www.forums.luftwaffedata.co.uk

I have a reference to this unit in a documant about FAGr 122 operations in the Med.

It appears that this was an HQ unit constituted specifically to co-ordinate convoy protection for the Africa bound convoys.

Can someone provide further information about this unit.

I have just receive an e-mail from Larry de Zang containing the following:-

"There was only one flying officer in the Luftwaffe by that name. Oblt. Wilfred Herling was in 7./St.G. 2 (later 7./SG 2) and was KIA on 28.11.43. He is the only one. I doubt if that helps, but it's all I have."

Some additional detail regarding the information source - Air 20/8534 "The History of FAG 122 in the Mediterranean". Reference to this headquarters is found under a section headed "Trapani Jan 1942 to May 1943" sub-heading "Convoy Protection". It states that 122 crews operating convoy protection either came under the command of FliegerKorps X in Heraklion or Kommando Herling based in Bengazi, and then emphasises that this Kommando was specially constituted to control convoy protection operations.

Given this was an HQ for convoy protection could this unit have been commanded by a naval rather than Luftwaffe Officer?

Just found this in the "Luftwaffe Careers Summaries"

Don't know if its linked or not but

HERLING, Helmut. 16.01.43 Maj. in Luftwaffenstab Gabes, KIA. Posthumously promo to Obstlt. with
effect from 01.01.43

Given the comment above about the unit being based at Bengazi it is looking more likely that it was under the commend of Deutsches Marinekommando Nordafrika also based at Bengazi at approx the same time.