Schlachtgeschwader 1 - Crimea 1942-3

Crimea 1942-3

After arrival operations started with ground attack missions in the Eastern Crimea in May 1942, and then over the Izyum Salient southeast of Kharkov to the end of the month. Outfitted with Bf 109E-7s, I/SchlG 1 was based at Itshki-Grammatikovo, the Gruppe was assigned to VIII Fliegerkorps for support of 11th Army's in the Kerch Peninsula. Attacks were carried out against Soviet positions along the front, on troop and supply columns immediately behind the front. Such was the effect that that German infantry assault units were able to break through the forward defenses on 8 May, the first day of the attack, and took the town of Kerch on 15 May. Losses to the Gruppe were two Bf 109E-7s on 11 May, both shot down by AA fire. Three Hs 129B-1s were shot down by AA fire on 23 May.

Altogether SchlG 1 flew nearly 1,500 sorties during May 1942 with a 1,000-plus missions with the Bf 109E, 259 with the Hs 123 and some 180 with the new Hs 129A. The unit later moved to Tatsinskaya in July and Tusov in August to support the 6th Army during the drive to the Don, and later Stalingrad, which began on June 25. Few losses were recorded during intense action, but I/SchlG 1 did lose two Bf 109E-7s, one shot down over Voronezh and the other on the Don on 4 July. II Gruppe was temporarily split up during this period with the Staffeln operating independently on the central sector of the front. 6th Staffel lost two Hs 129B-1s to AA on 28 June and three Hs 123As from 7th Staffel were lost northeast of Kursk on 29 June. The rapid advance of the German forces resulted in rapid transfers though the summer. Autumn losses in the Stalingrad area were very light. Around mid-August 1942, a further move was made to Tusov which became the home base for the I Gruppe until late November.