Jagdgeschwader 2
Encyclopedia
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" was a World War II
Luftwaffe
wing
. It was named after World War I
fighter ace
Manfred von Richthofen
.
and its first commander was Oberst
Robert Ritter von Greim
. At the outbreak of the war JG 2 was tasked with defence of the Reich and based in the Berlin
area under Luftgaukommando III. Stab and II. Gruppe were equipped with the Bf 109E and were located at Döberitz with 10.(N) staffel flying the Bf 109D in Straussberg.
10.(N) Staffel was one of the first night fighter units formed in the Luftwaffe. Later this staffel was expanded into IV.(N) Gruppe. This Gruppe gained the Luftwaffe’s first night kill over the RAF
Bomber Command
on the night of 25/26 on April 1940 when Ofw Förster shot down a Handley Page Hampden
.
The unit saw little combat until the Western offensive
against France
and the Low Countries
from 10 May 1940 onwards.Leutnant
Helmut Wick
, who later became part of a trio of outstanding aces (including Adolf Galland
from Jagdgeschwader 26
(JG 26) and Werner Mölders
from Jagdgeschwader 51
(JG 51)) in the Battle of Britain
, attained his first and the Geschwaders second kill on 22 November 1939, a French Curtiss Hawk Model 75
of GCII/4 near Strasbourg. The first victory for the JG 2 was scored by Oberfeldwebel Kley (3. Staffel) the same day.
During the campaign against France, JG 2 was tasked with escorting raids and defending German airspace to the south of Heinz Guderian
's Panzer forces which were encircling the French and the British Expeditionary Force
further North. 16 victories were claimed by JG 2 on 14 May, while on 17 May I gruppe claimed 7 French-flown bombers, three falling to Wick. Another 12 claims were made on 19 May. By the end of the Battle, JG 2 were based at Evreux
, west of Paris.
, operating Bf 109Es over the South Coast of England
and the English Channel
from bases in Cherbourg
and Normandy
. Major
Helmut Wick
emerged as one of the Battle’s top Luftwaffe aces, claiming 31 kills for a personal total of 56, before being killed (MIA) in action versus Spitfires
of No. 609 Squadron
in November 1940. Wick was seen to bail out successfully but was not found by German Air/Sea Rescue attempts. The Spitfire who dispatched him was immediately shot down by Oberleutnant
Rudolf Pflanz
. Ofw. Schnell, Ofw. Machold
and Olt. Hans "Assi" Hahn also claimed heavily during this period, with 16 kills each. Some 42 JG 2 pilots were killed or made POW during the Battle.
in June 1941 most fighter units had departed East by May 1941. Two Jagdgeschwader were left for the defence of North Western Europe, JG 2 and JG 26 (Schlageter).
For the next two years these two Geschwader were the main adversaries to the RAF's day offensives over Europe. The two Jagdgeschwader maintained around 120 serviceable Bf 109E and F’s to face the increasing number of RAF Fighter Command
sweeps conducted to both wear down the Luftwaffe in a war of attrition and relieve pressure on the Eastern Front.
Careful husbanding of resources and astute tactical awareness meant JG 2 and JG 26 kept their losses to a minimum while inflicting maximum damage on the RAF Spitfires. This became even more evident with the arrival of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A
to units in late 1941 - early 1942, which outclassed the current Spitfire Mark Vb in service with the RAF.
The 21 June 1941 proved one of the most intensive days combat on the channel front in 1941, with two RAF Circuses flown. II./JG 2 and JG 26 claimed ten and eight Spitfires downed respectively. (Actual Spitfire losses were three). Several of the JG 2 aces added to their scores; Ofw. Kurt Bühligen of 4./JG 2 claimed three Spitfires and Lt. Siegfried Schnell (also 4./JG 2) claimed two Spitfires.
However, on occasion, the unit would still suffer high losses, such as on 23 June, when 9 staffel of JG 2 was almost wiped out against Fighter Command Spitfires.
On 8 July 1941, JG 2 claimed its 664th victory, thereby equalling the kill tally of the World War I Geschwader "Richthofen" namesake.
On 23 July 1941 JG 2 claimed some 29 Spitfires downed, with a further 10 Spitfire claims awarded to JG 26 that same day. (Actual RAF fighter losses were just 15). Oblt. 'Rudi' Pflanz claimed six RAF fighters on this one day. 23 July 1941 also saw JG 2 awarded their first three 'B-17 Fortresses' shot down; the aircraft attacked were in fact Short Stirling
s of No. 15 Squadron, attacking the Scharnhorst in dock at La Pallice (one Stirling was lost.)
JG 2 claimed its 800th success in August. Six members of JG 2 received the Ritterkreuz
in 1941, but no award was made to JG 2 pilots in 1942, although Oblt. Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller
was awarded the Eichenlaub (Oakleaves) award to the Ritterkreuz in late 1942, for achieving 60 Western front claims. Awards in 1941 included Lt. Egon Mayer
, who had raised his score from 3 to 18 in two months, Oblt. Rudolf Pflanz
for 19 victories, Oblt. Erich Leie
for 21 victories, Ofw. Josef Wurmheller for 32 victories, (12 achieved since joining Stab II./JG 2 in July) and Ofw. Kurt Bühligen. "Assi" Hahn was awarded the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross in August, following his 42nd victory.
On 12 August 1941, Circuses No. 69 and 70 targeted Saint Omer
and Gosnay
. JG 2 intercepted the formations, and Kommodore Major Walter Oesau
was credited with five Spitfires in ninety minutes, while Oblt. Leie claimed three Spitfires, and "Assi" Hahn three more. Six RAF Spitfires were actually lost during the day.
The RAF flew three Circuses on 20 September 1941. JG 2, in concert with its subordinated training Staffel 4./JFS 5, claimed some 25 fighters downed, with three falling to Hahn. (Some seven Spitfires were actually reported lost)
Hahn was credited with his 50th victory on 13 October 1941 while Lt. Siegfried Schnell
had claimed his 50th during September.
On 11 February 1942 the two light battleships, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, made a successful Channel Dash in daylight towards the Northern German ports. Codenamed Operation Cerberus, JG 2 flew their share of continuous air cover over the ships and claimed some 20 RAF aircraft downed (without loss) during the RAF's attempts to sink the vessels.
In March 1942 I./JG 2 converted to Focke-Wulf Fw 190As and the other gruppen followed month by month. The year saw most of JG 2 convert to the Focke-Wulf 190 A, and apart from 11. Staffel by July 1942 JG 2 was an exclusive Fw 190 unit. The 11. Staffel was a "high altitude" squadron, which experimented with pressurized cabins and other technical refinements. JG 2 continued to defend the West of occupied France from Brest
to the Somme, while JG 26 covered Northern France and Belgium. By March II./JG2 was operational in Théville
and Morlaix
and at the end of April I./JG 2 was operational in Maupertus
, Morlaix and St. Brieuc
flying the Fw 190 A-2.
On 17 April 1942 elements of JG 2 intercepted a formation of Avro Lancaster
s flying a low-level daylight raid on Augsburg
, Uzz Pohl's claim for a Lancaster being JG 2's 1000th claim of the war.
In November 1941, Jafü 2 and Jafü 3 were ordered to allocate one staffel from each of their subordinate fighter Geschwader as Jabo, or fighter-bomber Staffel. This was to renew fighter bomber activity against Britain and coastal traffic in the Channel. The Jabo units were equipped with the Bf 109F-4B fitted with a fuselage rack for four SC-50 bombs or, more usually, a single SC-250 bomb. Formed in March 1942, by June JG 2's Bf 109 F-4B equipped fighter-bomber Jabostaffel 10 Staffel, led by Oblt. Leisendahl, had claimed some 20 Allied merchant ships sunk , totalling 630,000 tons. In April 1943 10. JG 2 became part of IV./Schnellkampfgeschwader 10 (SKG 10).
On 19 August 1942 Allied forces made their first large Commando
–style raid
into continental Europe at Dieppe
. JG 2 was in intensive action during the operation, flying 430 operations, losing 14 aircraft (8 pilots killed) and claiming 59 Allied aircraft shot down.
By late 1942 JG 2 was in the forefront of the battle against the increasing United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF) Eighth Air Force
daylight bombing offensive into occupied Europe. Gruppenkommandeur
of II./JG 2, Major Egon Mayer
, was central in devising 'head-on' attacks against the B-17 Flying Fortress that became standard tactical practice throughout the Jagdwaffe.
was transferred to Tunisia
in November 1942. Two pilots of II. Gruppe, Oberleutnant Kurt Bühligen and Lt. Erich Rudorffer
, would claim over half of the 150 kills that II./JG 2 claimed in Tunisia. After arriving in North Africa, II./JG 2 was attached to JG 53 near Bizerta. II. Gruppes Focke-Wulfs flew in mixed formations with JG 53's Bf 109's, conducting sweeps and bomber escort.
On 9 February Rudorffer's 6. staffel intercepted a USAAF bombing raid of B-17s and an escort of P-38 Lightning
s, P-40s and Spitfire Mk V. During the fight, Rudorffer claimed six aircraft shot down. He later shot down two more P-38's, making his claims for the day eight kills.
In addition to JG 2's Focke-Wulfs, the Bf 109 G-1 equipped 11. Staffel, led by Olt. Julius Meimberg, were located in central Tunisia at this time. On 4 December, 11. Staffel encountered a formation of Bristol Bisleys from 18 Squadron RAF, and shot 11 down, Meimberg himself claiming three. In total, II./JG 2 had claimed 150 kills against 8 losses in combat (and 8 in accidents) during the 5 month stay in North Africa, before returning to France in March 1943. Rudorffer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe as they re-equipped with Bf 109G-6's. Owing to the intensity of action and the lack of verifiable evidence, recent research has suggested JG 2's claims were probably exaggerated.
Two years later, elements of JG 2 were back in the Mediterranean theatre, this time countering the invasion at Anzio
in January 1944. I./JG 2, led by Major Erich Hohagen
and flying Fw 190A-6's, were stationed at Castiglione del Lago
and later Canino
. However the Allied forces had overwhelming air superiority over the area. Over 700 bombers provided support for the beach head. Fighting against the more potent Spitfire VIII and IX proved extremely dangerous and with bombers of the tactical 12th Air Force and Desert Air Force
continually bombing their airfields, I./JG 2 was withdrawn to France in April 1944 after heavy losses and having had minimal effect on the military situation.
In spring 1943, I./JG 2 led by Walter Oesau
, had moved to Trocqueville
airfield.
At this time Wing Commander Alan Deere
planned an attack on the gruppe to provoke a confrontation. The plan involved a low level approach by Deere and No. 403 Squadron to catch the FW 190s as they were taxiing for take off. No. 611 Squadron
was to attack the site and the No. 341 Free French Squadron
were to patrol at 3000 ft. South of the airfield to guard against a counter from other elements of I./JG 2 at Évreux
. No. 403 Squadron were spotted before the attack was launched. The JG 2 aircraft reacted immediately by dispersing at low level immediately after take off. Deere did fire on the hangar buildings before pursuing the JG 2 aircraft. Elements from Évreux joined up and a heavy engagement took place between evenly matched formations. The RAF squadrons left due to low fuel, 611 claiming two JG 2 shot down. I./JG 2 from Évreux claimed two Spitfires of 341 Squadron.
Despite JG 2 scoring its 2,000th kill in January 1944, the ongoing defensive operations against the USAAF bomber offensive took its toll on the Jagdgeschwaders, JG 2 being no exception; Many novices and replacement pilots were killed through the first half of 1944, and more importantly the ever fewer experienced and irreplaceable Experten were also being lost. JG 2's Kommodore and 102-kill ace Egon Mayer was shot down and killed in March 1944 and just over one month later his successor Major Kurt Ubben
was also killed versus US fighters.
JG 2 was the main Luftwaffe unit to see action against Allied Air Forces during the D-day landings on 6 June 1944. Stationed at Cormeilles-en-Vexin
60 kilometres from the coast, I./JG 2 was one of the nearest fighter units to the Allied beachheads. JG 2 Geschwaderkommodore
Major Bühlingen shot down a P-47 Thunderbolt
over the Orne before the Gruppe became embroiled in a dogfight with RAF Typhoons near Caen
. Six were claimed, and JG 2 claimed 18 kills for the day without loss (Total Luftwaffe claims were 24 shot down). The overwhelming superiority of the Allied forces soon took effect, however, as Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Hubert Huppertz (68 victories) was shot down and killed two days later by a P-47. His successor was another irreplaceable veteran, Hptm. Josef Wurmheller (102 kills, 93 with JG 2 against the Western Allies). He would die after colliding with his wingman during a dogfight, just two weeks later.
Towards the year’s end JG 2 received the first examples of the Fw 190D-9 'Dora'. Stab and III. Gruppe were first to convert and before the end of 1944 JG 2 was operating from near Frankfurt.
Operation Bodenplatte ('Base Plate') was a mass fighter attack against the Allied airfields in the Low Countries and France on New Years Day 1945. It was hoped to regain temporary aerial superiority for the new German offensive through the Ardennes, but instead it delivered crippling losses to the Luftwaffe. Numerically, of all the fighter units JG 2 suffered most in this ill-fated operation, suffering 37 pilots killed and nearly 40% losses. It took several weeks for JG 2 to regain operational status.
As the end of war drew near, all gruppen of JG 2 were equipped with Fw 190D-9 'Dora'. Against numerically far superior Allies, they could not hope to postpone the inevitable defeat. During winter and spring JG 2 moved from the Rhine area into Bavaria.
Jagdgeschwader 2 'Richthofen' was formally de-activated near Munich
on 7 May 1945 by Geschwaderkommodore (and JG 2 top scorer with 112 kills) Kurt Bühligen.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
. It was named after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
fighter ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
.
History
Jagdgeschwader 2 was formed from parts of Jagdgeschwader 131 "Richthofen" on 1 May 1939 in DöberitzDallgow-Döberitz
Dallgow-Döberitz is a municipality in the Havelland district, in Brandenburg, Germany.-Geography:It consists of the villages Dallgow-Döberitz, Rohrbeck and Seeburg. To the east it shares border with the Spandau borough of Berlin. Neighbouring Brandenburg municipalities are Falkensee in the north...
and its first commander was Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
Robert Ritter von Greim
Robert Ritter von Greim
Robert Ritter von Greim was a German Field Marshal, pilot, army officer, and the last commander of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.-Early years:...
. At the outbreak of the war JG 2 was tasked with defence of the Reich and based in the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
area under Luftgaukommando III. Stab and II. Gruppe were equipped with the Bf 109E and were located at Döberitz with 10.(N) staffel flying the Bf 109D in Straussberg.
10.(N) Staffel was one of the first night fighter units formed in the Luftwaffe. Later this staffel was expanded into IV.(N) Gruppe. This Gruppe gained the Luftwaffe’s first night kill over the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
on the night of 25/26 on April 1940 when Ofw Förster shot down a Handley Page Hampden
Handley Page Hampden
The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force serving in the Second World War. With the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane...
.
The unit saw little combat until the Western offensive
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
from 10 May 1940 onwards.Leutnant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
Helmut Wick
Helmut Wick
Major Helmut Paul Emil Wick was a German Luftwaffe ace and fourth recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military...
, who later became part of a trio of outstanding aces (including Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
from Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and...
(JG 26) and Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders
Werner Mölders was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. Mölders became the first pilot in aviation history to claim 100 aerial victories—that is, 100 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft, and was...
from Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51
Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II, named after the fighter ace Werner Mölders in 1942. JG 51's pilots won more Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes than any other Jagdgeschwader, and flew combat from 1939 in all major theatres of war. Flying Bf 109s and then...
(JG 51)) in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, attained his first and the Geschwaders second kill on 22 November 1939, a French Curtiss Hawk Model 75
P-36 Hawk
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
of GCII/4 near Strasbourg. The first victory for the JG 2 was scored by Oberfeldwebel Kley (3. Staffel) the same day.
During the campaign against France, JG 2 was tasked with escorting raids and defending German airspace to the south of Heinz Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
's Panzer forces which were encircling the French and the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
further North. 16 victories were claimed by JG 2 on 14 May, while on 17 May I gruppe claimed 7 French-flown bombers, three falling to Wick. Another 12 claims were made on 19 May. By the end of the Battle, JG 2 were based at Evreux
Évreux
Évreux is a commune in the Eure department, of which it is the capital, in Haute Normandie in northern France.-History:In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named Mediolanum Aulercorum, "the central town of the Aulerci", the Gallic tribe then inhabiting the area...
, west of Paris.
Battle of Britain
JG 2 took part in the Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, operating Bf 109Es over the South Coast of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
from bases in Cherbourg
Cherbourg-Octeville
-Main sights:* La Glacerie has a race track.* The Cité de la Mer is a large museum devoted to scientific and historical aspects of maritime subjects.* Cherbourg Basilica* Jardin botanique de la Roche Fauconnière, a private botanical garden.* Le Trident theatre...
and Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. Major
Major (Germany)
Major is a rank of the German military which dates back to the Middle Ages.It equates to Major in the British and US Armies, and is rated OF-3 in NATO.During World War II, the SS equivalent was Sturmbannführer....
Helmut Wick
Helmut Wick
Major Helmut Paul Emil Wick was a German Luftwaffe ace and fourth recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military...
emerged as one of the Battle’s top Luftwaffe aces, claiming 31 kills for a personal total of 56, before being killed (MIA) in action versus Spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
of No. 609 Squadron
No. 609 Squadron RAF
No. 609 Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, originally formed as a bomber squadron and in World War II active as fighter squadron, nowadays provides personnel to augment and support the operations of the Royal Air Force. The squadron is no longer a flying Squadron, but instead has the role...
in November 1940. Wick was seen to bail out successfully but was not found by German Air/Sea Rescue attempts. The Spitfire who dispatched him was immediately shot down by Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Rudolf Pflanz
Rudolf Pflanz
Rudolf "Rudi" Pflanz was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Pflanz claimed 52 aerial victories, all of them over the Western Front...
. Ofw. Schnell, Ofw. Machold
Werner Machold
Werner Machold was a German 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...
and Olt. Hans "Assi" Hahn also claimed heavily during this period, with 16 kills each. Some 42 JG 2 pilots were killed or made POW during the Battle.
European Service
In preparation for the invasion of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in June 1941 most fighter units had departed East by May 1941. Two Jagdgeschwader were left for the defence of North Western Europe, JG 2 and JG 26 (Schlageter).
For the next two years these two Geschwader were the main adversaries to the RAF's day offensives over Europe. The two Jagdgeschwader maintained around 120 serviceable Bf 109E and F’s to face the increasing number of RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
sweeps conducted to both wear down the Luftwaffe in a war of attrition and relieve pressure on the Eastern Front.
Careful husbanding of resources and astute tactical awareness meant JG 2 and JG 26 kept their losses to a minimum while inflicting maximum damage on the RAF Spitfires. This became even more evident with the arrival of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
to units in late 1941 - early 1942, which outclassed the current Spitfire Mark Vb in service with the RAF.
The 21 June 1941 proved one of the most intensive days combat on the channel front in 1941, with two RAF Circuses flown. II./JG 2 and JG 26 claimed ten and eight Spitfires downed respectively. (Actual Spitfire losses were three). Several of the JG 2 aces added to their scores; Ofw. Kurt Bühligen of 4./JG 2 claimed three Spitfires and Lt. Siegfried Schnell (also 4./JG 2) claimed two Spitfires.
However, on occasion, the unit would still suffer high losses, such as on 23 June, when 9 staffel of JG 2 was almost wiped out against Fighter Command Spitfires.
On 8 July 1941, JG 2 claimed its 664th victory, thereby equalling the kill tally of the World War I Geschwader "Richthofen" namesake.
On 23 July 1941 JG 2 claimed some 29 Spitfires downed, with a further 10 Spitfire claims awarded to JG 26 that same day. (Actual RAF fighter losses were just 15). Oblt. 'Rudi' Pflanz claimed six RAF fighters on this one day. 23 July 1941 also saw JG 2 awarded their first three 'B-17 Fortresses' shot down; the aircraft attacked were in fact Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
s of No. 15 Squadron, attacking the Scharnhorst in dock at La Pallice (one Stirling was lost.)
JG 2 claimed its 800th success in August. Six members of JG 2 received the Ritterkreuz
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
in 1941, but no award was made to JG 2 pilots in 1942, although Oblt. Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller
Josef Wurmheller
Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until his death on 22 June 1944. He was also a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
was awarded the Eichenlaub (Oakleaves) award to the Ritterkreuz in late 1942, for achieving 60 Western front claims. Awards in 1941 included Lt. Egon Mayer
Egon Mayer
Egon Mayer was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until his death in 1944. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, who had raised his score from 3 to 18 in two months, Oblt. Rudolf Pflanz
Rudolf Pflanz
Rudolf "Rudi" Pflanz was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Pflanz claimed 52 aerial victories, all of them over the Western Front...
for 19 victories, Oblt. Erich Leie
Erich Leie
Erich Leie was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe until his death on 7 March 1945...
for 21 victories, Ofw. Josef Wurmheller for 32 victories, (12 achieved since joining Stab II./JG 2 in July) and Ofw. Kurt Bühligen. "Assi" Hahn was awarded the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross in August, following his 42nd victory.
On 12 August 1941, Circuses No. 69 and 70 targeted Saint Omer
Saint Omer
The name Saint Omer may refer to:* Saint Audomare, the seventh century saint whose name is often shortened as "St. Omer"* Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais, a French town* Saint-Omer, Calvados, a French commune...
and Gosnay
Gosnay
Gosnay is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A former coal-mining town, now a light industrial and farming village, situated some southwest of Béthune and southwest of Lille, at the junction of the D181 and the N41 roads...
. JG 2 intercepted the formations, and Kommodore Major Walter Oesau
Walter Oesau
Walter "Gulle" Oesau was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944...
was credited with five Spitfires in ninety minutes, while Oblt. Leie claimed three Spitfires, and "Assi" Hahn three more. Six RAF Spitfires were actually lost during the day.
The RAF flew three Circuses on 20 September 1941. JG 2, in concert with its subordinated training Staffel 4./JFS 5, claimed some 25 fighters downed, with three falling to Hahn. (Some seven Spitfires were actually reported lost)
Hahn was credited with his 50th victory on 13 October 1941 while Lt. Siegfried Schnell
Siegfried Schnell
Major Siegfried Schnell was German World War II Luftwaffe 93 victories Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
had claimed his 50th during September.
On 11 February 1942 the two light battleships, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, made a successful Channel Dash in daylight towards the Northern German ports. Codenamed Operation Cerberus, JG 2 flew their share of continuous air cover over the ships and claimed some 20 RAF aircraft downed (without loss) during the RAF's attempts to sink the vessels.
In March 1942 I./JG 2 converted to Focke-Wulf Fw 190As and the other gruppen followed month by month. The year saw most of JG 2 convert to the Focke-Wulf 190 A, and apart from 11. Staffel by July 1942 JG 2 was an exclusive Fw 190 unit. The 11. Staffel was a "high altitude" squadron, which experimented with pressurized cabins and other technical refinements. JG 2 continued to defend the West of occupied France from Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
to the Somme, while JG 26 covered Northern France and Belgium. By March II./JG2 was operational in Théville
Théville
Théville is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France....
and Morlaix
Morlaix
Morlaix is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Leisure and tourism:...
and at the end of April I./JG 2 was operational in Maupertus
Maupertus-sur-Mer
Maupertus-sur-Mer is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France-See also:*Communes of the Manche department* Cherbourg - Maupertus Airport...
, Morlaix and St. Brieuc
Saint-Brieuc
Saint-Brieuc is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-History:Saint-Brieuc is named after a Welsh monk Brioc, who evangelized the region in the 6th century and established an oratory there...
flying the Fw 190 A-2.
On 17 April 1942 elements of JG 2 intercepted a formation of Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
s flying a low-level daylight raid on Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, Uzz Pohl's claim for a Lancaster being JG 2's 1000th claim of the war.
In November 1941, Jafü 2 and Jafü 3 were ordered to allocate one staffel from each of their subordinate fighter Geschwader as Jabo, or fighter-bomber Staffel. This was to renew fighter bomber activity against Britain and coastal traffic in the Channel. The Jabo units were equipped with the Bf 109F-4B fitted with a fuselage rack for four SC-50 bombs or, more usually, a single SC-250 bomb. Formed in March 1942, by June JG 2's Bf 109 F-4B equipped fighter-bomber Jabostaffel 10 Staffel, led by Oblt. Leisendahl, had claimed some 20 Allied merchant ships sunk , totalling 630,000 tons. In April 1943 10. JG 2 became part of IV./Schnellkampfgeschwader 10 (SKG 10).
On 19 August 1942 Allied forces made their first large Commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
–style raid
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
into continental Europe at Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
. JG 2 was in intensive action during the operation, flying 430 operations, losing 14 aircraft (8 pilots killed) and claiming 59 Allied aircraft shot down.
By late 1942 JG 2 was in the forefront of the battle against the increasing United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
daylight bombing offensive into occupied Europe. Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
of II./JG 2, Major Egon Mayer
Egon Mayer
Egon Mayer was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until his death in 1944. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, was central in devising 'head-on' attacks against the B-17 Flying Fortress that became standard tactical practice throughout the Jagdwaffe.
Service in Africa and the Mediterranean
II./JG 2, headed by Oberleutnant Adolf DickfeldAdolf Dickfeld
Oberst Adolf Dickfeld was a German World War II Luftwaffe 136 victories Flying ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
was transferred to Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
in November 1942. Two pilots of II. Gruppe, Oberleutnant Kurt Bühligen and Lt. Erich Rudorffer
Erich Rudorffer
Major Erich Rudorffer is a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace, one of a handful who served with the Luftwaffe through the whole of World War II. He is 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare, and currently both the oldest jet fighter ace, and the most successful ace still...
, would claim over half of the 150 kills that II./JG 2 claimed in Tunisia. After arriving in North Africa, II./JG 2 was attached to JG 53 near Bizerta. II. Gruppes Focke-Wulfs flew in mixed formations with JG 53's Bf 109's, conducting sweeps and bomber escort.
On 9 February Rudorffer's 6. staffel intercepted a USAAF bombing raid of B-17s and an escort of P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
s, P-40s and Spitfire Mk V. During the fight, Rudorffer claimed six aircraft shot down. He later shot down two more P-38's, making his claims for the day eight kills.
In addition to JG 2's Focke-Wulfs, the Bf 109 G-1 equipped 11. Staffel, led by Olt. Julius Meimberg, were located in central Tunisia at this time. On 4 December, 11. Staffel encountered a formation of Bristol Bisleys from 18 Squadron RAF, and shot 11 down, Meimberg himself claiming three. In total, II./JG 2 had claimed 150 kills against 8 losses in combat (and 8 in accidents) during the 5 month stay in North Africa, before returning to France in March 1943. Rudorffer was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II. Gruppe as they re-equipped with Bf 109G-6's. Owing to the intensity of action and the lack of verifiable evidence, recent research has suggested JG 2's claims were probably exaggerated.
Two years later, elements of JG 2 were back in the Mediterranean theatre, this time countering the invasion at Anzio
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
in January 1944. I./JG 2, led by Major Erich Hohagen
Erich Hohagen
Erich Hohagen was a German Luftwaffe flying ace during World War II and a General in the post war Bundeswehr...
and flying Fw 190A-6's, were stationed at Castiglione del Lago
Castiglione del Lago
Castiglione del Lago is a town in the Province of Perugia of Umbria , on the southwest corner of Lake Trasimeno. Orvieto is 59 km south, Chiusi is 21 km to the south west, Arezzo is 56 km to the north west, Cortona is 21 km to the north and Perugia is 47 km to the south...
and later Canino
Canino
Canino is a town and comune of Italy, in the province of Viterbo in the internal part of Maremma Laziale. It is 15 km W of Valentano and 44 km NW of Viterbo....
. However the Allied forces had overwhelming air superiority over the area. Over 700 bombers provided support for the beach head. Fighting against the more potent Spitfire VIII and IX proved extremely dangerous and with bombers of the tactical 12th Air Force and Desert Air Force
Desert Air Force
The Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
continually bombing their airfields, I./JG 2 was withdrawn to France in April 1944 after heavy losses and having had minimal effect on the military situation.
Back to Western Europe
Walter Oesau
Walter "Gulle" Oesau was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944...
, had moved to Trocqueville
Tocqueville, Eure
Tocqueville is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:...
airfield.
At this time Wing Commander Alan Deere
Alan Christopher Deere
Air Commodore Alan Christopher "Al" Deere, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar , was a New Zealand Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain and author of Nine Lives.-Early life:...
planned an attack on the gruppe to provoke a confrontation. The plan involved a low level approach by Deere and No. 403 Squadron to catch the FW 190s as they were taxiing for take off. No. 611 Squadron
No. 611 Squadron RAF
No. 611 Squadron was a British Auxiliary Air Force later Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron first formed in 1936 and lastly disbanded in 1957.-Early years:...
was to attack the site and the No. 341 Free French Squadron
No. 341 Squadron RAF
The No. 341 Squadron also known in French as Groupe de Chasse n° 3/2 "Alsace", was a Free French squadron in the RAF during World War II.-History:No...
were to patrol at 3000 ft. South of the airfield to guard against a counter from other elements of I./JG 2 at Évreux
Évreux
Évreux is a commune in the Eure department, of which it is the capital, in Haute Normandie in northern France.-History:In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named Mediolanum Aulercorum, "the central town of the Aulerci", the Gallic tribe then inhabiting the area...
. No. 403 Squadron were spotted before the attack was launched. The JG 2 aircraft reacted immediately by dispersing at low level immediately after take off. Deere did fire on the hangar buildings before pursuing the JG 2 aircraft. Elements from Évreux joined up and a heavy engagement took place between evenly matched formations. The RAF squadrons left due to low fuel, 611 claiming two JG 2 shot down. I./JG 2 from Évreux claimed two Spitfires of 341 Squadron.
Despite JG 2 scoring its 2,000th kill in January 1944, the ongoing defensive operations against the USAAF bomber offensive took its toll on the Jagdgeschwaders, JG 2 being no exception; Many novices and replacement pilots were killed through the first half of 1944, and more importantly the ever fewer experienced and irreplaceable Experten were also being lost. JG 2's Kommodore and 102-kill ace Egon Mayer was shot down and killed in March 1944 and just over one month later his successor Major Kurt Ubben
Kurt Ubben
Kurt "Kuddel" Ubben , was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until his death on 27 April 1944. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
was also killed versus US fighters.
JG 2 was the main Luftwaffe unit to see action against Allied Air Forces during the D-day landings on 6 June 1944. Stationed at Cormeilles-en-Vexin
Cormeilles-en-Vexin
Cormeilles-en-Vexin is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France.-References:** -External links:* *...
60 kilometres from the coast, I./JG 2 was one of the nearest fighter units to the Allied beachheads. JG 2 Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore
Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position , originating during World War II, that is the equivalent of a RAF Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander. A Geschwaderkommodore is usually of Oberstleutnant or Oberst rank...
Major Bühlingen shot down a P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
over the Orne before the Gruppe became embroiled in a dogfight with RAF Typhoons near Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
. Six were claimed, and JG 2 claimed 18 kills for the day without loss (Total Luftwaffe claims were 24 shot down). The overwhelming superiority of the Allied forces soon took effect, however, as Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Hubert Huppertz (68 victories) was shot down and killed two days later by a P-47. His successor was another irreplaceable veteran, Hptm. Josef Wurmheller (102 kills, 93 with JG 2 against the Western Allies). He would die after colliding with his wingman during a dogfight, just two weeks later.
Towards the year’s end JG 2 received the first examples of the Fw 190D-9 'Dora'. Stab and III. Gruppe were first to convert and before the end of 1944 JG 2 was operating from near Frankfurt.
Operation Bodenplatte ('Base Plate') was a mass fighter attack against the Allied airfields in the Low Countries and France on New Years Day 1945. It was hoped to regain temporary aerial superiority for the new German offensive through the Ardennes, but instead it delivered crippling losses to the Luftwaffe. Numerically, of all the fighter units JG 2 suffered most in this ill-fated operation, suffering 37 pilots killed and nearly 40% losses. It took several weeks for JG 2 to regain operational status.
As the end of war drew near, all gruppen of JG 2 were equipped with Fw 190D-9 'Dora'. Against numerically far superior Allies, they could not hope to postpone the inevitable defeat. During winter and spring JG 2 moved from the Rhine area into Bavaria.
Jagdgeschwader 2 'Richthofen' was formally de-activated near Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
on 7 May 1945 by Geschwaderkommodore (and JG 2 top scorer with 112 kills) Kurt Bühligen.
Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" Knight's Cross recipients
The following Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients at one point in their carieer had served with Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". The action for which they were awarded the Knight's Cross may have been with another unit prior or after service with Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".| Wilhelm Balthasar Wilhelm Balthasar Major Wilhelm Balthasar was a German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace, commander of Jagdgeschwader 2 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery... |
Horst Hannig Horst Hannig Horst Hannig was a German 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... |
Werner Machold Werner Machold Werner Machold was a German 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... |
Siegfried Schnell |
| Otto Bertram Otto Bertram Otto Bertram was a was a German Spanish Civil War and World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II... |
Erich Hohagen | Anton Mader Anton Mader Oberstleutnant Anton Mader was German World War II Luftwaffe 86 victories Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross... |
Fritz Schröter |
| Kurt Bühligen | Franz Hrdlicka | Walter Matoni Walter Matoni Walter Matoni was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.... |
Heinz Schumann |
| Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp Oberst Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross was a German fighter ace notable for being one of the few two-war aces in history... |
Herbert Huppertz Herbert Huppertz Herbert Huppertz was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership... |
Egon Mayer | Günther Seeger Günther Seeger Günther "Hupatz" Seeger was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Seeger scored 56 victories in 504 missions. All his victories were recorded over the Western front and include eight four-engine bombers.-Military career:He... |
| Harry Dahmer | Fritz Karch | Julius Meimberg | Bruno Stolle Bruno Stolle Bruno Stolle was a German 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... |
| Adolf Dickfeld | Kurt Knappe Kurt Knappe Kurt Knappe was a German 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. On 3 September 1943, Kurt Knappe was killed over Evreux,... |
Erhard Nippa | Kurt Ubben |
| Georg-Peter Eder Georg-Peter Eder Georg-Peter Schorsch Eder was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1938 until the end of World War II in 1945. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves... |
Karl-Heinz Krahl Karl-Heinz Krahl Karl-Heinz Krahl was a German 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... |
Walter Oesau | Helmut Wick |
| Kurt Goltzsch | Erich Leie Erich Leie Erich Leie was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe until his death on 7 March 1945... |
Rudolf Pflanz | Alexander von Winterfeldt |
| Karl Gratz Karl Gratz Karl Gratz was an Austrian born Luftwaffe fighter 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... |
Siegfried Lemke Siegfried Lemke Siegfried "Wumm" Lemke was a German 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... |
Erich Rudorffer | Josef Wurmheller Josef Wurmheller Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until his death on 22 June 1944. He was also a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords... |
| Hans "Assi" Hahn | Frank Liesendahl | Wolfgang Schellmann Wolfgang Schellmann Oberstleutnant Wolfgang Schellmann was German World War II Luftwaffe Ace, commander of JG 2 and JG 27 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership... |
Geschwaderkommodore
- Major - Dipl.-Ing. Johann RaithelJohann RaithelDipl.-Ing. Johann RaithelIn German an engineer's degree is called Diplom-Ingenieur was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
1 April 1936 – 8.June 1936 - Oberst - Gerd von Massow, 9 June 1936 – 31 March 1940
- Oberstleutnant - Hilmer von Bülow-Bothkamp, 1 April 1940 – 2 September 1940
- Major - Wolfgang Schellmann, 2 September 1940 – 20 October 1940
- Major - Helmut Wick, 20 October 1940 – 28 November 1940 (MIA)
- HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
- Karl-Heinz GreisertKarl-Heinz GreisertMajor Karl-Heinz Greisert was German World War II Luftwaffe Ace and a Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2 and recipient of the German Cross in Gold on 5 June 1942....
, 28 November 1940 – 16 February 1941 - Major - Wilhelm BalthasarWilhelm BalthasarMajor Wilhelm Balthasar was a German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace, commander of Jagdgeschwader 2 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery...
, 16 February 1941 – 3 July 1941 - Oberstleutnant - Walter Oesau, 4 July 1941 – 1 July 1943
- Major - Egon Mayer, 1 July 1943 – 2 March 1944 (KIA)
- Major - Kurt Ubben, 2 March 1944 – 27 April 1944 (KIA)
- Oberstleutnant - Kurt Bühligen, 28 April 1944 – 8 May 1945
I./JG 2
- Hauptmann Roth
- Hauptmann Hennig Strumpel
- Hauptmann Günther Seegert
- Hauptmann Helmut Wick, 7 September 1940
- Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Krahl, 20 October 1940
- Hauptmann Ignaz Prestele, 20 November 1941
- Hauptmann Erich Leie, 4 May 1942
- Hauptmann Erich Hohagen, January 1943
- Hauptmann Franz Hrdlicka, August 1944
- Major Walter MatoniWalter MatoniWalter Matoni was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II....
- Hauptmann Franz Hrdlicka, January 1945
- Oberleutnant Christian Eickhoff, 26 March 1945
II./JG 2
- Hauptmann Wolfgang Schellmann, 1 November 1939
- Hauptmann Gerlach, 3 September 1940
- Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Greisert
- Hauptmann Helmut-Felix Bolz, May 1942
- Oberleutnant Adolf Dickfeld, November 1942
- Hauptmann Kurt Bühligen, 1 September 1943
- Hauptmann Georg Schroder,
- Major Walter Matoni, January 1945
- Hauptmann Fritz Karch, February 1945
III./JG 2
- Hauptmann Dr. Erich MixErich MixErich Mix was a German politician, member of the Nazi Party, later a member of the FDP and Flying ace during World War II....
, 15 March 1940 - Hauptmann Otto Bertram, 26 September 1940
- Hauptmann Hans "Assi" Hahn, October 1940
- Hauptmann Egon Mayer, November 1942
- Hauptmann Bruno StolleBruno StolleBruno Stolle was a German 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...
, 1 July 1943 - Hauptmann Herbert Huppertz, February 1944
- Hauptmann Josef WurmhellerJosef WurmhellerJosef "Sepp" Wurmheller was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until his death on 22 June 1944. He was also a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 8 June 1944 - Hauptmann Siegfried LemkeSiegfried LemkeSiegfried "Wumm" Lemke was a German 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...
, 23 June 1944