

(the spelling is how it actually was written on the recon photos)

Unit --- Date --- Area of Recon Sortie
1(F)100 -11/9/1943- --Vel-Luki
1(F)100 -14/10/43 --Shlobia
1(F)100 -7/10/1943 --Smolensk
1(H)12 -23/9/41 --Tschudowo
2(F)100 --18/5/44 --Tarnopoils
2(F)11 --13/10/43 --Kiew
2(F)11 --21/3/44 --Balti
2(F)11 --5/6/1944 --Cernowitz
2(F)22 --21/9/43 --Isjum
2(F)22 --21/9/43 --Millerowa
2(F)22 --31/8/43 --Taganrog
2(F)22 --31/5/44 --Odessa
2(H)31 --11/6/1942 --Liwny
2(H)31 --4/6/1942 --Liwmy (Mius)
3(F)121 --21/10/43 --Rostow
3(F)121 --6/8/1944 --Simferopol
3(F)133 --23/9/41 --Moshask
3(F)22 --7/7/1942 --Waldai
3(F)22 --17/6/42 --Demjansk
3(F)22 --26/2/44 --Leningrad
3(H)21 --9/10/1943 --Tschernizoff (Missy)
3OBD.L --12/11/1942 --Grjasy
4(F)11 --25/6/42 --Demjansk
4(F)11 --27/9/42 --Mzensk
4(F)11 --12/5/1942 --Ssuchinitschi
4(F)11 --26/4/42 --Ijinskoje
4(F)11 --11/6/1942 --Tula
4(F)121 --26/10/42 --Welish/Beljo
4(F)121 --5/8/1943 --Koselsk
4(F)121 --22/3/44 --Vitebsk
4(F)14 --12/8/1943 --Wiasma
4(F)14 --6/11/1943 --Worshba
4(H)31 --13.6.44 --Vitebsk
5 (H)122 --15/6/42 --South Ladoga
5(F)122 --14/5/42 --Leningrad
5(F)122 --24/9/43 --Bahn/Schum Wilchow./Kalinin
5(F)122 --30/9/43 --Toropez
5(F)122 --29/9/43 --Leningrad
5(F)122 --7/7/1943 --Kronstadt
5(F)122 --13/5/43 --Leningrad
5(F)122 --16/5/43 --Ladoga See
AOK 2 11/12 --19/6/44 --Kowel
AOK.4 --28/7/43 --Kirow
AOK2 Pz AOK3 --24/5/44 --Kowel
KAG.7 --30/9/42 --Stalingrad
Lfl.1 --14/8/42 --Mal Wischera
Lfl.1 --10/9/1943 --Ostrow
Lfl.6 --23/8/43 --Jelez
Lfl.KD.05 --31/8/42 --Karelien
NAG.1 --30/5/43 --Mius Front/Taganrog/Businow
NAG.1 --9/7/1943 --Minsk
NAG.1 --3/6/1943 --Mius Front
NAG.1 --29/9/43 --Melitpol
NAG.1 --23/5/43 --Krassn-Lutsch
NAG.1 --24/9/43 --Ssaporoshje
NAG.1 --10/7/1943 --Kulbyschewa
NAG.1 --6/10/1943 --Melitopol-Oecho
NAG.1 --9/1/1944 --Kriow
NAG.1 --11/1/1944 --Nikipol
NAG.10 --6/11/1943 --?
NAG.10 --2/10/1943 --Gomel
NAG.10 --25/10/42 --Woronesh
NAG.11 --31/10/42 --Demjansk
NAG.11 --24/8/43 --Cholm
NAG.11 --30/7/43 --Cholm
NAG.11 --30/12/42 --Demjansk
NAG.14 --31/7/43 --Isjum
NAG.14 --24/10/43 --Dnepropetrowsk
NAG.14 --31/7/44 --Jassy
NAG.15 --12/9/1942 --Mzansk (or Mzensk)
NAG.15 --18/6/43 --Belew
NAG.15 --13/9/43 --Brjansk
NAG.15 --1/8/1943 --Schisdra
NAG.15 --8/7/1943 --Kirow
NAG.15 --2/6/1943 --Orel
NAG.15 --12/9/1942 --Belew
NAG.15 --8/1/1944 --Gomel
NAG.15 --9/2/1944 --Mosyl
NAG.15 --4/2/1944 --N Krim
NAG.15 --11/5/1944 --Mosyr
NAG.15 --10/6/1944 --Rogatschew

[Piet Duits]

Hi there,

NAG = Nahaufklärungsgruppe. In other words, close range reconnaissance.


Piet

[Andy_F]

As Piet said

NAG (or NAGr.) = Nahaufklärungsgruppe - Tactical (short range) Reconnaissance
Tactical recce units were originally designated (H) for Heer.


FAGr. = Fernaufklärungsgruppe - Strategic (long range) Reconnaissance

1.(F)/122 would be the 1st long range reconnaissance staffel of aufklärungsgruppe 122

Long range night reconnaissance units were designated like this example 2.(F)/Nacht

Check the following link for detailed data on Lw recce units

http://www.ww2.dk/

click Air Units > Reconnaissance Units

Does your list of recce sorties mention the pilots who flew each sortie?

[Abicht]

Andy-

So the Heer designation was changed to NAG? If so at what date and do you happen to know why? I think I know the answer based on the organizational modifications taken after the winter of 41-42 but dont know for sure as the H designation carried over into summer 1944 and the NAG began in late 1942 (based on German documents).

As far as pilot data, some of the photos and target/sortie data sheets were annotated with names by it isnt clear if they were the pilots, observers, or the Stabia PIs.

Oddly enough I have gone over hundreds of sorties, documents, and such from 1939-1945 and never come across a 'Nacht' designation. I do have Army Group North maps showing areas monitored by night recon flights as well as activity detected from night recon sorties, but that is it.

[Andy_F]

Some aufklärungsstaffeln (Heer) were re-designated as nahaufklärungsstaffeln whilst others soldiered on to the end. I don't know what criteria were used to select units for re-designation, probably just what ever was available at the time knowing the Lw.

Nahaufklärungsgruppen Stabe started to appear in 1942. These controlled aufklärungsstaffeln (Heer) which were moved between nahaufklärungsgruppen as required (just like the old Koluft. commands). Some nahaufklärungsgruppen got their own organic staffeln especially later in the war (ie NAGr. 2 consisted of Stab/NAGr. 2, 1./NAGr. 2, 2./NAGr. 2, 3./NAGr. 2) but these often ended up serving under other nahaufklärungsgruppen.

Hope that makes sense.

Best Regards

Andy

[Florin]

The photos available in the following links show a Ju-88D manufactured to be a long-range photographic reconnaissance plane:

http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php ... 2475&st=30
http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php ... 2475&st=45