Need info on Cape Bon Massacre

[AWC]

Hi all

 

I'm making a video on the Cape Bon Massacre April 22nd, 1943 and I need to know the full name of Oberstleutnant Biedermann who led the Ju 52 formation on that day. Also if anyone has any photos of Biedermann or Oberstleutnant Stephan Werner they are willing to have shown in the video with credit please let me know.

 

Soto

 

 

[ZachariasX]

I don't have much info on the Ju-52's commander, but about the Giganten, I can quote some from Ernst Peter's Momoir "...schleppte und flog GIGANTEN", ISBN 3-87943-426-3.

 

22.4.1943

TG 5 (Transportgeschwader 5) had a total of 16 Me-323, few other remaining ones were in Leipheim for refurbishment.

1 had tire damage upon takeoff, aborted mission, 15 took off, mainly ferrying 12 tons of fuel each.

Calm flight in in relaxed formation, passing Sicily, lowering altitude to 20 m – 50 m direction Africa, tightening up and changing to wedge the formation.

Passing Sicily, 1 Me-323 returned due to engine trouble, 14 lingered on.

Simultaneously, a Pulk (formation) of Ju-52 was en route as well.

The Giganten veered slightly off the direct course as instructed (to evade detection), whereas the slightly slower Ju-52 went direct route.

The Germans were absolutely aware, that the Allies had a general understanding of their flight schedules, as some of that was easy guessing due to operational logistic requirements. Yet they didn’t know how exactly they were set up that day. Flying zigzag routes became the only solution when the end was near in Tunis.

The Me-323 were required to fly back without refueling in Tunis, thus had limited options for choosing a route.

Weather was slightly hazy and the sea green-grey during what was a normal flight.

Upon making out the coast of Africa, all of a sudden the Allied fighters fell upon them “out of nowhere” (“20 Spits and Tomahawk”), engaging the few escort fighters, luring them away from the Transports and then the “double number” attacked the Giganten from behind and the sides.

The Giganten, laden with fuel trucks and fuel barrels were an easy target and one of the other turned into a fireball (“as fast as one takes one breath”) and ditched into the sea right away.

Ernst Peter veteran Pilot, survived as he ditched the canopy and opened their seat belts just before hitting the water, maintaining somewhat flight attitude of his burning Gigant with all the force he and his copilot had in the face of death. Both were catapulted from their stricken aircraft as it hit the water “like a wall of concrete”.

All 14 were shot down and they took with them 119 Officers, NCOs and personnel, 700 barrels (170 tons) of fuel.

Only 19 of 138 total survived and were rescued. 18 of them even somewhat promptly. In case of Oblt. Heinz Müller, things were even worse. Heavily burned, he could leave the wreck after it sank, already meters down, just to find him alone in the sea, drifting toward the open ocean. Clinging on to some boards, he spent a good day out there until he was picked up as well.

TG 5, initially consisting of 2 Gruppen with I. Gruppe dedicated to suppliying the bridgehead Tunis ceased to exist.

 

This is Hans Peters personal view of the events, but if one is rivet counting, there are some differences to for instance this detailed research:

https://www.axis-and-allies-paintworks.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?439

(The Me-323 flew much lower then he depicts them.)

 

It is of note that formation flying between Giganten and Ju's were a pain, as the Giganten were actually a bit faster, henece that didint really happen.

 

EDIT:

If you care to paint liveries @Lemsip:

 

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by ZachariasX