Italian Air Force in the Invasion of Greece, October 28, 1940

Italian Air Force in the Invasion of Greece, October 28, 1940
v. 1.0 April 7, 2002

Jason Long
From his site, with permission, Sturmvogel.

Stormo	Gruppo	Squadriglie	Aircraft	Strength	Base
Commando Aeronautica Albania
	160° Gruppo Aut. CT	393^a	CR.32	8	Drenova ⁽¹⁾
		394^a	CR.32	14	Drenova ⁽¹⁾
		395^a	G.50bis	18	Berat
38° Stormo BT	39° Gruppo BT	51^a, 69^a	SM.81	12	Valona
38° Stormo BT	40° Gruppo BT	202^a, 203^a	SM.81	12	Valona
	105° Gruppo Aut. BT	254^a, 255^a	SM.79	15	Tirana
	72° Gruppo Aut. OA	25^a	Ro.37bis	18	Koritza
		42^a			Valona
		120^a			Argyrokastron
Comando 4^a Zona Aera Territoriale
35° Stormo BM	86° Gruppo BM	190^a, 191^a	Z.506B	12	Brindisi
35° Stormo BM	95° Gruppo BM	230^a, 231^a	Z.506B	11	Brindisi
37° Stormo BT	55° Gruppo BT	220^a, 221^a	SM.81	18	Lecce
37° Stormo BT	116° Gruppo BT	276^a, 277^a	BR.20/20M	18	Lecce
47° Stormo BT	106° Gruppo BT	260^a, 261^a	Z.1007bis	12	Grottaglie
47° Stormo BT	107° Gruppo BT	262^a, 263^a		12	Grottaglie
	50° Gruppo Aut. BT	210^a, 211^a		20	Brindisi
	96° Gruppo B.a'T	236^a, 237^a	Ju 87B/R	20	Lecce
	2° Gruppo CT	150^a	CR.32	9	Bari
	2° Gruppo CT	152^a	G.50	12	Grottaglie
Aeronautica Dell'Egeo (25 September 1940)
		161^a Aut. CM ⁽²⁾	Ro.43/44	1/8	Lero
		163^a Aut. CT	CR.42	9	Gadurra'
39° Stormo BT	56° Gruppo BT	222^a, 223^a	SM.81	?
39° Stormo BT	92° Gruppo BT	200^a, 201^a	SM.79	?
	34° Gruppo BT	67^a, 68^a Sq.	SM.79	12
	41° Gruppo BT	204^a, 205^a Sq.	Z.1007bis	16
	41° Gruppo BT	204^a, 205^a Sq.	SM.82	6
	84° Gruppo Aut. RM	147^a, 185^a	Z.501	15	Lero
	Sezione Soccorso		Z.506C	2	Rodi (from 18/6)
	Sezione RS		Z.506	2	Rodi
Reinforcements between 1 and 11 November 1940.
Commando Aeronautica Albania
	24° Gruppo Aut. CT	354^a, 355^a, 361^a	G.50bis	29	Tirana
	150° Gruppo Aut. CT	363^a	CR.42	38	Tirana
		364^a			Valona
		365^a			Argyrokastron
	154° Gruppo Aut. CT	361^a e 395^a	G.50	21	Berat
	104° Gruppo Aut. BT	252^a, 253^a	SM.79	16	Tirana
Comando 4^a Zona Aerea Territoriale
		372^a Aut. CT	MC.200	12	Brindisi
	41° Gruppo Aut. BT	204^a, 205^a	Z.1007bis	16	Brindisi

(1) During the campaign it received Fiat CR.42s and some G.50s. Shortly after the beginning of operations the airfield at Drenova was abandoned and 393^a Sq. went to Devoli and 394^a Sq. to Berat.

(2) 162^a Sq. was formed at Marizza on 1 January 1941 with Fiat CR.42s. On 11 June 1941 there was transferred also the 164^a Sq. CT (CR.42s) and it was formed the 161° Gruppo CT with 162^a, 163^a, and 164^a. 161^a Sq. Aut. CM was disbanded. On 12 November 1941 the 161° Gruppo began to be re-equipped with G.50s.

Assault on the Balkans

5 April 41

Luftwaffe

		Aircraft
Unit	Airbase	Type	Strength	Svcble
Luftflotte 4
Stab, I, III/KG 2	Zwölfing	Do 17Z	65	63
III/KG 3	Münchendorf	Do 17Z	28	26
III/KG 3	Münchendorf	Ju 88A	3	-
II/KG 4	Wien-Aspern	He 111P	28	25
KG 51	Wiener Neustadt	Ju 88A	81	55
Fliegerführer Graz
I/JG 27	Graz-Thalerhof	Bf 109E	33	27
Stab, 5, 6/JG 54		Bf 109E	35*	27*
Stab/StG 3		Ju 87B	3	1
Stab/StG 3		He 111H	-	1
II/StG 77		Ju 87B	39	34
Fliegerführer Arad
4, III/JG 54	Arad	Bf 109E	42*	39*
Stab, II, III/JG 77	Deta	Bf 109E	92	73
I/ZG 26	Szeged	Bf 110C/E	33	30
Stab, I, III/StG 77	Arad	Ju 87B	82	68
		Bf 109E	5	4
		Bf 110C	1	1

VIII. Fliegerkorps
Stab, III/JG 27	Belica	Bf 109E	45	44
II/JG 27	Sofia		40	37
I (J)/LG 2	Sofia		27	22
II/ZG 26	Krainici	Bf 110C/E	37	25
I/LG 1	Krumovo	Ju 88A	?	?
II (S)/LG 2	Sofia	Bf 109E	29	23
10 (S)/LG 2	Krainici	Hs 123A	32	20
I/StG 1	Krainici	Ju 87R	24	23
Stab, I, III/StG 2	Belica-Nord	Ju 87B	72	69
Stab, I, III/StG 2		Ju 87R	9	9
I/StG 3		Ju 87B	30	30
I/StG 3		Ju 87R	9	9
IV/KG zbV 1	Krumovo	Ju 52	?	?
Deutsche Luftwaffenmission Rumänien
III/JG 52	Bukarest-Pipera	Bf 109E	57	45
* 4./JG 54 strengths are included with those of II/JG 54

Grand Totals

Number

Type

Strength

Svcble

7

Kampfgruppen

205

169

7

Stukagruppen

280

255

1 1/3

Schlachtgruppen

61

43

9

Jagdgruppen

371

314

2

Zerstörergruppen

70

55

I/LG 1 isn't counted in the above totals.

Regia Aeronautica

Stormo

Gruppo

Squadriglie

Base

Aircraft

Strength

Commando Aeronautica Albania

22° Gruppo Aut. CT

359^a, 362^a, 369^a

Tirana

MC.200

37

24° Gruppo Aut. CT

354^a, 355^a

Devoli

G.50/G.50bis ⁽¹⁾

26

150° Gruppo Aut. CT

2 Squadriglie only

Valona

MC.200

20

154° Gruppo Aut. CT

361^a, 395^a

Devoli

G.50/G.50bis ⁽¹⁾

27

160° Gruppo Aut. CT

375^a, 393^a, 394^a

CR.42

30

101° Gruppo Aut. B a'T

208^a, 238^a

Tirana

Ju 87B

20

72° Gruppo OA

42^a

Valona

Ro.37bis

9

120^a

Durazzo

Ca.311

9

5° Gruppo OA

31^a, 39^a

Berat

Ro.37bis

18

(68° Gruppo OA)

35^a Sq. OA

Pequini

8

(65° Gruppo OA)

87^a Sq. OA

Tirana

Ca.311

7

70° Gruppo OA

25^a

Ro.37bis

9

114^a

Ca.311

8

4^a Squadra Aerea

8° Gruppo Aut. CT

92^a, 93^a, 94^a

Oria ⁽²⁾

MC.200

14

153° Gruppo Aut. CT

372^a, 373^a, 374^a

Brindisi

38

Bari

Grottaglie

CR.42

9

370^a Sq. Aut. CT

Grottaglie

MC.200

12

(21° Gruppo CT)

356^a

Bari Palese ⁽³⁾

6

97° Gruppo Aut. B a'T

209^a

Lecce

Ju 87R

10

13° Stormo BT

11° Gruppo BT

1^a, 4^a

Gioia del Colle

BR.20

12

43° Gruppo BT

3^a, 5^a

12

35° Stormo Misto

86° Gruppo BM

192^a, 191^a

Brindisi

Z.506B

12

95° Gruppo BT

230^a, 231^a

Z.1007bis

15

37° Stormo BT

55° Gruppo BT

47^a, 48^a

Lecce

BR.20/BR.20M

15

116° Gruppo BT

276^a, 277^a

12

38° Stormo BT

39° Gruppo BT

276^a, 277^a

Foggia

BR.20

8

40° Gruppo BT

202^a, 203^a

8

47° Stormo BT

106° Gruppo BT

260^a, 261^a

Grottaglie

Z.1007bis

13

107° Gruppo BT

262^a, 263^a

13

(16° Stormo BT)

50° Gruppo BT

210^a, 211^a

Brindisi

8

(46° Stormo BT)

104° Gruppo BT

252^a, 253^a

Foggia

SM.79

15

105° Gruppo BT

254^a, 255^a

Bari

15

2^a Squadra Aerea

4° Stormo CT

9° Gruppo CT

73^a, 96^a, 97^a

Alture di Pola

MC.200

23

Gorizia

10° Gruppo CT

84^a, 90^a, 91^a

Ronchi dei Legionari

23

54° Stormo CT

7° Gruppo CT

76^a, 86^a, 98^a

Treviso

22

16° Gruppo CT

167^a, 168^a, 169^a

Ravenna

22

Udine

18° Stormo BT

31° Gruppo BT

65^a, 66^a

Aviano

BR.20/BR.20M

16

37° Gruppo BT

47^a, 48^a

16

25° Gruppo Aut. BT

8^a, 9^a

Forli

15

99° Gruppo Aut. BT

242^a, 243^a

Vicenza

14

71° Gruppo OA

38^a, 116^a

Udine

Ro.37

12

63° Gruppo OA

41^a, 113^a

Udine

14

61° Gruppo OA

34^a, 128^a

Gorizia

Ca.311

15

97° Gruppo Aut. B.a'T.

239^a

Jesi

Ju 87R

10

(1) Deliveries of the "bis" version started on April 1941
(2)The 8° Gruppo was based on Oria-Manduria airfield on April 1941, but was never employed actively in war operations, being used only for patrols and went back to Caselle airfield in May 1941.
(3) This unit arrived too late to have much impact on the campaign.

Grand Totals

Type

Aeronautica Albania

2^a Squadra Aerea

4^a Squadra Aerea

Totals

Fighters

140

90

65

295

Bombers

61

149

210

Bomber Floatplanes

12

12

Dive Bombers

20

20

40

Crete

20 May 1941

Luftwaffe

Unit

Airbase

Type

VIII. Fliegerkorps

Stab, I, III/KG 2

Menidi

Do 17Z

III/KG 3

I, II/LG 1

Eleusis

Ju 88A

II/KG 26

He 111H

II/KG 4

Rhodes-Gadurra

Stab, II/StG 1

Argos

Ju 87B

Stab, I/StG 2

Molaoi and Mycene

III/StG 2

Scarpanto

I/StG 3

Argos

I, II, III/StG 77

Stab, I, II/ZG 26

Bf 110

II/ZG 76

II, III/JG 77

Molaoi

Bf 109E

I(J)/LG 2

XI. Fliegerkorps

Kampfgeschwader zbV 1

Ju 52

I, II/KG zbV 1

Megara and Corinth

I, II/KG zbV 172

Kampfgeschwader zbV 2

KGr zbV 60

Topolia

KGr zbV 101

KGr zbV 102

Kampfgeschwader zbV 3

KGr zbV 40

Tanagra

KGr zbV 105

KGr zbV 106

I/LLG 1

DFS 230/Ju 52

Note: II/KG 4 was primarily occupied with mining operations against Alexandria and the Suez Canal

Totals

Bf 109E	119
Bf 110	114
Bombers	228
Stukas	205
Ju 52	520
Gliders	72

Note: The Ju 52 total appears to excludes the tugs of I/LLG 1.

Regia Aeronautica

Unit

Subordinate Units

Airfield

Type

56° Gruppo BT⁽⁴⁾

222^a, 223^a

Gadurra'

SM.81

41° Gruppo BT ⁽¹⁾

204^a, 205^a Squadriglia

SM.84 (12 a/c)

50° Gruppo CT

210^a, 211^a Squadriglia

Maritza

Z.1007bis ⁽³⁾

92° Gruppo BT

200^a, 201^a Squadriglia

Gadurra'

SM.79

161^a Squadriglia Aut. CM

Leros

Ro.43/44

162^a Squadriglia Aut. CT

⁽²⁾

Scarpanto

CR.42

163^a Squadriglia Aut. CT

Gadurra'

CR.32/42

172^a Squadriglia RT

Maritza

Z.1007bis

281^a Squadriglia Aut. AS

Gadurra'

SM.79sil

Sezzione Soccorso

Rhodes

Z.506B

(1) the Gruppo was a mixed unit (BT & AS) having 3 torpedo-bomber crews in charge
(2) 162^a Sq. trasferred to Scarpanto between 12 and 15 May to operate as airfield defence
(3) On 25 May, 231^a Sq. BT moved to Aegean but on 1 June was back in Italy, leaving its 6 Z.1007bis to 50° Gruppo
(4)56° Gruppo BT doesn't appear to have participated in the Battle of Crete in any significant way. Its aircraft aren't included in the totals below.

Serviceable Totals

Fighters	20
Bombers	21
Torpedo-bombers	4
Fighter-reconnaissance floatplanes	4
Reconnaissance floatplanes	2

Sources:

Ulf Balke's KG 2 unit history,
Christopher Shores' Air War For Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete 1940-41
G. Santoro's L'Aeronautica Italiana nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale vol.1 (Ed. ESSE, 1966)
Emiliani-Ghergo-Vigna's Regia Aeronautica: Balcani e Fronte Orientale (Intergest 1974)
Composed with the help of Ferdinando D'Amico & Gabriele Valentini

Operation Barbarossa
21 June 1941

		Aircraft
Unit	Airbase	Type	Strength	Svcble
Luftflotte 1
KGr zbV 106	?	Ju 52	44	8
I. Fliegerkorps
Stab/KG 1	Powunden	He 111H	1	1
II/KG 1	Powunden	Ju 88A	29	27
III/KG 1	Eichwalde bei Labiau		30	29
Stab/KG 76	Gerdauen		1	0
I/KG 76	Gerdauen		30	22
II/KG 76	Jürgenfelde		30	25
III/KG 76	Schippenbeil		29	22
Stab/KG 77	Heiligenbeil		1	1
I/KG 77	Jesau		30	23
II/KG 77	Wormditt		31	23
III/KG 77	Heiligenbeil		29	20
Stab/JG 54	Lindental	Bf 109F	4	3
I/JG 54	Rautenburg		40	34
II/JG 54	Trakehnen		40	33
III/JG 54	Blumenfeld		40	35
4., 5./JG 53	Neuseidel		35	33
Fliegerführer Ostsee
KGr 806	Prowehren	Ju 88A	30	18
Luftgau-Kommando I
Erg./JG 52	Neuhausen	Bf 109E	30	19
Erg./JG 54	Neuhausen	Bf 109E	24	19
Luftflotte 2
Stab/JG 53	Krzewica	Bf 109F	6	6
I/JG 53	Krzewica		35	29
III/JG 53	Subolewo		38	36
IV/KG zbV 1	?	Ju 52	40	38
II. Fliegerkorps
Stab/KG 3	(Deblin)	Do 17Z	1	0
Stab/KG 3		Ju 88A	2	2
I/KG 3			41	32
II/KG 3			38	32
II/KG 3		Do 17Z	1	0
Stab/KG 53	Radom	He 111H	6	4
I/KG 53	Grojec		28	18
II/KG 53	Radom		21	10
III/KG 53	Radzyn		29	20
III/KG 53	Radzyn	He 111P	2	2
Stab/StG 77	Biala Podlaska	Bf 110	7	6
Stab/StG 77		Ju 87B	3	1
I/StG 77			38	31
II/StG 77	Woskrzenice		39	27
II/StG 77		Bf 110	1	0
III/StG 77		Ju 87B	35	28
Stab/SKG 210	(Radzyn)	Bf 110	5	4
I/SKG 210	Rognoznicka		41	33
II/SKG 210	Rognoznicka		37	37
Stab/JG 51	Siedlce	Bf 109F	4	4
I/JG 51	Starawies		40	38
II/JG 51	Siedlce		40	23
III/JG 51	Halaszi		38	30
IV/JG 51	Krzewica		38	26
VIII. Fliegerkorps
Stab/KG 2	Arys-Rostken	Do 17Z	11	5
I/KG 2	Arys-Rostken		35	19
8., 9./KG 2	Lyck		41	23
III/KG 3	(Suwalki)		44	18
Stab/StG 1	(Radczki)	Bf 110	3	2
Stab/StG 1		Ju 87B	3	2
II/StG 1			39	28
III/StG 1			39	24
Stab/StG 2	(Praschnitz)	Bf 110	6	4
Stab/StG 2		Ju 87B	3	3
I/StG 2		Ju 87B	35	19
III/StG 2		Ju 87R	39	20
II (Sch.)/LG 2		Bf 109E	38	37
10. (Sch.)/LG 2	?	Hs 123A	22	17
Stab/ZG 26	Suwalki	Bf 110C/E	4	4
I/ZG 26			38	17
II/ZG 26			36	30
Stab/JG 27	Subolewo	Bf 109E	4	4
II/JG 27	Berzniki		40	31
III/JG 27	Subolewo		40	14
II/JG 52	Subolewo	Bf 109E/F	39	37
KGr zbV 9	?	Ju 52	?	?
KGr zbV 102	?	Ju 52	43	8
Luftflotte 4
KGr zbV 50, 104	?	Ju 52	85	61
IV. Fliegerkorps
Stab/KG 27	Focsani-Sud	He 111H	5	5
I/KG 27			30	22
II/KG 27			24	21
III/KG 27	Zilistea		28	25
II/KG 4	Zilistea		24	8
Stab/JG 77	Bacau	Bf 109E	2	2
II/JG 77	Roman	Bf 109E	39	19
III/JG 77	Roman	Bf 109F-4	35	20
I (J.)/LG 2	Janca	Bf 109E	40	20
V. Fliegerkorps
Stab/KG 51	Krosno	Ju 88A	2	2
I/KG 51			22	22
II/KG 51			36	29
III/KG 51	Lezany		32	28
Stab/KG 54	Lublin-Swidnik		1	1
I/KG 54			34	31
II/KG 54			36	33
Stab/KG 55	Labunie	Bf 110	2	1
Stab/KG 55		He 111H	27	27
I/KG 55			27	27
II/KG 55			24	22
III/KG 55	Klemensow		25	24
Stab/JG 3	Hostynne	Bf 109F	4	4
I/JG 3	Dub		35	28
II/JG 3	Hostynne		35	32
III/JG 3	Modorowka		35	34
Deutsche Lufwaffen-Mission Rumänien
Stab/JG 52	Bukarest and Mizil	Bf 109F	4	3
III/JG 52	Mizil and Pipera	Bf 109F	43	41

Note: Information on transport units is taken from Price's Luftwaffe Data Book and the strengths are for 24 June. Curiously KGr zbV 9 is not shown therein. Only Erg.Gruppen that participated in combat are shown.

Grand Totals
	Deployed in the East			Deployed Elsewhere
Type	Number	Strength	Svcble	Number	Strength	Svcble
Kampfgruppen	28 2/3	929	703	16 2/3	500	252
Stukagruppen	9	376	270	3	90	64
Schlachtgruppen	1 1/3	60	44	0	0	0
Zerstörergruppen	2	78	51	2	63	47
Jagdgruppen	19 2/3	793	619	8	341	282
Erg.-Gr. (JG, ZG)	7	200	132	0	0	0
(F) Staffeln	8	102	72	10	151	92
Wetterstaffeln	3	33	26	3	29	17
Seefliegerstaffeln	3	27	22	18	194	117
Totals		2598	1939		1791	1161

Sources:

Balke's KG 2 unit history

Type	Aeronautica Albania	2^a Squadra Aerea	4^a Squadra Aerea	Totals
Fighters	140	90	65	295
Bombers		61	149	210
Bomber Floatplanes			12	12
Dive Bombers	20		20	40

Unit	Subordinate Units	Airfield	Type
56° Gruppo BT⁽⁴⁾	222^a, 223^a	Gadurra'	SM.81
41° Gruppo BT ⁽¹⁾	204^a, 205^a Squadriglia	Gadurra'	SM.84 (12 a/c)
50° Gruppo CT	210^a, 211^a Squadriglia	Maritza	Z.1007bis ⁽³⁾
92° Gruppo BT	200^a, 201^a Squadriglia	Gadurra'	SM.79
161^a Squadriglia Aut. CM		Leros	Ro.43/44
162^a Squadriglia Aut. CT	⁽²⁾	Scarpanto	CR.42
163^a Squadriglia Aut. CT		Gadurra'	CR.32/42
172^a Squadriglia RT		Maritza	Z.1007bis
281^a Squadriglia Aut. AS		Gadurra'	SM.79sil
Sezzione Soccorso		Rhodes	Z.506B

Grand Totals Number Type Strength Svcble 7 Kampfgruppen 205 169 7 Stukagruppen 280 255 1 1/3 Schlachtgruppen 61 43 9 Jagdgruppen 371 314 2 Zerstörergruppen 70 55 I/LG 1 isn't counted in the above totals.

Grand Totals Type Aeronautica Albania 2a Squadra Aerea 4a Squadra Aerea Totals Fighters 140 90 65 295 Bombers 61 149 210 Bomber Floatplanes 12 12 Dive Bombers 20 20 40 Crete

20 May 1941

Totals

Serviceable Totals

Grand Totals

Number

Type

Strength

Svcble

7

Kampfgruppen

205

169

7

Stukagruppen

280

255

1 1/3

Schlachtgruppen

61

43

9

Jagdgruppen

371

314

2

Zerstörergruppen

70

55

I/LG 1 isn't counted in the above totals.

Grand Totals

Type

Aeronautica Albania

2^a Squadra Aerea

4^a Squadra Aerea

Totals

Fighters

140

90

65

295

Bombers

61

149

210

Bomber Floatplanes

12

12

Dive Bombers

20

20

40

Crete