Luftwaffe Order of Battle August 1940

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For its Battle of Britain campaign against Great Britain during World War II, the German Luftwaffe had the following Order of Battle in the West. Luftflotte 2 was responsible for the bombing of southeast England and the London area and based in the Pas-de-Calais area in France. Luftflotte 3 targeted the West Country, Midlands, and northwest England, from bases a bit further north in France. Luftflotte 5 targeted the north of England and Scotland, from bases in Norway. Luftflotte 1 and Luftflotte 4 were based in Germany, but most of their bomber formations had been reassigned to the three Luftflotten engaged in the Battle of Britain. Some fighters were retained to provide air cover over Germany, however. [1]

Battle of Britain Air campaign between Germany and the United Kingdom during WWII

The Battle of Britain was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force, the Luftwaffe. It has been described as the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces. The British officially recognise the battle's duration as being from 10 July until 31 October 1940, which overlaps the period of large-scale night attacks known as The Blitz, that lasted from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941. German historians do not accept this subdivision and regard the battle as a single campaign lasting from July 1940 to June 1941, including the Blitz.

<i>Luftwaffe</i> Aerial warfare branch of the German military forces during World War II

The Luftwaffe was the aerial warfare branch of the combined German Wehrmacht military forces during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the Luftstreitkräfte of the Army and the Marine-Fliegerabteilung of the Navy, had been disbanded in May 1920 as a result of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles which stated that Germany was forbidden to have any air force.

Luftflotte 2 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed 1 February 1939 in Braunschweig and transferred to Italy on 15 November 1941. The Luftflotte was disbanded on 27 September 1944.

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Luftflotte 2

Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring, OOB from 13 August 1940.

Brussels Capital region of Belgium

Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country and is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, but is separate from the Flemish Region and the Walloon Region. Brussels is the most densely populated and the richest region in Belgium in terms of GDP per capita. It covers 161 km2 (62 sq mi), a relatively small area compared to the two other regions, and has a population of 1.2 million. The metropolitan area of Brussels counts over 2.1 million people, which makes it the largest in Belgium. It is also part of a large conurbation extending towards Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven and Walloon Brabant, home to over 5 million people.

Albert Kesselring German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II

Albert Kesselring was a German Generalfeldmarschall of the Luftwaffe during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, and one of the most highly decorated, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Nicknamed "Smiling Albert" by the Allies and "Uncle Albert" by his troops, he was one of the most popular generals of World War II with the rank and file.

Wettererkundungstaffel 26 (Weather reconnaissance unit under direct control of Luftflotte 2 ) Brussels Grimbergen Independent Staffel Dornier Do 17, Heinkel He 111, Messerschmitt Bf 110 Brussels-Grimbergen Regierungsrat Krug
Parent unitGeschwader BaseUnit (Gruppe/Staffel)Aircraft TypeUnit AirfieldCommanding Officer
I. Fliegerkorps (Generaloberst Ulrich Grauert), Beauvais
Kampfgeschwader 1 (Major General Karl Angerstein) [2]
Rosières-en-Santerre I. GruppeHeinkel He 111 Montdidier Major Ludwig Maier
II. GruppeHeinkel He 111MontdidierObstlt. Benno Kosch
III. GruppeHeinkel He 111 Rosières-en-Santerre Major Hans Steinwig/ Major Willibald Fanelsa
Kampfgeschwader 76 (Oberst Stefan Fröhlich)
Cormeilles-en-Vexin Stab. GruppeDornier Do 17 Cormeilles-en-Vexin Oberstleutnant Fröhlich
Cormeilles-en-Vexin I. GruppeDornier Do 17 Beauvais Hauptmann Alois Lindmayr
II. Gruppe Junkers Ju 88 Creil Major Friedrich Möericke
III. GruppeDornier Do 17 Cormeilles-en-Vexin Major Franz Von Benda
Aufklärungsgruppe 122 (Long-range reconnaissance)
5. StaffelJunkers Ju 88, Heinkel He 111, Dornier Do 17P Haute-Fontaine Hauptmann Bohm
II. Fliegerkorps (General der Flieger Bruno Lörzer), Ghent.
Kampfgeschwader 2 (Major-General Johannes Fink)
Arras I. GruppeDornier Do 17 Épinoy Major Martin Gutzmann (POW 26 August), not replaced until 4 September. [3]
II. GruppeDornier Do 17ArrasMajor Paul Weitkus
III. GruppeDornier Do 17 Cambrai Major Adolph Fuchs
Kampfgeschwader 3 (Oberstleutnant von Chamier-Glisczinski)
Le Culot I. GruppeDornier Do 17Le CulotOblt. Gabelmann
II. GruppeDornier Do 17 Antwerp/DeurneHptm. Pilger
III. GruppeDornier Do 17 Sint-Truiden Hptm. Rathmann
Kampfgeschwader 53 (Oberstleutnant Stahl)
Lille-NordI. GruppeHeinkel He 111Lille-NordMajor Kauffmann
II. GruppeHeinkel He 111Lille-NordMajor Winkler
III. GruppeHeinkel He 111Lille-NordMajor Edler von Braun
Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (Hauptmann Keil)
Pas-de-Calais II. Gruppe Junkers Ju 87 Pas de CalaisHptm. A. Keil
IV. GruppeJunkers Ju 87 Tramecourt Hptm. Von Brauchitsch
Erprobungsgruppe 210 (Hauptmann Rubensdörffer)
Calais-Marck1. Staffel Messerschmitt Bf 110 Calais-MarckOblt. M. Lutz
2. StaffelMesserschmitt Bf 110Calais-MarckOblt. W-R. Rössinger
3. Staffel Messerschmitt Bf 109 Calais-MarckOblt. O. Hintze
Lehrgeschwader 2
1–4 August: UnknownI. (Jagd) GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Leeuwarden (to 4 August)/Calais Hptm Hanns Trübenbach (to 18 August), Hptm Bernhard Mieklke (21–30 August, KIA)
II.(Schlacht) GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109Most of the unit was based at Böblingen, elements moved to Calais on 13 AugustHptm Otto Weiß
7(F). GruppeMesserschmitt Bf110 Ghent/Brussels Probably Hptm Hans Schäfer
9.(H). Gruppe (Pz)Messerschmitt Bf110/ Henschel Hs 126 Unknown location in BelgiumProbably an Oblt Wöbbeking
IX. Fliegerkorps (Generalmajor Joachim Coeler), Soesterberg.
Kampfgeschwader 4 (Oberstleutnant Hans-Joachim Rath)
SoesterbergI. GruppeHeinkel He 111SoesterbergHptm. Nikolaus-Wolfgang Meissner
II. GruppeHeinkel He 111 Eindhoven Major Dr. Gottlieb Wolf
III. GruppeJunkers Ju 88 Amsterdam/Schiphol Hptm. Erich Bloedorn
Kampfgruppe 100 (Pathfinder bombers)Autonomous GruppeHeinkel He 111 Vannes Hauptmann Aschenbrenner
Küstengruppe 126 (Minelaying)VariousAutonomous GruppeHeinkel He 111
Aufklärungsgruppe 122 3. StaffelJunkers Ju 88, Heinkel He 100EindhovenOberstleutnant Koehler
Jagdfliegerführer 2 (Generalmajor Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp), Wissant
Jagdgeschwader 3 (Oberstleutnant Viek)
Samer I. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Colombert Hptm. Hans von Hahn
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109SamerHptm. Erich von Selle
III. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Desvres Hptm. W. Kienitz
Jagdgeschwader 26 (Major Handrick)
Audembert I. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109AudenbertHptm. K. Fischer
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Marquise Hptm. K. Ebbighausen
III. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Caffiers Major Adolf Galland
Jagdgeschwader 51 (Major Werner Mölders)
Wissant I. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109WissantHptm. Brustellin
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109WissantHptm. G. Matthes
III. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 St.Omer Major Hannes Trautloft
Jagdgeschwader 52 (Major von Bernegg)
Coquelles I. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109CoquellesHptm. S. von Eschwege
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Peuplingne Hptm. Von Kornatzki
Jagdgeschwader 54 (Major Mettig)
Campagne I. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Guînes Hptm. Hubertus von Bonin
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Hermalinghen Hptm. Winterer
III. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Guînes Hptm. Ultsch
Lehrgeschwader 2
Calais-MarckI. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109Calais-MarckMajor Hans Trubenbach
Zerstörergeschwader 26 (Oberstleutnant Joachim-Friedrich Huth)
Lille StabschwarmeMesserschmitt Bf 110LilleOberstleutnant Huth
Lille I. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 110 Yvrench Hptm. Wilhelm Makrocki
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 110 Crécy Hptm. Ralph von Rettberg
III. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 110 Barley Hptm. Johann Schalk
Zerstörergeschwader 76 (Major Walter Grabmann)
Laval Stabschwarme Messerschmitt Bf 110 LavalMajor Grabmann
LavalII. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 110 Abbeville Maj Erich Groth
LavalIII. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 110LavalHptm. Friedrich-Karl Dickoré

Luftflotte 3

Headquarters in Paris, France, under Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle. OOB from 13 August 1940.

Hugo Sperrle German general

Hugo Sperrle was a German field marshal of the Luftwaffe during World War II. His forces were deployed solely on the Western Front and the Mediterranean throughout the war. By 1944 he had become Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe in the West, but was subsequently dismissed when his heavily outnumbered forces were not able to significantly hamper the Allied landings in Western Europe.

Wettererkundungstaffel 51 (Weather reconnaissance unit under direct control of Luftflotte 3 ) Versailles Buc Independent Staffel Dornier Do 17, Heinkel He 111,Versailles-BucRegierungsrat Dr. Felber
Parent unitGeshwader BaseUnit (Gruppe/Staffel)Aircraft TypeUnit AirfieldCommanding Officer
IV. Fliegerkorps (Generalleutnant Kurt Pflugbeil), Dinard
Lehrgeschwader 1 (Oberstleutnant Alfred Bülowius)
Orléans/Bricy I. Gruppe Junkers Ju 88 Orléans/BricyHptm. W. Kern
II. GruppeJunkers Ju 88Orléans/BricyMajor Debratz
III. GruppeJunkers Ju 88 Châteaudun Major Dr. Ing. Ernst Bormann
Kampfgeschwader 27 (Oberst Gerhard Conrad)
Tours I. Gruppe Heinkel He 111 ToursMajor Gerhard Ulbricht
II. GruppeHeinkel He 111 Dinard Major Friedrich-Karl Schlichting
III. GruppeHeinkel He 111 Rennes Major Manfred Freiherr von Sternberg
Kampfgeschwader 40 (Long range reconnaissance) Oberst Ernst-August Roth (as of 1 August)
Stabschwarme Junkers Ju 88 Brest-Guipavas Oberst Ernst-August Roth
I. Gruppe Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Brest-GuipavasHptm Edmund Daser
Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 (Oberst Angerstein)
Stabschwarme Junkers Ju 87 and Dornier Do 17 Caen
Kampfgruppe 806 (Maritime bombers) (Oberst)
Junkers Ju 88NantesHptm. W. Siegel
Aufklärungsgruppe 31 (Long-range reconnaissance)3. StaffelDornier Do 17, Junkers Ju 88, Messerschmitt Bf 110 Rennes Hauptmann Sieckemus
Aufklärungsgruppe 121 (Long-range reconnaissance)3. StaffelJunkers Ju 88,North-West FranceHauptmann Kerber
V. Fliegerkorps (General der Flieger Robert Ritter von Greim) Villacoublay
Kampfgeschwader 51 (Major Schulz-Heyn)
Orly I GruppeJunkers Ju 88 Melun Major Schulz-Hein
II GruppeJunkers Ju 88OrlyMajor Winkler
III GruppeJunkers Ju 88 Étampes Major W. Marienfeld
Kampfgeschwader 54 (Oberstleutnant Otto Höhne)
Évreux I GruppeJunkers Ju 88 Évreux Hptm. Jobst-Heinrich von Heydebrock
II GruppeJunkers Ju 88 St. Andre-de-L’Eure Major Kurt Leonhardy (MIA 11 August). Replaced by Hptm Karl-Bernhard Schlaeger (acting). Replaced by Htpm Hans Widmann. [4]
Kampfgeschwader 55 (Oberstleutnant Alois Stoeckl - KIA 14 August). Replaced by Obstlt Hans Korte 15 August [5]
Villacoublay I GruppeHeinkel He 111 Dreux Major Joachim Roeber
II GruppeHeinkel He 111 Chartres Major Friedrich Kless
III GruppeHeinkel He 111VillacoublayHptm Hans Schlemell
Aufklärungsgruppe 14 (Long-range reconnaissance)4. StaffelDornier Do 17, Messerschmitt Bf 110 Cherbourg Hauptmann von Dewitz
Aufklärungsgruppe 121 (Long-range reconnaissance)4. StaffelDornier Do 17,Junkers Ju 88VillacoublayHauptmann Kerber (?)
VIII. Fliegerkorps (General der Flieger Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen, Deauville
Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 (Major Hagen)
Angers I Gruppe Junkers Ju 87 AngersMajor P. Hozzel
II GruppeJunkers Ju 87AngersHptm. H. Mahlke
Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 (Major Oskar Dinort)
Saint-Malo I GruppeJunkers Ju 87St. MaloHptm. H. Hitschold
II GruppeJunkers Ju 87 Lannion Major W. Enneccerus
Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (Major Graf von Schönborn)
Caen I GruppeJunkers Ju 87CaenHptm. von D. zu Lichtenfels
II GruppeJunkers Ju 87CaenHptm. W. Plewig
III GruppeJunkers Ju 87CaenMajor H. Bode
Lehrgeschwader 1 (Oberstleutnant Bülowius)
CaenV. Gruppe Messerschmitt Bf 110 CaenHptm. Horst Liensberger
Aufklärungsgruppe 11 (Long-range reconnaissance)2. StaffelDornier Do 17, Messerschmitt Bf 110 Bernay
Aufklärungsgruppe 123 (Long-range reconnaissance)2. StaffelDornier Do 17,Junkers Ju 88Paris
Jagdfliegerführer 3 (Oberst Werner Junck), Deauville
Jagdgeschwader 2 (Major von Bülow)
Évreux,Stabschwarme Messerschmitt Bf 109 Beaumont-le-Roger Major von Bülow
Évreux I. Gruppe Messerschmitt Bf 109 Beaumont-le-Roger Major H. Strumpell
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109Beaumont-le-RogerMajor Wolfgang Schellmann
III. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Le Havre Major Dr. Erich Mix
Jagdgeschwader 27 (Oberstleutnant Max Ibel)
Cherbourg-WestStabschwarme Messerschmitt Bf 109 Cherbourg-WestOberstleutnant Max Ibel
Cherbourg-WestI. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Plumetot Hptm. Eduard Neumann
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Crépon Hptm. Lippert
III. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Carquebut Hptm. J. Schlichting
Jagdgeschwader 53 (Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel)
Cherbourg Stabschwarme Messerschmitt Bf 109 CherbourgMajor von Cramon-Taubadel
CherbourgI. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Rennes Hptm. Blumensaat
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Dinan Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
III. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 109 Sempy & Brest Hptm. Harro Harder (Hptm. Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke from 13 August)
Zerstörergeschwader 2 (Oberstleutnant Friedrich Vollbracht) [6]
Toussus-le-Noble Stabschwarme Messerschmitt Bf 110 Toussus-le-NobleOberstleutnant Vollbracht
Toussus-le-NobleI. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 110 Amiens Hptm. Heinlein
II. GruppeMesserschmitt Bf 110 Guyancourt Major Carl

Luftflotte 5

Headquarters in Stavanger, Norway, led by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff. OOB from 13 August 1940.

Stavanger Municipality in Norway

Stavanger is a city and municipality in Norway. It is the third largest city and metropolitan area in Norway and the administrative centre of Rogaland county. The municipality is the fourth most populous in Norway. Located on the Stavanger Peninsula in Southwest Norway, Stavanger counts its official founding year as 1125, the year the Stavanger Cathedral was completed. Stavanger's core is to a large degree 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses that are protected and considered part of the city's cultural heritage. This has caused the town centre and inner city to retain a small-town character with an unusually high ratio of detached houses, and has contributed significantly to spreading the city's population growth to outlying parts of Greater Stavanger.

Hans-Jürgen Stumpff German general

Hans-Jürgen Stumpff, was a German general during World War II and was one of the signatories to Germany's unconditional surrender at the end of the war.

Parent unitGeshwader BaseUnit (Gruppe/Staffel)Aircraft TypeUnit AirfieldCommanding Officer
X. Fliegerkorps (Generalleutnant Hans Geisler) Stavanger
Wettererkundungskette X. Fl.Korps (Weather reconnaissance)Unit under direct control of X. Fliegerkorps Heinkel He 111 StavangerRegierungsrat Dr. Müller
Kampfgeschwader 26 (Oberstleutnant Karl Frieherr von Wechmar)
StavangerStabschwarmeHeinkel He 111StavangerOberstleutnant Fuchs
I. GruppeHeinkel He 111StavangerMajor Hermann Busch
III. GruppeHeinkel He 111StavangerMajor Waldemar Lerche
Kampfgeschwader 30 (Oberstleutnant Walter Loebel, to 16 August. Replaced by Oberst Herbert Rieckhoff on 17 August. [7] )
Aalborg Stabschwarme Junkers Ju 88 Aalborg Oberstleutnant Loebel/Oberst Rieckhoff
I. Gruppe Junkers Ju 88 AalborgMajor Fritz Doensch
II. GruppeJunkers Ju 88AalborgHptm. Karl-Joachim von Symonski
III. GruppeJunkers Ju 88Aalborg-WestHptm. Gerhard Kollewe
Zerstörergeschwader 76 [8] (Major Walter Grabmann)
StavangerI. Gruppe Messerschmitt Bf 110 StavangerHptm. W. Restemeyer [9]
Jagdgeschwader 77 (Hauptmann Hentschel)
StavangerII. Gruppe Messerschmitt Bf 109 Stavanger/Trondheim Hptm. Hentschel
Kustenfliegergruppe 506 (Major Eisenbach)
Stavanger1. Staffel Heinkel He 115 Stavanger-
2. StaffelHeinkel He 115 Trondheim, Tromsø
3. StaffelHeinkel He 115 List -
Aufklärungsgruppe 22 (Long-range reconnaissance) (Oberstleutnant Thomas)2. StaffelDornier Do 17,Stavanger
3. StaffelDornier Do 17,Stavanger
Aufklärungsgruppe 120 (Long-range reconnaissance)1. StaffelHeinkel He 111, Junkers Ju 88StavangerMajor Schub
Aufklärungsgruppe 121 (Long-range reconnaissance)1. StaffelHeinkel He 111, Junkers Ju 88StavangerHauptmann Klinkicht
Aufklärungsgruppe Ob.d.L (Long-range reconnaissance)1. Staffel Dornier Do 215, Heinkel He 111, Messerschmitt Bf 110Stavanger
Seenotdienst (Air-sea rescue unit) Heinkel He 59 Sola, Bergen, Trondheim

Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe

Headquarters in Berlin, Germany, led by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. OOB from 13 August 1940.

<i>Reichsmarschall</i> military rank

Reichsmarschall, Marshal of the Reich, was the highest rank in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Hermann Göring Nazi German politician and military leader

Hermann Wilhelm Göring was a German political and military leader as well as one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party (NSDAP) that ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945. A veteran World War I fighter pilot ace, he was a recipient of the Pour le Mérite. He was the last commander of Jagdgeschwader 1, the fighter wing once led by Manfred von Richthofen.

Parent unitGeshwader BaseUnit (Gruppe/Staffel)Aircraft TypeUnit AirfieldCommanding Officer
Aufklärungsgruppe Ob.d.L (Oberstleutnant Theodor Rowehl) Berlin
Various1. Staffel Blohm & Voss BV 142, Dornier Do 215, Dornier Do 217, Heinkel He 111, Junkers Ju 86P, Junkers Ju 88, Messerschmitt Bf 110 Autonomous, no fixed location
2. StaffelDornier Do 215, Heinkel He 111Autonomous, no fixed location
Wettererkundungskette Ob.d.L (Weather reconnaissance) Berlin
Oldenburg 1. Staffel Dornier Do 17, Heinkel He 111Oldenburg
2. StaffelHeinkel He 111 Brest
Seefliegerverbände (Maritime Patrol) (Generalmajor Ritter) Berlin
Küstenfliegergruppe 406 (Major Stockmann)
Hörnum 3. Staffel Dornier Do 18 Hörnum
2./106Dornier Do 18 Rantum
2./906Dornier Do 18Hörnum
Küstenfliegergruppe 706 (Major Lessing)
Stavanger 1./406 Dornier Do 18 Stavanger
2./406 Dornier Do 18 Stavanger
Küstenfliegergruppe 606 (Major Hahn)
Brest1. Staffel Dornier Do 17 Brest
2. StaffelDornier Do 17Brest
3. StaffelDornier Do 17Brest
Küstenfliegergruppe 106 (Major Hahn)
Norderney 1. Staffel Heinkel He 115 Nordeney

See also

A list of Luftwaffe "Luftflotten" and their locations between 1939 and 1945.

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<i>Kampfgeschwader</i> 3

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Kampfgeschwader 26 "Löwengeschwader" was a German air force Luftwaffe bomber wing unit during World War II. Its units participated on all of the fronts in the European Theatre until the end of the war. It operated three of the major German aircraft medium bomber types; the Heinkel He 111, Junkers Ju 88 and the Junkers Ju 188. The unit engaged in both strategic bombing, close air support, anti-shipping and aerial interdiction operations. The majority of its operational life – not entirely unlike another Luftwaffe wing designated KG 40 — was spent on anti-shipping missions.

<i>Kampfgeschwader</i> 2 military unit

Kampfgeschwader 2 " Holzhammer " was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during the Second World War. The unit was formed in May 1939. The unit operated the Dornier Do 17 light bomber, Dornier Do 217 and Junkers Ju 188 heavy bombers. During the course of the Second World War KG 2 lost 767 aircraft destroyed and 158 damaged. According to H.L. de Zeng at al, it suffered 1,908 personnel killed in action or missing in action and 214 as prisoners of war. Broken down further, for the duration of the war KG 2 lost 1,228 killed, 688 missing, 656 wounded and with 214 captured, for a total of 2,786 in both combat and non-combat operations.

<i>Kampfgeschwader</i> 6 military unit

Kampfgeschwader 6 was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during the Second World War. The unit was formed between April and September 1942 and was equipped with Dornier Do 217, Junkers Ju 188 and Junkers Ju 88 bombers.

and Unternehmen Bodenplatte, launched on 1 January 1945, was an attempt by the Luftwaffe to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries during Second World War. The Germans husbanded their resources in the preceding months at the expense of the Defence of the Reich units in what was a last-ditch effort to keep up the momentum of the German Army during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge.

<i>Kampfgeschwader</i> 100 military unit

Kampfgeschwader 100 was a Luftwaffe medium and heavy bomber wing of World War II, and the first military aviation unit to use an unpowered precision-guided munition in combat to sink a warship on 9 September 1943 with the destruction of the Italian battleship Roma, in the first successful use of the Fritz X armor-piercing, gravity PGM ordnance.

References

  1. Note: de Zeng, Stanket and Creek provide much of the information presented in this article. Some of the information is sourced from Bungay, 2000, pp. 408-418. In turn Bungay cites Balke, Ulf. Der Luftkrieg in Europa - Die Operativen Einsätze des Kampgeshwaders 2 im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Germany: Bernard and Graefe, 1989. ISBN   3-7637-5882-8 and the records of Luftflotte 3 (RL7/89 and 90), although much of this has been superseded by the research of de Zeng et al..
  2. de Zeng et al. 2007, Vol 1, p. 14.
  3. de Zeng et al. 2007, Vol 1, p. 28.
  4. de Zeng et al. Vol 1, 2007, p. 188.
  5. de Zeng et al. Vol 1, 2007, p. 194.
  6. Note: Vollbracht scored two victories each in World War I and World War II
  7. de Zeng et al. Vol 1 2007, p. 122.
  8. Note: Detached from rest of ZG 76 based in France, Luftflotte 2.
  9. Note: On 15 August the Bf 110 of Hptm. Restemeyer and crewmember Hptm. Hartwich was shot down over the North Sea during Luftflotte 5's attempted attack on North East England.

Bibliography