Grupul 5 bombardament in Crimea?

Had the Grupul 5 bombardament missions in Crimea during Nov.-Dec.1943, especially in Kerch area?

Only the 3rd Dive Bomber Group operated in the area.

Only the 3rd Dive Bomber Group operated in the area.

Yes, I know that only 3rd Dive Bomber Group was BASED in Crimea. But 5.BG probably flew to the area from outside bases, as it did from time to time German KG55, for example? (Some missions of KG55 were made from Sarabus in Crimea, some - from Golta/Pervomaisk outside).
Or 5.BG flew only against targets along Dniepr?
It is interesting because exists many Soviet reports about formations of Ju 88s in the Kerch area. But only German units in area with Ju 88 were recce units. Of course, recce planes didn't work in formations of 18 or so aircraft.
And it seems that it is a difficult task to confuse He 111 with Ju 88 from few hundreds meters in the air.
So 5.BG missions are last hope to resolve this enigma

The 5th Bomber Group moved from Nikolaev to Dalnik, near Odessa on 11 November 1943 and in the period 17-26 November did not fly any mission, because of weather conditions apparently. From that airfield iot would seem less probable to carry out raids at Kerch.

The 5th Bomber Group executed missions on the Snieper, Donetsk and Mius fronts mostly. I haven't found any mention of a raid in Crimea in the published materials.

Thank you, Victor, for additional info about 5.BG!

Maybe you know locations of some losses of 5.BG during Non.-Dec.1943? It may help in resolve of the problem.
In the Mr.Denes Bernard's book "Rumanian Air Force. The Prime Decade" I found only one loss for the time in question - 28.11.43 off Rubanovka (it is along the Dniepr).
By the way, Luftwaffe certainly had made missions from Nikolaev - Odessa area to the Kerch. And why it was impossible for Romanians?

Date Type Unit Crew Place Cause Notes Source
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28-Nov-43 Ju 88A+ Gr. 5 bomb. adj.pil. Gh. Vârjoghie {ranit}, serg.maj.bomb. Teodor Simion {ranit}, serg.maj.rtg. Gh. Pavel, , cap.mitr. Nic. Bularca Rubanovka, linga (near) van. atacat de 8 av., AF burta terit. amic, avariat 50% (attacked by 8 enemy airplanes, belly landed on friendly territory, damaged 50%) [JurnOp StMA]

Gen. Dénes

This post has been edited by Dénes on January 10, 2005 01:57 pm

As I said the 5th Bomber Group didn't do much flying in November 1943.

Another loss that month was on 1 November, when the Ju-88A-4 no. 126 of cpt. av. Dem Ben Carac, CO of the 80th Bomber Squadron, and lt. obs. Emil Boian was hit over Liubimovka by Soviet AAA while it was preparing to launch the bombs. The AA shell probably hit one of the bombs and the aircraft simply desintegrated in midair. A machine-gunner miracously survived. Another parachute was sighted, but apparently was hit by Soviet AAA fire.

On 7 December 1943, two formations (one of 11 the other of 8 Ju-88A-4s) bombed the village and beaches at Ribaltshe and the village of Golaya-Pristan. Maybe this is the action you are looking for, as that is when the fights to eliminate the bridgehead at Eltigen started. I have no idea where the two villages are.

Thank you, Dénes and Victor!

Ribaltshe and Golaya-Pristan are on the Dniepr estuary, Liubimovka - off Kahovka, also on Dniepr river.

In documents of 4 Air Army and of Nord-Caucasian Front during the Kerch-Eltigen operation (1.11-11.12.43) Ju 88 raids (in formations) were registered on following days:
2.11
5-7.11
12-14.11
16-17.11
19-20.11
28.11
3.12
5.12
11.12

Some of them are from AA-reports and, of course, maybe misidentifications, especially in bad weather. For example Do217M-1, really downed by AA fire on 14.11, was reported as Ju 88.

But in many cases Ju 88 formations were attacked by fighters, sometimes at close range. And such misidentifications in so many cases seems strange.