Most Secret Document.
Ia Flieg. ' '
No. 4041/44 g.Kdos.
19.5.44
Minutes of Conference on Fighter Aircraft with the Reichsmarschall on 15 and 16.5.44. 1 2
1. General Galland describes the situation regarding fighter personnel. Losses from day operations in April :
Percent
Flight Reich........................................ 38
Flight 3 ........................................... 24
Flight 2 ............................................ 18.2
Flight 5 .......................................... 12
Flights 4, 6 and 1, total........................... 11
During April there was a total loss of 489 pilots (of which 100 were officers) as against a reinforcement of 396 pilots (of which 62 were officers).
2. Remedial measures, a. General Galland proposes to withdraw all fighter pilots from the staffs insofar as they are capable of flying.
b. General in charge of flying instructions has made available about 80-100 instructors.
c. Some suitable pilots are also to be transferred from the night fighter sector to the day fighter.
d. The Reichsmarschall emphasizes that special value is to be laid on solid instruction, particularly of the older pilots who are transferred from other sectors.
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3. To remedy the matter further General Galland proposes:
a. The withdrawal of two fighter groups from the East, reequipment and incorporation in the Reich defense. The Reiehs-marschall agrees. Order given in the meantime (II./JG 5 and
IV./JG 54). In this connection the Reichsmarschall orders the expediting of the conversion of the ground attack aircraft to Fw. 190.
b. The transfer of the II.SG 2 from the ground attack sector to the fighter sector. In this group there are 11 pilots with 5-90 enemy aircraft to their credit. This is refused the following day by the Reichsmarschall, after the report of the chief of the general staff. If this is not possible General Galland proposes that the ground attack sector should transfer all pilots with more than five enemy aircraft to their credit.
On the following day, on the proposal of the chief of the general staff, the Reichsmarschall decides that ground attack pilots are only to be transferred voluntarily to the fighter sector. [Marginal note: Op. 1]. The efficacy of ground attack arm must not be definitely prejudiced by these measures.
c. In order to save Verbandsfuehrer, the disbanding of 3 groups of single-engined night fighters and the transfer of the planes and pilots to the remaining six single-engined night fighter groups. At the same time 2 squadrons of single-engined night fighters will be disbanded. [Marginal note: Op 1/2 Section]. The Reichsmarschall agrees in principle, taking into consideration the high loss in material of the single-engine night fighter planes in proportion to the results.
d. Withdrawal of fighter groups of Flight 3 and their inclusion in the Reich defense. Refused by the Reichsmarschall.
4. General Galland proposes that every group captain who, by reason of illness, wounds or otherwise, is unfit for duty for more than 14 days, shall be replaced. [Marginal note: LP (hat).] The Reichsmarschall does not agree. Each case to be considered individually. Generally speaking 4 weeks to be the standard. General Galland to form a reserve of group captains and squadron leaders from which pilots can be replaced as they fall out. This reserve is to be formed as a training group.
5. General Galland proposes—in order to improve training— the continuous withdrawal of 1 fighter group per division for a period of 8 days to 4 weeks. [Marginal note: Op 1.] The Reichsmarschall agrees, taking into consideration the addition of the two fighter groups from the East. The Reichsmarschall wishes all fighter units to have their own shooting grounds. General Galland to advise the Reichsmarschall when this is carried out:
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6. The Reichsmarschall orders each long range fighter squadron to be combined with a fighter group, to be maintained especially strong and to be sent up again against the enemy as soon as possible. To be employed at the limit of the range of enemy fighters, viz. over Berlin, Vienna or Munich. The Reichsmarschall expects satisfactory results with bearable losses by means of this closely combined fighter protection.
To this is to be added and placed under its command the ZG 26 single-engine night fighter group from the Berlin operational area and the ZG 76 single-engine night fighter group from Vienna. [Marginal note: Op 1.] The principal task of these two groups is long range fighter protection, at the same time further carrying out single-engine night flying.
Of the other single-engine night fighter groups, one group is to be appointed to the Dortmund operational area and one group to the Frankfurt operational area. (The remaining groups not allocated by the Reichsmarschall.)
7. With regard to the equipment of the long range fighters with 5 cm. guns, the Reichsmarschall will hear a report based on practical experience. [Marginal note: T.] Regarding the proposal of General Galland it was decided that until further notice only one long range fighter group (II./ZG 26) should be equipped with 5 cm. guns. I.ZG 76 is to receive as first group 2 automatic (MK) guns 103 (also 2 machine guns (MG) 151 and 2 MG 131), whilst all other long range fighter groups (Me 410) receive the normal armament of 4 MG 151 and 2 MG 131. They may possibly also be equipped later with 2 MK 103 instead of with 2 MG 151.
8. The Reichsmarschall wishes that the incorporation of the long range fighters into the Reichs defense shall be adhered to until further notice. [Marginal note: Op.] The proposal to send long range fighters to other theatres of war (Southwest, East, North) is categorically refused by the Reichsmarschall on account of their inferiority to enemy fighters.
9. General Galland reports that at the moment the repair docks do not work quickly enough. According to the situation at the beginning of May, as many as 287 night fighters are in the repair docks.
The Reichsmarschall orders the personnel of the repair docks to be increased by GL. (Notification through adjutant of the Reichsmarschall).
10. The principal anxieties of the night fighters, as expounded by General Galland are:
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a. The danger of the destruction of the SN 2 after the landing of a SN 2 plane in Switzerland. Remedy: SN 3 and Neptun I.
b. Combats with mosquitoes. Remedy: Employment of He 219 with G-loader and/or Me 109 and 190 with GM.l.
11. General Galland will demand that the fighter staff gives preference in greater numbers to the technically improved fighters. These are:
Me 109 (AS), Me 109 K (DB605D), Me 109 H 2 (larger surface)
Fw 190 (TS), Fw 190 (Jumo 213a), TA 152 (Jumo 213 e).
12. Major general Schmidt requests the strengthening of the divisional command groups. [Marginal note: 2 Section.] To that end: authorization by head for the la, creation of a la-night in addition to the la-day. It was pointed out to the Reichsmarschall that the la-day as well as' the la-night is provided for by the
K.St.N.
13. General Schmidt requests the appointment of an A. A. gunnery control officer to the staff of the I. fighter corps corresponding to the A. A. gunnery commander in the fighter divisions. General Schmidt reports that the subordination of the A. A. gunnery control officer to the Territorial Administrative
H.Q. of the Luftwaffe has not been maintained, because, as previously, in case of doubt the Luftgau commander decides regarding the limitation of fire etc. General v. Axthelm was in agreement. [Marginal note: la A A, Chief Commander has (?) sent
F.S. for (?) information Chief Gen. Staff—20/5.]
The Reichsmarschall orders a conference between the chief of the general staff and the chief of the A.A. artillery as soon as possible.
14. General Schmidt requests that information for the civil population regarding the air situation shall be announced by the fighter divisions. Information given on the basis of the air situation reports of the A.A. does not altogether agree with the actual air situation. It was therefore pointed out that by reason of the reorganization of the aircraft reporting service, whereby the fighter divisions are responsible for the situation reports (also the A.A.), this question may be considered solved.
15. General Schmidt requests immediate subordination of Jafue Ostmark to I Fighter Corps and the re-naming of Jafue Ostmark as 8 Fighter Division, on completion of the organization of the news service. [Marginal note: Op 1 / 2 Section.]
The Reichsmarschall next considered the protection of the LinzSteyr industries, and, after General Schmidt had represented the
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unification of the forces of the 7 Fighter Division and of the Jafue Ostmark in this area, as the task of the I Fighter Corps, with immediate subordination of the Jafue Ostmark to the I Fighter Corps, the Reichsmarschall declared himself to be in agreement.
16. General Schmidt requests the transfer of the fighters of the 7 Fighter Division from the Munich and Frankfurt operational areas to the Ansbach-Nurnberg operational area, in order to make it possible to throw a serried mass of 4-5 fighter groups against the enemy.
' The Reichsmarschall agreed. He again emphasized the importance of condensing the fighter strength into at least squadrons, if possible, divisions. Moreover of accommodating it in one operational area, in spite of the danger of this area being useless on account of weather conditions.
General Schmidt requests the transfer of the II./JG 27 from the sphere of the 7 Fighter Division to Jafue Ostmark, in order to bring this group up to full strength again in its squadron. The Reichsmarschall is himself in agreement, but wishes to discuss the matter with the chief of the general staff. Chief of the general staff in agreement. Order can be promulgated.
17. General Schmidt, in agreement with General Galland, requests the detaching of the Verbandsfuehrer training course from the I./JG 27.
18. General Schmidt requests the retention .of fighter groups in the Reich, also in the case of "Dr.G.". The Reichsmarschall decides that only the III groups of the fighter squadrons can remain in the Reich, by the drafting of those pilots and planes operationally fit, in accordance with the orders already given.
19. The Reichsmarschall wishes the testing of defense and dispersal measures by Iw.Fuest on low level attacks on airfields causing considerable loss in personnel and material. [Marginal note: Op. 1; I a Flak dealt with 20/5.]
The Reichsmarschall desires the improvement of the training of the aerodrome company in the shooting with AA weapons.
20. The Reichsmarschall will propose to the Fuehrer that American and English crews who shoot indiscriminately at towns, moving civilian trains, or parachuting soldiers shall be shot immediately on the scene of action. [Marginal note: I c.]
21. With reference to a report by General Schmidt regarding difficulties in the training of fighters in Myo, the Reichsmarschall ejnphasized that he laid particular value on the fact that, in accordance with his previous orders, the Verbandsfuehrer, as
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senior officer at each aerodrome decides such questions and can, if necessary, give orders. [Marginal note : 2 Section.]
22. General Schmidt requests the replacing of I and III.NJG 5 under the command of I Fighter Corps. The Reichsmarschali refuses this replacement on the ground of operational requirements, but agrees to the replacing of these groups under their squadrons for service duties, and at the same time agrees to the organization of base aerodromes for these groups in southern Germany,
23. Major General Kreipe requests the increase of the monthly allowance of motor fuel to 60,000 tons. The Reichsmarschali decides that on the basis of the documents produced, the general in charge of air -training shall receive 50,000. [Marginal note: 4 Section.]
24. Major General Kreipe reports that the monthly voluntary contingent for aircrews is still sufficient, but that difficulties will arise in the autumn. [Marginal note: 2./6 Section.] The Reichsmarschali orders immediate employment of remedial measures (relative letter to OKW).
(Sd.) illegible.
Distribution:
Chef la., also Chef Fuest.
Chefgr. Geh.Qu, also f.2.,4 6 Section. Ia/Flieg also f. Ia/Flak and I c.
Ia op 1 also f. Ia/T.
Rough Draft Ia.
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