Website Theme Change

On October 9, 2025 I changed this site's theme to what I feel is a much better design than previous themes. Some pages will not be affected by this design change, but other pages that I changed and new pages I added in the last several days need to have some of their photos re-sized so they will display properly with the new theme design. Thank you for your patience while I make these changes over the next several days. -- Ray Merriam

North American P-51 Mustang Photo Album

The North American P-51 Mustang being tested is most likely 44-72210 dating this picture to late December 44 or early January 45, it later departed the US for the 8th AF in England on March 5th and was modified into a very unusual Mustang: the canopy was split in the middle, a second seat was added in place of the fuselage tank, and a radar antenna was installed in the right wing operated from the rear seat. It was later scrapped without returning to the US.

Michael O'Leary's "Building the P-51 Mustang" book is full of tons of great pictures from the factory, and page 163 has four pictures of this unit. In those pictures the wheel aligning bars are painted to match, they have extra support bars welded on to keep the struts at a set height, the bottom of the curved chambers have some sort of baffles on the outside, and there's a track to slide Mustangs in from the side. Those improvements were all added by mid-February so it was probably still quite new in this picture, replacing the sand mounds that were previously used.

How to find this Mustang's ID: Mustangs at the Inglewood plant had two numbers on the left side of the fuselage for easy identification before the serial was added to the tail along with other markings: the top number was the aircraft's sequential number on the contract, while the bottom number was the last 3 digits of the USAAF serial number. This Mustang has the AN/APS-13 tail radar warning unit which was added starting on 44-72127, the 1100th aircraft of the NA-122 contract which gives a range from 72127 to 75026. The 3 digit number appears to be 210, limiting it to 72210, 73210, or 74210. The top number ends in a 4 which confirms the bottom number ending in a 0 but is otherwise difficult to read. In the book with the later setup, two Mustangs shown being tested are 44-72810 and 44-74153, since this appears to be an earlier setup that would place it before those two limiting it to 44-72210 with a sequence number of 1184.

 

Pilot Lt. William King on the wing of his P-51B Mustang “Atlanta Peach” of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. The Mustang’s victory markings show 24 missions with 2 German planes destroyed, 1 locomotive, and 2 troop carriers, and the figures represent 5 strafings of troop concentrations.

 

North American P-51 Mustang (F?)X883.

 

North American P-51 Mustang in a mix of RAF and USAAF markings and RAF camouflage. The aircraft was originally built for the RAF but was taken over by the USAAF.

 

North American P-51 Mustang (F?)X883.

 

North American P-51 Mustang (F?)X883.

 

North American P-51 Mustang 43-12408.

 

North American Mustang IA cockpit.

 

North American P-51D Mustang 44-13366.

 

North American P-51H-1-NA Mustang 44-64164.

 

North American P-51H-1-NA Mustang 44-64164.

 

1942: British markings are being applied to an RAF Mustang IA at the North American Aviation plant in Los Angeles. At the request of the RAF, North American redesigned the Mustang to be armed with four 20mm cannons in place of the original armament of .30 and .50 caliber machine guns. The new version was given the change order number NA-91 and 150 were ordered for the RAF through Lend Lease. When the U.S. entered the war, 58 of the NA-91s were deferred to the USAAF where they were known as the P-51 Apache.

 

A P-51 Mustang (serial number 411748) of the 13th Photographic Squadron, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group prepares for takeoff at Mount Farm. The P-51's were to protect the F-5 photo-reconnaissance aircraft.

 

North American P-51 Mustangs, Martlesham, England, 1944.

 

 

Captured North American P-51, Zirkus Rosarius, Luftwaffe.

 

A P-51 Mustang (VQ-C, serial number 43-12425) of the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, painted in the colors of the 8th Air Force Technical Operations Squadron.

 

P-51B Mustang, B6-D.

 

Armorer directs crane with a 500 lb bomb into place on the wing of a North American P-51 Mustang at a base in England.

 

A USAAF armorer of the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Fifteenth U.S. Air Force checks ammunition belts of the .50 cal. machine guns in the wings of a North American P-51B Mustang in Italy, September 1944.

 

American ground crew preparing to arm P-51 Mustang fighter at an airfield with six M2 machine guns and 0.50 caliber ammunition.

 

Blue-nose North American P-51D Mustangs of the 352nd Fighter Group on PSP matting at ALG A-84 Chievres-Mons, in Belgium, in February 1945. The P-51D in the foreground is HO-F, “Buzz Boy II” of the 487th FS.

 

North American P-51D prototype in flight (s/n 43-12102; modified P-51B). (U.S. Air Force photo)

 

Four generations of U.S. Army Air Corps /U.S. Air Force air superiority, and the technological leaps that maintained it, are represented by a single formation of an F-22 Raptor, F-86 Sabre, F-16 Fighting Falcon and a P-51D Mustang during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona, Mar 5, 2016. 

 

North American P-51B-15-NA Mustang (42-106950, WR-P) "The Iowa Beaut". Assigned to 354FS/355FG/8AF USAAF. Failed to return from escort to Madgeburg, crashed in Hörnsheim in the vicinity of Wetzlar. Lt Kevin G. Rafferty killed in action 11 September 1944.

 

North American F-6K Mustang (44-11907) US Army Air Forces. The F-6K was a camera-equipped conversion of the P-51K, which differed from the P-51D only in having a different propeller. The North American plant in Dallas, Texas, built 1,337 P-51Ks, the RAF received 594 of these, designated Mustang Mk.IV. Assigned to 25th TRS, 315th CpW, 5th AF, and flown by Harry S. Utley, the pictured aircraft was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Osaki/Itami AAB, Japan on September 11, 1946.

 
North American F-6C Mustang (43-25148) US Army Air Forces. Originally a P-51C, this was one of 91 F-6Cs converted from P-51Bs and P-51Cs, fitted with two K-24 cameras or a K-17 plus a K-22 camera. 43-25148 was assigned to the 20th TRS, 8th PRG, 10th AF and crashed 8 miles (13 km) east of Chaunggwa in Burma on April 16, 1945. The pilot was killed.

 
Early Allison-engined North American P-51 Mustangs in a mix of U.S. and British markings at the North American Aviation facility at Inglewood, California.

 
P-51D Mustangs from the 505th FG being transported on USS Kalinin Bay, March 1945. The final destination would be Iwo Jima.

 
North American P-51D.

 
North American P-51H Mustang.

 
North American P-51H Mustang.

 
North American P-51D Mustang, "Air Power for Peace", with female factory worker.

 
North American F-6D Mustang (44­84540), was a photo reconnaissance version of the P-51D.

 
North American P-51B 3/4 rear view (43-6999) of the 357th Fighter Group. Note the wingtip damage. (U.S. Air Force photo)

 
North American P-51B prepare for take-off, 361st FG, 376th FS; includes 42-106707.

 
North American XP-51 (41-039, second aircraft built). (U.S. Air Force photo)

 
North American P-51B "Shoo Shoo Baby".

 
A North American P-51 “My Girl” takes off from Iwo Jima, in the Bonin Islands. From this hard-won base our fighters escorted the B-29s on bombing missions to Japan, and also attacked the Empire on their own. (U.S. Air Force photo)

 
North American Mustangs of No. 112 Squadron RAF, loaded with 500-lb GP bombs, taxy to the runway at Cervia, Italy, before taking off on a sortie in support of the 8th Army's spring offensive in the Po valley. A Mark III leads a Mark IV along the taxiway covered with pierced steel planking (PSP). Imperial War Museum photo CAN 3494.

 
P-51D Mustangs of the 4th Fighter Squadron in flight, Italy, 1944. Nearest camera is WD-M, s/n 44-13287.

 
Pilot Lieutenant Colonel C. H. Older in the cockpit of his P-51D Mustang fighter (s/n 44-11275 – last digit as seen in this photo appears to be a “5” and an online search for this P-51D using that serial number does not turn up any data on this aircraft which seems odd since the pilot was an ace – note the 18 victory flags beneath the pilot’s name), China, c. February-March 1945. Charles Herman Older, born on 29 September 1917 in Hanford, California, graduated from the University of California in 1939 with a degree in political science. On 1 April 1940 Older joined the Marine Corps for flight training, and received his wings and commission at Pensacola. Resigning from the Marine Corps in 1941 to join the AVG (“Flying Tigers”), Older took part in the great 'Christmas' air battles over Rangoon shooting down five Japanese aircraft. With 10.25 victories to his credit he joined the 23rd Fighter Group flying P-51s when the AVG was disbanded. He led the first strike against Shanghai resulting in the destruction of 77 Japanese aircraft. He completed the war with 18.25 air victories. After leaving the Air Force Colonel Chuck Older obtained a law degree from the University of Southern California and subsequently became a superior court judge in Los Angeles, California. He gained prominence as the presiding judge in the Charles Manson mass murder trial in 1970-71. Charles Older died on the 17 June 2006.

 
A North American Aviation worker preparing a P-51 Mustang fighter for painting, in Inglewood, California, in October 1942. Note the B-25 Mitchell bombers in the background. The B-25 in the left background, tail #113178 (or 41-13178) crashed and burned at March Field in Southern California on June 30, 1943. The one on the right, #113180 (or 41-13180), was part of the 340th bomb group, 57th Bombardment Wing, Twelfth Air Force operating in Italy when it was shot down by antiaircraft fire on April 28, 1944. Three crew members, including the pilot were killed; the other four made it back to the base.


 
P-51D-5NA Mustang (44-13357) with underwing drop tanks; Lt Vernon Richards, ‘Tika IV’ of the 374th FS, 361st FG, 8th AF. Was later assigned to Lt. Alfred B Cook Jr who renamed it ‘Sailor Girl Shirl’ - KIA 16 Nov 1944 - crashed near Little Walden. USAAF photo.

 
North American NA-73X, with a short carburetor air-intake scoop and the frameless, rounded windshield: On the production Mustang Mk Is, the frameless windshield was replaced with a three-piece unit that incorporated a bullet-resistant windshield. North American Aviation photo.

 
P-51D (44-14888) of the 8th AF/357th FG/363rd FS, named Glamorous Glen III, is the aircraft in which Chuck Yeager achieved most of his 12.5 kills, including two Me 262s – shown here with twin single-use 108 US gallon (410 L) drop tanks fitted. This aircraft was renamed "Melody's Answer" and crashed on 2 March 1945, from unknown causes at Haseloff, west of Treuenbrietzen, Germany.

 
North American P-51D-10-NA Mustang 44-14164 "Detroit Miss" of the 375th Fighter Squadron of the 361st Fighter Group USAAF. Urban L. "Ben" Drew flew this aircraft in the autumn 1944 a shot down four German aircraft. Totally he claimed six victories. Martin Čížek illustration.

 
Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Col. James H. Howard, in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang, 25 April 1944. Imperial War Museum photo FRE 413.

 
P-51B and P-51C Mustang fighters of the US Army Air Force 118th Tactical Recon Squadron at Laohwangping Airfield, Guizhou Province, China, June 1945.

 
“Yank” the English Bulldog, mascot of the US 8th Air Force base, greets Capt. James Duffy of Mt. Clair, N. J., upon the pilot’s return from a mission in his P-51D “Dragon Wagon”, 1944.

 
North American XP-51 prototype fighter serial number 41-038, parked at the NACA Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, Virginia.

 
1st Lt. Crowell and Pearsall with "A" Flight (Red Flight) in front of a P-51. Front Rows: 1st Lt. Richard Warrington, 2nd Lt. Claude Jackson, 1st Lt. LeRoy Price, 2nd Lt. Elmo Oxley, and 1st Lt. Ray Crowell. Back Row: 1st Lt. Everson "Vitamin" Pearsall, 2nd Lt. Ron Phillips, 1st Lt. Raymond Trudeau, 2nd Lt. James "Earthquake McGoon" McGovern, 2nd Lt. John Grover, and 1st Lt. Benjamin Roberts. 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, USAAF.

 
Freshly arrived P-51C-5-NT Mustang, 42-103506 (converted to F-6C) assigned to 118th  Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group in China. She was condemned as salvage on December 31, 1945.

 
Freshly arrived P-51C-5-NT Mustang, 42-103506 (converted to F-6C) assigned to 118th  Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group in China. She was condemned as salvage on December 31, 1945.

 
Don Gentile strapping into his P-51B “Shangri-La.”

 
USAAF North American F-6C Mustang fighter (42-103??) from the 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in World War II.

 
North American Aviation advertisement for P-51.

 
North American P-51D on the Inglewood assembly line.

 
Captured North American P-51, Zirkus Rosarius, Luftwaffe. Named *My Lady/Miss Marilyn* upon assignment, it was normally flown by Henry Longs. This plane, flown by Lt. Thomas Todd, was one of four P-51s of the 318th FS who were detailed to escort a F-5E of the 32nd Squadron. However, all failed to return, due to adverse weather conditions. Two of the P-51s, the P-51D 44-15174 flown by Lt. Norval Weers. and the P-51B 42-103458, landed in a field in Austria, near the Hungarian border. While Lt. Weers crash landed his plane (wheels up) Lt. Todd. who was the element leader, landed wheels down. The two P-51s were retrieved by the Germans. The P-51D flown by Lt. Weers was 35% damaged, and was only used for parts. While the P-51B was tested at Rechlin, Germany, in Olive Drab/Yellow camouflage scheme. In 1995, Weers stated his belief that Todd had landed in order to pick him up, before flying back to base, despite not having sufficient fuel.

 
Captured North American P-51, Zirkus Rosarius, Luftwaffe. Behind the P-51 is a P-47. Probably the same aircraft as in the previous photo.

 
Lineup of ten newly arrived P-51C Mustangs at Kanchow Airbase, China. First in line is P-51C-11-NT Mustang (44-10807) which was being flown on December 18, 1944 by 1st Lieut. Wallace D. Cousins, 74th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, from Kanchow escorting B-25s to Wuchang Airdrome at Hankow-Wuchang, China. Second in line, P-51C-10-NT Mustang (43-24963), was being flown by 2nd Lieut. Richard R. Fitzgerald, 74th Fighter Squadron from Kanchow on a strafing mission to Tien Ho Airdrome, Canton, China on December 22, 1944. She was hit by AAA fire over the airdrome, killing Lieut. Fitzgerald.

 
P-51B-1-NA (F-6C) (43-12330) 26th FS. Note the Chinese working on the airfield in China.

 
North American P-51 Mustang.

 
Eisenhower and Brereton greet Major James Howard, Medal of Honor recipient. Coningham, Leigh-Mallory, and Spaatz are behind Eisenhower. They are next to Howard’s P-51.

 
North American P-51 Mustang I in flight, AL 958. Allison-powered Mustang for RAF (U.S. Air Force photo)

 
P-51s and P-47s undergo maintenance at Lingayen airstrip in the Philippines in April 1945. (U.S. Air Force photo)

 
P-51B Mustang “Ding Hao!” and pilot Maj James Howard (in cap) of the 356th Fighter Squadron at RAF Boxted, Essex, England, UK, early 1944.

 
P-51D (AI-3) of the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group shows off its distinctive red tail, probably at Ramitelli Airfield, Italy, circa 1944-45.

 
USAAF Capt Don Gentile sits on the wing of his P-51B Mustang “Shangri-La” of the 336th Fighter Squadron at RAF Debden, Essex, England, UK, circa 1944-45.

 
P-51 Mustang fighters at rest at an airfield in Burma, date unknown.

 
P-51A Mustang fighter of the 311th Fighter Group in flight over Burma, c. 1943-1945.

 
P-51B and P-51A Mustang fighters side-by-side at North American Aviation plant at Inglewood, California, circa 1943.

 

Passage Through the Great Belt, the Kattegat, and the Skagerrak During Bismarck's Breakout

[Translation from the German by Google Translate.]

Commander of Baltic Sea Security.
Gkdos 33/41 Chiefs.

 

April 22, 1941.

Top secret!

Top priority! Only by officer!

Short letter

Fleet
News Group North
Test no. 1-7
test no. 8

Subject: March through the Great Belt, the Kattegat and the Skagerrak on April 29 and 30, 1941.
(May 19 and 20, 1941)

1.) On 29.4.41 (19.5.41), Sperrbrecher 13 and Sperrbrecher 31 escorted Eichenkranz [Bismarck] and Meeresgott [Prinz Eugen] from green 03 to red 20 according to BSO Gkdos 32/41 Chiefs. of 22.4.41 (Annex 1).

2.) From red 20 to black 01, the fleet formation marches without a base mine escort along the route checked again on April 29 (May 19) by KFRG vehicles, so that black 01 is reached on April 30 (May 20) at 5:30 a.m.

In the Great Belt, buoy boats are deployed in accordance with BSO Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs (Annex 2). The buoy line is illuminated in accordance with BSO Gkdos 35/41 Chiefs (Annex 3).

3.) From black 01, the fleet formation follows this route:

From black 01, via black 03, via black 09, via black 10, via black 14, via black 18, via black 21, via black 21 A, via black 24, via Qu. 4415 upper left corner to black 26, from there to Kristiansand-Süd barrier gap.

4.) From point black 21, which will be reached on 30.4. (20.5.) at approximately 13:00, to black 21 A, the fleet formation will proceed behind a minesweeping escort of the 5th Ms.Fl. according to BSO Gkdos 34/41 Chiefs. (Annex 4).

5.) On April 29/30 (May 19/20), the BSO will conduct anti-submarine warfare and close air cover in the Skagerrak in accordance with BSO Gkdos 31/41 Chief's order of April 22, 1941 (Annex 5).

6.) Measures for the night march through the Great Belt have been requested from the Marbef. Denmark according to BSO Gkdos 37/41 Chiefs. of 22.4.41. (Annex 6).

7.) Regarding Annex 5, Item 5: Please transmit the marching order to the boat on black 09 upon passing.

[Stamped]

1. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 dated 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security.
Gkdos 32/41 Chiefs.
April 22, 1941.

Top secret!
Top priority! Only by officer!
Short letter
Barrage Breaker 13
Barrage Breaker 31
next Fleet
next Group North
next Station East
next Kobef West
Test no. 1
test no. 2
test no. 3-9
test no. 10
test no. 11
Test no. 12

At 0830
1.) Sperrbrecher 13 and Speerbrecher 31 are positioned on 29.4 .41 (19.5.41) ( time to be ordered ) at point green 03 to escort a formation consisting of two large and several small units, from green 03 via green 02, green 01, red 13, red 07, red 06, red 05A, red 05, red 15, red 16, red 17, red 18, red 19 to red 20.

Red 05 will be passed at 9:30 PM.

2.) Order of ships on the march from green 03 to red 20:

    a.) Barrier breaker 13

    b.) First large unit.
    Distance between a) and b) as small as possible (about 500 m).

    c.) Barrier breaker 31.
    Distance between b) and c) = 1500 m.

    d.) Second large unit.
    Distance between c) and d) as small as possible (about 500 m).

    e.) Attached in line behind d) the small units.

3.) Marching from green 03 to red 20 = 10 nautical miles.

4.) At red 20, barrier bridges 13 and 31 veer to starboard (east) out of the formation after the entire formation has completed the course change at red 20, reduce speed and allow the formation to pass.

5.) After passing the convoy, Sperrbr. 13 and 31 follow the convoy ship by ship at full speed along the point route to red 27 and anchor there.

6.) Sperrbr. 13 reports escort take-off at green 03 and passage of red 20 by FT

7.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).

8.) On the night of April 29th (19th) to April 30th (May 20th):

    a) The buoys in the Great Belt according to BSO Gkdos 35/41 Chief's of 22.4. (see Annex) are illuminated.

    b) Market boats laid out according to BSO Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs. of 22.4. (see Annex).

9.) Barrage bridges 13 and 31 shall man UK station, UK channel 10 17 during the duration of the escort (unless the commander of the escorted convoy orders otherwise).
[Stamped]

2. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security.
Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs.
April 22, 1941.

Top secret!
Top priority! Only by officer!
Short letter
Bewa East
message. Fleet
message. Group North
message. Marbef. Denmark
message. Barrage Breaker 13
message. Barrage Breaker 31
Test no. 1
test no. 2-8
test no. 9
test no. 10
test no. 11
Test no. 12

Re: Night march across the Great Belt.

1.) On the night of April 29th to 30th , 1941 (May 19th to 20th), two large and several small vessels passed through the Great Belt. The barrage breakers 13 and 31 followed the group at greater intervals.

2.) The following is ordered:

Bewa Ost will deploy market boats at the following positions on April 29th (May 19th) from 2 PM onwards:

    a) At 55 degrees 11.5 min. North, 11 degrees 3.7 min. East = 200 m west of red 21.
    Identification: Two black balls by day, two red lanterns by night.

    b) At 55 degrees 12.3 min. North, 11 degrees 6.8 min. East = 100 m south of the Agers South anti-aircraft buoy.
    Identification: A black ball or two white lanterns.

    c) At 55 degrees 19.6 min. North, 11 degrees 1.8 min. East = 200 m west of red 22 B.
    Identification: Two black balls or one white one, below which is a red lantern.

    d) At 55 degrees 33.6 min. North, 10 degrees 49.7 min. East (eastern edge of Roms�-Tue)
    Identification: A black ball or a red lantern, below which is a white lantern.

    e) At 55 degrees 52.9 min North, 10 degrees 50 min East (Hatter-Barn)
    Identification: Two black balls or two red lanterns.

    f) At 55 degrees 54.1 min. North, 10 degrees 51.2 min. East (Hatter-Rev)
    Identification: A black ball or two white lanterns.

    Regarding points 2 a) to 2 f): The bells and lanterns are to be placed one above the other.
    The lanterns are to be placed on the night of April 29th to 30th (May 19th to 20th) from dusk until dawn. Mark boats that are not in the ordered position will not display bells or lanterns.

3.) The market boats according to point 2) shall receive the following position designations:
    Position according to para. 2a) = Sirius
    position according to point. 2b) = Saturn
    position according to number 2c) = Venus
    position according to number 2d) = Orion
    position according to number 2e) = Uranus
    position according to number 2f) = Mercury
4.) The mark boats remain in position until ordered to enter the harbor by FT. Orders are given by BSO directly to the mark boats.

5.) Boats of the 10th Vpfl. are to be designated as market boats. Bewa Ost reports the boat numbers and positions to BSO according to item 3).

6.) Radio communication of the market boats: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).

[Stamped]

3. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security.
Gkdos 35/41 Chiefs.
April 22, 1941.

Top secret!
Top priority! Only by officer!
Short letter
2nd Group 5th R.-Fl
narr. Fleet
narr. Group North
narr. Marbef. Denmark
Bewa East
narr. Sperrbrecher 13
narr. Sperrbrecher 31
Test no. 1
test no. 2-8
test no. 9
test no. 10
test no. 11
Test no. 12
test no. 13

Subject: Lighting Point Path Great Belt

1.) 2nd Group 5th Reserve Flotilla (R61, R53, R60, R64) takes over from the Mine Warfare Command on the afternoon of April 27th (May 17th) in Aarhus.

    a) 90 fairway buoys with red lantern and connecting pedestals.

    b) 25 fairway buoys with green lantern and anchoring.

    c) 220 replacement elements for the electric lanterns according to item 1a) and 1b).

2.) On April 28th (May 18th):
    a) Lay out one fairway buoy with a green lantern and anchor 20 m east of each of the red spar buoys (or yellow net buoys with attached fishing buoy) located at the following course change points: red point 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22A, 22B, 23, 23A, 24, 24A, 24B, 25, 26, 26A and 27.

    b) Each of the red and white net buoys, which are located at intervals of 1 - 1.5 nm between the course change points according to point 2a), is to be lashed to a fairway buoy with a red lantern by means of a connecting mooring post (grabber buoy mooring post).

    Regarding points 2a) and 2b):
    The fairway buoys must be in place by nightfall on April 28th (May 18th). A FT report must be sent to BSO on the evening of April 28th (May 18th).

3.) On April 29th (May 19th), the 2nd group of the 5th Reserve Flotilla (R61, R53, R60, R64) will switch on the buoy lights according to sections 2 a) and 2 b) in sufficient time so that all lights are illuminated from dusk onwards. Then, a FT report will be sent to the BSO.

4.) After completing the task according to point 3.) R-boats enter Korsï¿¿r.

5.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).

6.) Pick up the fairway buoys only on special order.

[Stamped]

4. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security.
Gkdos 34/41 Chiefs.
April 22, 1941.

Top secret!
Top priority! Only by officer!
Short letter
5th Ms. Flotilla,
forward fleet,
forward group North
Test no. 1
test no. 2-8
test no. 9

Re: Minesweeping escort

1.) After conducting the anti-submarine warfare according to BSO Gkdos 31/41 Chief's order of 22.4.41, the 5th Ms.Fl. marches to point black 21.

2.) On 30.4. (20.5.) at 1200 am, 5.Ms.Fl. with deployed equipment is stationed at black 21 for minesweeping escort through the Skagen-Mitte blocking gap to black 21 A for a formation advancing from black 18, consisting of two large and several small units.

3.) ORG setting: 14 m.
No bow protection device.
Highest search and rescue operation to be reported to the escorted convoy. Do not buoy.

4.) Mine alarm only if the equipment is destroyed. Otherwise, hold out if you encounter mines. It must be expected that your own deep-lying mines (depth setting: 15 m) of the Skagen barrier will be cleared. The mines (UMA) have been thrown with "KE on". However, it is not certain that cleared mines will detonate. The following formation must avoid surface mines if necessary.

5.) After conducting a minesweeping escort, the 5th Ms. Fl. anchors in Skagen Roads.

6.) Radio communication: Baltic Sea longwave (nanni).

[Stamped]

5. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security.
Gkdos 31/41 Chiefs.
April 22, 1941.

Top secret!
Top priority! Only by officer!
Short letter
9th Outpost Flotilla
BSO Training Flotilla
16th Outpost Flotilla Submarine
Chaser 119
5th Ms. Flotilla
Coastal Aviation Group 906
Naval Fleet
Naval Group North
Test no. 1
test no. 2
test no. 2
test no. 4
test no. 5
test no. 6
test no. 7-13
test no. 14

1.) Situation On 30.4.41 (20.5.41) a special convoy, consisting of two heavy and several light units, marched from black 21 A via black 24 to Qu. 4415 upper left corner to black 26.

The convoy is on black 21 at approximately 1:00 PM on April 30th (May 20th).

Marching from black 21 to black 21 A approximately 10 nautical miles, then 20 nautical miles.

2.) To secure this convoy during its march across the Skagerrak, the following anti-submarine warfare will be ordered from 29.4 (19.5.) at 22:00:

    a.) 5th Ms.-Fl. with 4-5 boats in Qu. 4462, 4463, 4461, 4437 AO until 30.4 . (20.5.) at 0900. Then task according to BSO Gkdos 34/41 Chief's of 22.4. Carry out.

    b.) BSO school flotilla with 5 boats in Qu. 4428, 4429, 4427, 4424 AO.

    c.) 16. Vpfl. with 3 boats in the Qu. 4411, 4414, 4415, 4412 AO.

    d.) 9 Vpfl. with 7 boats in the Qu. 3625, 3626, 3634, 3635 AN.

    e.) U-J�ger 119, 111, 118 (114, 111) in the quarters 3616, 3619 upper half, 3624, 3627 upper half.

3.) The termination of the submarine hunt according to section 2 b, c, d and e is ordered by FT.

4.) Coastal Air Group 906 provides close air cover for convoy from black 21 to Kristiansand-South barrier gap.

5.) The BSO training flotilla will detach a boat well-equipped with FT (Field Telegraph) devices. This boat will anchor on 29.4 . (19.5.) at 2000 on black 09 and report via FT (SSD) the time of passage and speed of the special convoy, which will pass black 09 on the morning of 30.4 . (20.5.). Speed ​​will be transmitted by the lead vessel of the special convoy upon passage.
Entry is only permitted upon special order.

6.) Flotillas report the distribution of boats.

7.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).

[Stamped]

6. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security.
Gkdos 37/41 Chiefs.
April 22, 1941.

Top secret!
Top priority! Only by officer!
Short letter
Marbef. Denmark
message. Fleet
message. Group North
message. Barrage Breaker 13
message. Barrage Breaker 31
East Guard
Test no. 1
test no. 2-8
test no. 9
test no. 10
test no. 11
Test no. 12

1.) For the night march of a unit through the Great Belt on the night of April 29th to 30th , 1941 (May 19th to 20th, 1941), the following measures are requested:

    a.) Measure DS (Dora Sophie) on April 29th (May 19th) with darkness until April 30th (May 20th) at 01:00 (02:00).

    b.) Measure DR (Dora Richard) on 29.4 . (19.5.) at 23:30 until 30.4 . (20.5.) at 04:00.

    c.) Measure DQ (Dora Quatsch) on April 30th (May 20th) from 0:00 until dawn.

    d.) Measure DO (Dora Otto) on 30.4 . (20.5.) from 02:30 am until dawn.

2.) The measures must not be deleted during the specified time in the event of enemy incursions.
[Stamped]