Blue Squadron

Last updated
Blue Squadron
Escuadrilla Azul (Blue Squadron) Emblem.png
Emblem of the 1st Expeditionary Squadron
ActiveJune 24, 1941 – February 23, 1944
CountryFlag of Spain (1938-1945).svg  Spain
AllegianceFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
RoleFighter Squadron
Part of Jagdgeschwader 27.svg JG 27 (1941 - 1942)
Jagdgeschwader 51.svg JG 51 (1942 - 1944)
Aircraft flown
Bomber Ju 52
Hs 123
Ju 88 (proposed)
Fighter Fw 190
Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 of the Escuadrilla Azul, 15. (span.)/Jagdgeschwader 51, Winter 1942/1943 Bf 109F-2 Azul.jpg
Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 of the Escuadrilla Azul, 15. (span.)/Jagdgeschwader 51, Winter 1942/1943

The Blue Squadron [1] (Spanish: Escuadrilla Azul, German: 15. Spanische Staffel) was a generic name given to the group of volunteer pilots and ground crews recruited from the Spanish Air Force that fought in the side of Germany on the Eastern Front, during the Second World War. The "Blue Patrol" was a counterpart offered by Franco to Nazi Germany for its help with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War.

Between September 1941 and May 1943 five Spanish squadrons rotated through the Eastern Front, attached to Luftwaffe fighter wings Jagdgeschwader 27 and Jagdgeschwader 51. [2]

Flying Messerschmitt fighters and Focke-Wulf fighter-bombers, the Spaniards were credited with destroying more than 160 Soviet aircraft in nearly two years, while losing 20 pilots killed, missing, or captured. [3] [4] The unit remained in central Russia, despite requests by Muñoz Grandes that they be attached to the Blue Division, until their withdrawal in 1943. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Regia Aeronautica</i> Air force of the Kingdom of Italy

The Royal Italian Air Force (RAI) was the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was abolished and the Kingdom of Italy became the Italian Republic, whereupon the name of the air force changed to Aeronautica Militare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josef Priller</span> German World War II flying ace and wing commander (1915–1961)

Josef "Pips" Priller was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 101 enemy aircraft shot down in 307 combat missions. All of his victories were claimed over the Western Front, including 11 four-engine bombers and at least 68 Supermarine Spitfire fighters.

<i>Jagdgeschwader</i> 77 Military unit

Jagdgeschwader 77 Herz As was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II. It served in all the German theaters of war, from Western Europe to the Eastern Front, and from the high north in Norway to the Mediterranean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anton Hafner</span> German World War II flying ace

Anton Hafner was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a fighter ace credited with 204 enemy aircraft shot down in 795 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed on the Eastern Front, but he also claimed 20 victories over the Western Front during the North African Campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fritz Losigkeit</span> German fighter ace and Knights Cross recipient

Fritz Losigkeit was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 68 aerial victories in approximately 750 combat missions. This figure includes 13 aerial victories over the Western Allies, the remaining victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinrich Sturm</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Heinrich Sturm was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 158 enemy aircraft shot down in an unknown number of combat missions. All of his aerial victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. He was "ace-in-a-day" four times, shooting down five or more aircraft on a single day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerhard Thyben</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Gerhard Thyben was a German military aviator who served in the Luftwaffe from 1940 until the end of World War II and later as an instructor with the Colombian Air Force. As a fighter ace, he claimed 157 enemy aircraft shot down in 385 combat missions, five of which over the Western Allies the other 152 were claimed on the Eastern Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erwin Clausen</span> German fighter ace and Knights Cross recipient

Erwin Clausen was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 132 aerial victories—that is, 132 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in 561 combat missions. He was "ace-in-a-day" four times, shooting down five or more aircraft on a single day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franz Eisenach</span> German World War II fighter pilot (1918–1998)

Franz Eisenach was a German fighter ace during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He was credited with 129 aerial victories claimed in 319 combat missions, all on the Eastern front of the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrich Geisshardt</span> German World War II flying ace

Friedrich Geißhardt was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award in the armed forces of Germany during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinrich Setz</span> German World War II flying ace

Heinrich Setz was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 138 enemy aircraft shot down in 274 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front, with six claims over the Western Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albin Wolf</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Albin Wolf was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 144 enemy aircraft shot down. All of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Gratz</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Karl Gratz was an Austrian-born Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 138 aerial victories claimed in more than 900 missions. Gratz claimed the majority of his victories over the Eastern Front, and 17 over the Western Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudolf Trenkel</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Rudolf Trenkel was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II. As a flying ace, he was credited with 138 victories and was a recipient of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jakob Norz</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Jakob Norz was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Norz is listed with 117 aerial victories—that is, 117 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—becoming an "ace-in-a-day" on seven separate occasions. All his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in 332 combat missions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Norz was killed on 16 September 1944 in a forced landing following combat with a large formation of Soviet aircraft attacking Kirkenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berthold Korts</span> German World War II fighter pilot

Berthold Korts was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 113 aerial victories—that is, 113 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in an unknown combat missions. He was "ace-in-a-day" four times, shooting down five or more aircraft on a single day.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid-1930s. It was one of the first true modern fighters of the era, including such features as all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, a retractable landing gear, and was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egon Albrecht-Lemke</span> German fighter ace and Knights Cross recipient (1918–1944)

Egon Albrecht-Lemke was a German-Brazilian Luftwaffe fighter pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Albrecht claimed 25 aerial victories, 10 over the Western Front and 15 over the Eastern Front.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oskar Romm</span> German World War II fighter pilot (1919–1993)

Oskar "Ossi" Romm was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he was credited with 92 aerial victories, 82 on the Eastern Front and 10 on the Western Front.

Helmut Mertens was a German fighter ace of World War II. He was born in Essen and served in the Luftwaffe as a career fighter pilot who served in the Battle of France, Battle of Britain, the invasion of Russia Operation Barbarossa and on the Western Front in the Defence of the Reich. His victory tally as a fighter pilot is reported as high as ninety-seven or as few as fifty-four aircraft confirmed shot down.

References

  1. Bowen p. 45
  2. Neulen pp. 276–285
  3. Bowen p. 45
  4. Neulen pp. 276–285
  5. Bowen p. 45

Sources