Luftwaffe Units for Op Sicily

[Christoph K]

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick question but I have yet to find a site or a good source that has the answer but does anyone know the Luftwaffe Units that were engaged/based on Sicily during Operation Husky?

Many Thanks!

[Lorenz]

The E.R. Hooten list will give you the identity of the 35 Gruppen and 4 independent Staffeln under Luftflotte 2 on 10 July 1943:

Jul 43
[Luftflotte 2 with: II. Fliegerkorps, Fliegerführer 2, Geleitzugführer Mittelmeer, Jagdfliegerführer Sizilien, Jagdabschnittsführer Italien, Kampffliegerführer Mittelmeer - see E.R. Hooten, Eagle in Flames, pp.316-17 for list of units on 10 Jul 43.]
10 Jul: Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation “Husky”). Luftflotte 2, now with 838 aircraft on strength, 282 of these based in Sicily, flew attacks on shipping off the landing beaches of South Sicily; and also bombed Tunisian and Algerian ports congested with landing craft and cargo ships. Quickly reinforced by units transferred in from other commands, these missions continued with diminishing intensity through Jul and Aug but were not particularly successful. During the first six days of “Husky” (10-15 Jul) the Luftwaffe was only able to average 210 sorties a day over the island against 5 to 6 times that number by the Allies. The Italians averaged another 145. The last Luftwaffe air unit departed the island for the mainland on 16 Jul. In all of July the Luftwaffe managed to sink just 7 cargo ships, 1 destroyer and 6 smaller ships in the Sicily – North Africa area.

For the base locations, you will have to take each unit that you have obtained from the Hooten list and look it up on this web site: http://www.ww2.dk/ .

L.

[Christoph K]

Hello Lorenz!

Thanks for the information. I've put a request in for Hooten's book and it should prove to be very helpful. Thanks very much for the info that you have given already, it is much appreciated!