Seeking info on Bf 110 crew shot down near Tobruk: Walter Wohlert & Artur Krelle (8./ZG 26, 3U+NS, May 1941)

[hhajdu]

Dear forum members,

Hi my name is Henry. I'm currently researching the wartime biography of my grandfather, Walter Willi Wohlert, born 1922 in East Prussia. He served as a radio operator and air gunner (Bordfunker/Bordschütze) in a Bf 110 D of 8. Staffel / III. Zerstörergeschwader 26 during early 1941. His aircraft was lost during operations in North Africa.

According to his personal service records, the timeline was as follows:

02.09.1939 – Drafted into the Wehrmacht

31.10.1940 – Posted to the Zerstörer Ergänzungsgruppe in Vaerloese (Denmark)

08.12.1940 – Transferred to Ergänzungs-Zerstörergeschwader 26

03.03.1941 – Assigned to III./ZG 26

02.05.1941 – Shot down near Tobruk by Allied anti-aircraft fire in a Bf 110 D, (Werknummer 3386?), code 3U+NS

The crew:

Gefreiter Artur Krelle – pilot

Gefreiter Walter Wohlert – radio operator and rear gunner – (since summer 1942 Unteroffizier - Uffz.)

Both men were captured and survived. After a short internment in Egypt and Palestine, they were transferred to Australia, where they remained in Murchison POW Camp (No. 13 Group, Victoria) until their return in 1947.

I already have access to extensive materials about the Australian POW years, including photographs from the Australian War Memorial.
However, my focus is on reconstructing the pre-capture phase, especially his time with III./ZG 26 during early 1941.
I'm kindly asking for help with:

Any documentation, diaries or operational records of III./ZG 26, particularly 8. Staffel, from early 1941

Photographs or image references of aircraft coded 3U+NS, or similar machines of ZG 26 in Sicily (e.g. Trapani) or Libya

Information on training in the Ergänzungs-Zerstörergruppe (esp. Vaerloese)

Secondary literature or archival references (e.g. NARA, BA-MA Freiburg, RAF AIR files) covering ZG 26 in the Mediterranean theatre

Any further insights into Artur Krelle or other crewmen of 8./ZG 26 during that period

Historical context:

III./ZG 26 was transferred to the Mediterranean in early 1941 to support the Afrika Korps and Regia Aeronautica. The group operated Bf 110 D aircraft from airfields in Sicily (Trapani) and Libya (Derna, Ain el Gazala, later Tmimi). On 2 May 1941, one of these aircraft—3U+NS, WNr 3386—was shot down near Tobruk, likely while engaging in operations against British positions or providing support for Axis ground troops.
During his imprisonment in Australia, he received an official notification from the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, dated 6 Jan. 1943, informing him that he had been awarded the Italian "Kriegstapferkeitskreuz" (War Merit Cross) on 5 Nov. 1941. The document itself was dated 15 Aug. 1942, and the medal was never physically issued to him—he only received the paperwork while in captivity.

A thread posted in the 12 O'Clock High! forum on 3 Sept. 2018 confirmed both names and the loss of 3U+NS, but I can no longer access that forum or register a new account. I'm hoping that members here might have saved records, images, or other leads relating to this case.

Even small details—unit deployment notes, photo captions, memoir fragments—would be of great help to reconstruct this largely undocumented phase of my grandfather's service.

Thank you in advance for any assistance!

Best regards,
Henry

 

[Snautzer01]

Hello, I think John Vasco might be a good one to ask.

 

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi Henry,

The Italian daily report on X. Fliegerkorps operations in North Africa noted the following:

"10 Me. 110 hanno attaccato gli obiettivi militari nei pressi di Tobruk a sud-ovest del forte Pilastrino. Forti colonne ed assembramenti nemici a sud di Bird El Carmusa sono stati attaccati con bombe e armi. dd bordo. Forte reazione di armi leggere. Un apparecchio ha effettuato atterraggio di fortuna. L'apparecchio si è incendiato.Un'al tro apparecchio non è rientrato."
Rough translation: "Ten Bf 110s attacked military targets near Tobruk south-west of Fort Pilastrino. Strong enemy columns and assemblages south of Bird El Carmusa were attacked with bombs and on-board weapons. Strong small arms response. One aircraft made an emergency landing. The aircraft caught fire. Another aircraft did not return." [Source NARA RG 242 T-821 R-189]

Similar report sent to the X. Fliegerkorps Ic and intercepted and transcribed by British ULTRA:

""At 14:10 ten Bf 110s attacked ground targets near Tobruk south-west Fort Palastrino. Attack with bombs and machine-gun, partly from low level, on large columns and concentrations south of Bir Carmusa. Above Bir el Giasc* heavy infantry and machine-gun defence. One aircraft made emergency landing in the lines. Aircraft caught fire but crew unhurt. One other aircraft missing. *interpretation uncertain" [Source: British NA HW 5/13]

Strength return for 8./Z.G. 26 from the evening of 29 April 1941: fifteen Bf 110s, twelve serviceable, fourteen crews, eleven ready for operations. [Source: British NA HW 5/13]

If you want detailed daily operations and strength returns for III./Z.G. 26 in North Africa, plus lots of transfer orders and miscellaneous signals sent by the Gruppe, the British NA files HW 5/8 through HW 5/13 would be your best source.

Belgian historian Jean-Louis Roba has written the following book about the Gruppe, in the French language: Le III./Zerstörergeschwader 26 - 1939/1944. Reprint ! | Aircraft-Navalship.com

Cheers,
Andrew A.

 

[John Vasco]

Dear forum members,

Hi my name is Henry. I'm currently researching the wartime biography of my grandfather, Walter Willi Wohlert, born 1922 in East Prussia. He served as a radio operator and air gunner (Bordfunker/Bordschütze) in a Bf 110 D of 8. Staffel / III. Zerstörergeschwader 26 during early 1941. His aircraft was lost during operations in North Africa.

According to his personal service records, the timeline was as follows:

02.09.1939 – Drafted into the Wehrmacht

31.10.1940 – Posted to the Zerstörer Ergänzungsgruppe in Vaerloese (Denmark)

08.12.1940 – Transferred to Ergänzungs-Zerstörergeschwader 26

03.03.1941 – Assigned to III./ZG 26

02.05.1941 – Shot down near Tobruk by Allied anti-aircraft fire in a Bf 110 D, (Werknummer 3386?), code 3U+NS

The crew:

Gefreiter Artur Krelle – pilot

Gefreiter Walter Wohlert – radio operator and rear gunner – (since summer 1942 Unteroffizier - Uffz.)

Both men were captured and survived. After a short internment in Egypt and Palestine, they were transferred to Australia, where they remained in Murchison POW Camp (No. 13 Group, Victoria) until their return in 1947.

I already have access to extensive materials about the Australian POW years, including photographs from the Australian War Memorial.
However, my focus is on reconstructing the pre-capture phase, especially his time with III./ZG 26 during early 1941.
I'm kindly asking for help with:

Any documentation, diaries or operational records of III./ZG 26, particularly 8. Staffel, from early 1941

Photographs or image references of aircraft coded 3U+NS, or similar machines of ZG 26 in Sicily (e.g. Trapani) or Libya

Information on training in the Ergänzungs-Zerstörergruppe (esp. Vaerloese)

Secondary literature or archival references (e.g. NARA, BA-MA Freiburg, RAF AIR files) covering ZG 26 in the Mediterranean theatre

Any further insights into Artur Krelle or other crewmen of 8./ZG 26 during that period

Historical context:

III./ZG 26 was transferred to the Mediterranean in early 1941 to support the Afrika Korps and Regia Aeronautica. The group operated Bf 110 D aircraft from airfields in Sicily (Trapani) and Libya (Derna, Ain el Gazala, later Tmimi). On 2 May 1941, one of these aircraft—3U+NS, WNr 3386—was shot down near Tobruk, likely while engaging in operations against British positions or providing support for Axis ground troops.
During his imprisonment in Australia, he received an official notification from the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, dated 6 Jan. 1943, informing him that he had been awarded the Italian "Kriegstapferkeitskreuz" (War Merit Cross) on 5 Nov. 1941. The document itself was dated 15 Aug. 1942, and the medal was never physically issued to him—he only received the paperwork while in captivity.

A thread posted in the 12 O'Clock High! forum on 3 Sept. 2018 confirmed both names and the loss of 3U+NS, but I can no longer access that forum or register a new account. I'm hoping that members here might have saved records, images, or other leads relating to this case.

Even small details—unit deployment notes, photo captions, memoir fragments—would be of great help to reconstruct this largely undocumented phase of my grandfather's service.

Thank you in advance for any assistance!

Best regards,
Henry

First of all, I've gone into the 12 O'Clock High forum, but it only allows a search back 20 pages, so I cannot get back to September 2018.

From my book:

,

here are the pages that cover the Med campaign:

I suspect you already have most, if not all, of the information contained in those pages.

More stuff to follow...

 

[John Vasco]

Selection of III./ZG 26 photos in the Med.

This is a great view of the cable that ran along the top of the port fuselage on 'D' and 'E' variants, and shows the small rings that the cable passed through.

3U+XS above is a rare Bf 110 C-6 variant with a single 30 mm. Kanone under the fuselage.

More to follow...

 

[John Vasco]

Above: pilot Balthasar Aretz of 8./ZG 26. Med Theatre.

 

[hhajdu]

Hi all,

just a quick note to thank you for your valuable replies to my initial inquiry about my grandfather's service with III./ZG 26 and the Bf 110 operations in North Africa.

Snautzer01 – Thanks for pointing me toward John Vasco, that was a helpful suggestion.

A Andrew Arthy – Your detailed reference to both the Italian report and the British ULTRA intercept was incredibly insightful. I wasn't aware of the British NA HW 5 series before, so that potentially opened up new research directions for me.

John Vasco – A special thank you for your generous and detailed response, including excerpts from your book and the remarkable historical photographs. The information you provided has added much depth to my understanding of the unit and the wider context.

One observation: the wreck of "3U+OS" you showed displays a damage pattern very similar to what I know about my grandfather's aircraft "3U+NS" after its forced landing near Tobruk in early May 1941.

I'm not sure whether this complies with forum policy, so please let me know if it's an issue: In our family's possession, there is a wartime book from 1942 my grandfather brought back from Australia during his captivity: R.A.F.: The Second Year (Adam & Charles Black, London 1942).
In the photo section, image no. 74 is captioned "Victim of the sharks: German aircraft shot down near Tobruk."
My grandfather always insisted that this was a photo of his own aircraft, the "3U+NS". Even though the plane markings are not visible that great.
If appropriate, I'd be happy to share that photo here for comparison.

Thanks again – and I'm always open to further insights or leads.

Best regards,
Henry

 

[Wurger]

the pic source:
Ju 52s escorted by Bf 110 3U-NS of ZG26, North Africa | World War Photos

Asisbiz Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 8.ZG26 3U+NS over western desert 01

Asisbiz Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstorer,Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 8.ZG26 3U+NS over western desert 01

www.asisbiz.com

 

[hhajdu]

Hi Wurger,
thanks for sharing these images. Yes, exactly – these are the typical photos of 3U+NS during its time in North Africa, which can be found online in varying quality. They're essentially the contribution from the German propaganda side.

Some time ago, I came across a book with many highly detailed color photographs from a WWII German propaganda volume while browsing the library of the German Military History Research Office in Potsdam. I was quite surprised by the quality of the images.

The photo mentioned above wasn't part of that book, but it might well have originated in a similar context. Since then, I've been wondering: does anyone know where these "color" images of ZG 26 in North Africa actually come from? I'd love to learn more about their original publication or usage context.

Interestingly, in R.A.F.: The Second Year, the "other side" presents a photo of the 3U+NS wreck in the desert sand – with the caption claiming it was brought down by Sharks. However, my grandfather always insisted it was anti-aircraft fire that forced the emergency landing.

Best regards,
Henry

 

[hhajdu]

Hi all,

While going through my grandfather's wartime documents and memories, I recalled a story he often told: that a specific image in the book R.A.F.: The Second Year (A. & C. Black, London 1942), which he acquired during captivity in Australia, showed the wreckage of his own aircraft. The photo in that book made a strong impression on him, and he insisted it was his machine.

Back then, I was skeptical. Although I knew his aircraft's tactical code – 3U+NS, of Zerstörergeschwader 26 – I had little else to go on and had marked the book copy with some now outdated or inaccurate notes of my own.

However, in a rather unexpected way, I've now found the missing link. While searching through the Australian War Memorial's online archive using "Me 110" as a broad term, I came across a photo that matches the one from the 1942 book almost exactly – but taken from a slightly different angle.

Several details confirm this:

The same damage pattern beneath the cockpit (right side, front fuselage)

The two rectangular access panels aligned with the aircraft code

The same angle and shape of the rudder and vertical stabilizer

The same shadow cast by the open canopy

Crucially, in this version of the photo, the tactical code "3U+NS" is quite legible – while the database entry incorrectly labels it "3O+NS". It's a likely OCR or human transcription error, but the "NS" part matches, and visually it's unmistakable.

This discovery not only ties my grandfather's personal recollections to actual archival evidence but also corrects some past uncertainties I had when I first started digging into this over 20 years ago.

For those interested: my grandfather served as a radio operator/gunner in a Bf 110 D of ZG 26, and was shot down near Tobruk in May 1941 – captured shortly after. He later spent several years as a POW in Murchison, Australia, where I've found several group photos of him among fellow prisoners in the AWM archive, dated 1942–1945.

I'm happy to post both images side by side here (the book version and the AWM photo), if that's appropriate from a copyright perspective – the original book is from 1942, and the AWM material seems to be public domain.

Let me know if anyone's interested in the full story or has further leads – I'm currently reconstructing his full service path and POW timeline, and this discovery is a huge step forward.

Thanks to all who helped with past clues – and to the AWM archive team for making so much material publicly accessible.