Jagdgeschwader 51
Encyclopedia
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 FW 190s, the wing claimed over 8,000 air victories. Experten included 'Toni' Hafner
, Heinrich Hoffmann
, Heinz Bär, Richard Leppla
, Karl-Gottfried Nordmann
, Günther Schack
and the legendary Mölders
.
ace Onkel Theo Osterkamp
, JG 51 was based in the early months of the war in the West, fighting in the French campaign
and in the Battle of Britain
. From late June to mid July JG 51 was the only fighter Geschwader engaged continuously against the RAF. During the battle JG 51 lost 68 pilots, the highest casualty rate of the Luftwaffe fighter units engaged. JG 51 was one of the two Geschwader that had four Gruppen, the other being JG 1.
On 12 July 1940, JG 51 moved to Saint-Inglevert
, Stab JG 51 was at Saint-Inglevert until November. Whilst based at the Belgian airfield at Mardyik in late 1940, the German ace Josef "Pips" Priller
was a Staffelkapitän
with JG 51, flying Bf 109-E "Yellow One". Priller went on to score over 100 victories, the third highest among Luftwaffe day fighters on the Western Front, fighting solely against the Western Allies.
JG 51 claimed 345 aircraft destroyed by May 1941 and was therefore one of the elite units, with 'top ten' aces at this time including Werner Mölders
with 68 claims, Walter Oesau
with 34 claims, and Hermann-Friedrich Joppien
with 31. Major
Werner Mölders became the unit's commander (Geschwaderkommodore
) in July 1940 and led the unit at the invasion of the Soviet Union
in June 1941.
to the Black Sea
. Its principal task was to clear the skies above Panzergruppe 2, which formed the right flank of Army Group Centre, advancing north east towards Moscow.
Claiming 69 kills on the first day of the offensive, by 30 June 1941 JG 51 became the first fighter Geschwader to claim 1,000 air victories (113 kills in 157 sorties were claimed on one day). 2./JG 51, whose Bf 109-Fs had been fitted with ventral bomb racks, were alone credited with 43 ground victories in four Jabo sorties during the day. On 24 June JG 51 claimed 57 bombers shot down of a total of 81 victories on that day. On 25 June JG 51 shot down 83 Tupolev SB-2s. Mölders became the first fighter pilot to reach 100 claims in July and in the same month JG 51's Oberfeldwebel Heinz Bär reached 60 claims and was decorated with the Oak Leaves. A total of 500 Soviet claims was reached on 12 July 1941, although 6 pilots had been lost by JG 51 in the intervening 3 weeks since the offensive had started.By 10 July the Geschwader was gathered on the pre-war complex of Soviet airfields around Bobruisk.
After Mölders' departure in September 1941 (and death later that year) the Geschwader adopted his name as a title of honor in early 1942. Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was to remain on the centre sector of the Russian front
throughout the rest of 1941. However Oberstleutnant
Friedrich Beckh
( one of the few fighter pilots to wear spectacles) proved an uncharismatic commander after Mölders, and it was not until Major
Karl-Gottfried Nordmann
took over in April 1942 that a worthy successor to Mölders was found.
In the period 22 June - 5 December 1941 the unit destroyed 1,881 Soviet aircraft, in return for 84 losses in aerial combat and a single aircraft on the ground.
Air support for the Wehrmacht's Army Group Centre was entrusted to General Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen's VIII. Fliegerkorps
. In early January 1942, among the fighter units available to von Richthofen were II, III and IV/ JG 51. With the onset of the sub-zero conditions of the Russian winter, the majority of JG 51's available aircraft became grounded.
The Russian winter counter offensive forced III./ JG 51 into flying numerous fighter-bomber operations in direct support of the infantry, and the gruppe filed few aerial 'kill' claims through January 1942. II./ JG 51 however, accounted for most of VIII. Fliegerkorps's aerial victories during the Soviet offensive. Particularly successful was the duo of Lt. Hans Strelow and Ofw. Wilhelm Mink
, both of 5. JG 51. They claimed five MiG-3s of 16 IAP on 4 January (Mink claimed three) and 9 days later Mink claimed a Pe-2 and Strelow destroyed two R-Z biplanes for his 30th and 31st victories. On 4 February, Strelow increased his victories to 36 by shooting down four Russian aircraft. The 19 year-old Strelow claimed his 40th victory on 28 February and claimed 4 victories on both 6 March and 17 March. The next day he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and also shot down seven Soviet aircraft. He was awarded the Eichenlaub on 24 March, his claims total at 66.
Most of early 1942 was spent in operations supporting the Central Front drive towards Moscow, or defensive missions against counter-attacks on Heeresgruppe Mittes left flank. 2. Staffel were now released from the unpopular fighter-bomber operations conducted since the start of the offensive the previous year.
Army Group Centre's situation had by now stabilised after severe losses in personnel and material. It had been saved from almost complete destruction mainly by the efforts of the VIII. Fliegerkorps - including Stab, II, III and IV./JG 51. On 8 April 1942, JG 51 became the first Jagdgeschwader to reach 3,000 victories.
After the Winter offensive there followed a lull in operational intensity, with April–June 1942 seeing little fighting in the air. However, JG 51 lost three of its experten in less than ten days; Lt. Hans Strelow,(68 victories) was lost on 22 May; 2. JG 51's Oblt. Erwin Fleig (66 victories), ex-wingman to Werner Molders, bailed out and captured on 29 May; and two days later Hptm. Josef Fozo, (27 victories) Kommandeur I./JG 51 was severely injured in a landing accident and would never return to first-line service.
In June 1942 a Spanish
Air Force volunteer staffel was attached to JG 51, becoming 15.(span.)/JG 51. Commanded by Comandante Julio Salvador Diaz-Benjumea, a 24-kill ace of the Spanish Civil War, and flying the Bf-109F and then the FW 190, 15./JG 51 was finally recalled to Spain in January 1944, after 2,500 sorties had been flown, with 149 air kills being claimed, for 17 pilots killed in action. Capt. Gonzaldo Hevia was top scorer with 11 claims.
Night bomber attacks during June 1942 managed to put a part of JG 51's aircraft out of commission on the airfields at Orel
, Bryansk
and Dugino. However, Soviets bomber and ground-attack operations in daylight against the same targets on 5 July proved far more costly. II./JG 51 claimed some 46 Soviet aircraft shot down in return for 2 Bf 109 F-2s with severe battle damage.
The renewed Soviet offensive on 30 July saw heavy rain ground most German aircraft. Massive formations attacks of Il-2 Shturmoviks, split the front-line German Infantry divisions. Major Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, Kommodore JG 51, instructed all pilots to concentrate on the Il-2s and on 1 August, JG 51 claimed 20 I1-2s shot down. Ofw. Franz-Josef Beerenbrock
of IV.JG 51, claimed nine of these aircraft in three sorties.
On 2 August, JG 51 claimed 45 victories, though during the first three days of August 20 JG 51 aircraft were shot down. On 2 August, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51, Hptm. Richard Leppla, was shot down and was seriously injured. The next day, 11.JG 51's Staffelkapitän Obit. Georg Seelmann
(39 victories) bailed out injured, as were Obit. Harald Jung of 4.JG 51, and Lt. Gottfried Schlitzer of 9.JG 51. To bolster JG 51 Major Joachim Müncheberg
arrived from JG 26 to be groomed for the role of Geschwaderkommodore. Two of the 16 victories by JG 51 on 3 August 1942 were Major Muncheberg's 84th and 85th kills.
In August 1942, JG 51 suffered heavier losses than at any time previously during the conflict; 101 Bf 109s destroyed or written off from all causes in the month, with 17 pilots killed, missing, or hospitalised.
Early in September 1942, I./JG 51 were withdrawn to convert to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190
. By November 1942 JG 51 had claimed 4,000 kills in total.
, fighting over Tunisia
, Sicily
and Italy
before leaving for Sardinia in April 1943. 3.JG 1 were also transferred in, and subordinated to II gruppe as 6 staffel While in Tunisia, Grasser claimed 12 victories to raise his total to 103, while Anton Hafner
claimed a further 20. The gruppe claimed 7 Spitfires on 27 November, and claimed some two dozen fighters in the first two weeks of December. Although II./JG 51 would claim some 121 air victories, the far superior numbers of Desert Air Force
and USAAF fighters meant their effect on the air and ground battles were gradually minimised and their losses increased.
By April the hard pressed gruppe were stationed near Tunis as the superior numbers of the Allied armies further reduced the Axis perimeter. The unit handed over its remaining aircraft to JG 77 and left the continent on 19 April 1943. The unit had lost 26 pilots killed, almost a 100% loss rate since their arrival.
In July the unit flew intensively from Trapani
against the invasion forces in Sicily, claiming 26 kills. In March 1944 the gruppe moved eastwards into Yugoslavia
and the Balkans, in order to cover the vital Ploesti oil fields.
Later in 1943 II gruppe joined in the defence of the Reich against the USAAF 15th Air Force's bomber offensive, being stationed at various times in Hungary
, Greece
and Austria
until late 1944. 6 B-17's were downed on 23 June 1944, and 5 B-24s were claimed the day after. 7 bombers were claimed without loss on 15 July. At this time 5. JG 51 were detached to Crete
covering Axis maritime supply routes.
around the Kursk
salient, I.,III. and IV./J.G. 51 was based at Orel
with Luftflotte 6
, flying alongside I./JG 54, in support of Army Group Centre. These gruppen were tasked with escorting Ju 88s, He 111s, and Ju 87s as well as defensive interceptions and offensive sweeps over the battle area. On 5 July 1943, the Soviets launched concentrated air attacks against the German airfields, and as all available Luftflotte 4
and 6 fighters scrambled, one of the largest air battles in history began. JG 51 scored heavily, Oberfeldwebel Strassl claiming 30 shot down in the next 3 days to raise his score to 67. On 8 July 1943, Hubert Strassl
was bounced by four LaGG-3s 60 km north of Kursk. Strassl had already downed three enemy aircraft on this day, but he had to bail out of his FW 190A-4 'Black 4'. Strassl failed to open his parachute in time. He was posthumously awarded the Ritterkreuz in November 1943.
In late July 1943, JG 51 claimed its 6,000 victory. The Geschwader then converted back to the Bf 109-G due to increased demand for the Focke Wulf Fw-190 from other fronts. In May 1944 JG 51 claimed its 8,000 aircraft destroyed. JG 51 featured heavily defending the retreat following the Soviet Offensive of June 1944, operating with III./JG 52 as the heavily outnumbered fighter cover.
Oblt. 'Toni' Hafner shot down a Russian Yak-7 fighter for his 204th claim on 17 October 1944, although during the low-level combat his Bf 109G hit a tree and crashed, killing JG 51's highest scoring ace.
7. Staffel was led by Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross winner) Hptm. Karl-Heinz Weber
with 136 confirmed kills. Its two other experten were Lt. Friedrich Krakowitzer (23 kills) and Ofhr. Günther Heckmann with 12 kills.
7./JG 51 joined II. Gruppe with 15 pilots on strength at the end of May, and during the first two months of the Normandy campaign the staffel was decimated, with twelve pilots killed, one POW and one severely wounded.
As the war turned against Germany JG 51 was forced to operate closer and closer to Germany, finally staging out of East Prussia
.
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....
fighter 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....
during World War II
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...
, named after the fighter ace 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...
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
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
and then FW 190s, the wing claimed over 8,000 air victories. Experten included 'Toni' Hafner
Anton Hafner
Anton "Toni" Hafner 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...
, Heinrich Hoffmann
Heinrich Hoffmann (pilot)
Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Hoffmann was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
, Heinz Bär, Richard Leppla
Richard Leppla
Richard Leppla was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Leppla claimed 68 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions...
, Karl-Gottfried Nordmann
Karl-Gottfried Nordmann
Oberstleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann was a German World War II Luftwaffe 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...
, Günther Schack
Günther Schack
Günther Schack was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1939 until the end of World War II in 1945. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He claimed 174 enemy aircraft shot down,...
and the legendary 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...
.
World War II
Formed in August 1939, and commanded by 48-year-old World War IWorld 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...
ace Onkel Theo Osterkamp
Theo Osterkamp
Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp was a World War I and World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He flew in the first World War, scoring 32 victories...
, JG 51 was based in the early months of the war in the West, fighting in the French campaign
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...
and 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...
. From late June to mid July JG 51 was the only fighter Geschwader engaged continuously against the RAF. During the battle JG 51 lost 68 pilots, the highest casualty rate of the Luftwaffe fighter units engaged. JG 51 was one of the two Geschwader that had four Gruppen, the other being JG 1.
Saint-Inglevert Airfield
Saint-Inglevert Airfield is a general aviation airfield at Saint-Inglevert, Pas-de-Calais, France. In the First World War an airfield was established near Saint-Inglevert by the Royal Flying Corps, later passing to the Royal Air Force on formation and thus becoming RAF Saint Inglevert...
, Stab JG 51 was at Saint-Inglevert until November. Whilst based at the Belgian airfield at Mardyik in late 1940, the German ace Josef "Pips" Priller
Josef Priller
Josef "Pips" Priller was a German World War II fighter ace. He has become famous because of the publicity regarding his Focke-Wulf's Fw 190A-8's single strafing pass attack on Sword Beach on June 6, 1944 , accompanied by his wingman Herbert Huppertz...
was a Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
with JG 51, flying Bf 109-E "Yellow One". Priller went on to score over 100 victories, the third highest among Luftwaffe day fighters on the Western Front, fighting solely against the Western Allies.
JG 51 claimed 345 aircraft destroyed by May 1941 and was therefore one of the elite units, with 'top ten' aces at this time including 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...
with 68 claims, 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...
with 34 claims, and Hermann-Friedrich Joppien
Hermann-Friedrich Joppien
Hauptmann Hermann-Friedrich "Jupp" Joppien was German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and 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 to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
with 31. Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Werner Mölders became the unit's commander (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...
) in July 1940 and led the unit at the invasion of the Soviet Union
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
in June 1941.
Barbarossa (1941)
For the new offensive in the East JG 51 was positioned in the centre of the 4480 km-long front that stretched from the Barents SeaBarents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
to the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. Its principal task was to clear the skies above Panzergruppe 2, which formed the right flank of Army Group Centre, advancing north east towards Moscow.
Claiming 69 kills on the first day of the offensive, by 30 June 1941 JG 51 became the first fighter Geschwader to claim 1,000 air victories (113 kills in 157 sorties were claimed on one day). 2./JG 51, whose Bf 109-Fs had been fitted with ventral bomb racks, were alone credited with 43 ground victories in four Jabo sorties during the day. On 24 June JG 51 claimed 57 bombers shot down of a total of 81 victories on that day. On 25 June JG 51 shot down 83 Tupolev SB-2s. Mölders became the first fighter pilot to reach 100 claims in July and in the same month JG 51's Oberfeldwebel Heinz Bär reached 60 claims and was decorated with the Oak Leaves. A total of 500 Soviet claims was reached on 12 July 1941, although 6 pilots had been lost by JG 51 in the intervening 3 weeks since the offensive had started.By 10 July the Geschwader was gathered on the pre-war complex of Soviet airfields around Bobruisk.
After Mölders' departure in September 1941 (and death later that year) the Geschwader adopted his name as a title of honor in early 1942. Jagdgeschwader 51 Mölders was to remain on the centre sector of the Russian front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
throughout the rest of 1941. However Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
Friedrich Beckh
Friedrich Beckh
Oberstleutnant Friedrich Beckh was 48 victory-Luftwaffe flying ace and recipient 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...
( one of the few fighter pilots to wear spectacles) proved an uncharismatic commander after Mölders, and it was not until Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Karl-Gottfried Nordmann
Karl-Gottfried Nordmann
Oberstleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann was a German World War II Luftwaffe 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...
took over in April 1942 that a worthy successor to Mölders was found.
In the period 22 June - 5 December 1941 the unit destroyed 1,881 Soviet aircraft, in return for 84 losses in aerial combat and a single aircraft on the ground.
8th Air Corps (Germany)
VIII. FliegerkorpsFor more details see Luftwaffe Organization was formed 19 July 1939 in Oppeln as Fliegerführer z.b.V. The abbreviation z.b.V. is German and stands for zur besonderen Verwendung . Fliegerführer z.b.V was renamed to VIII. Fliegerkorps on 10 November 1939...
. In early January 1942, among the fighter units available to von Richthofen were II, III and IV/ JG 51. With the onset of the sub-zero conditions of the Russian winter, the majority of JG 51's available aircraft became grounded.
The Russian winter counter offensive forced III./ JG 51 into flying numerous fighter-bomber operations in direct support of the infantry, and the gruppe filed few aerial 'kill' claims through January 1942. II./ JG 51 however, accounted for most of VIII. Fliegerkorps's aerial victories during the Soviet offensive. Particularly successful was the duo of Lt. Hans Strelow and Ofw. Wilhelm Mink
Wilhelm Mink (pilot)
Wilhelm Mink was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II...
, both of 5. JG 51. They claimed five MiG-3s of 16 IAP on 4 January (Mink claimed three) and 9 days later Mink claimed a Pe-2 and Strelow destroyed two R-Z biplanes for his 30th and 31st victories. On 4 February, Strelow increased his victories to 36 by shooting down four Russian aircraft. The 19 year-old Strelow claimed his 40th victory on 28 February and claimed 4 victories on both 6 March and 17 March. The next day he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and also shot down seven Soviet aircraft. He was awarded the Eichenlaub on 24 March, his claims total at 66.
Drive to Moscow (1942)
In early 1942 Heinz Bär took command of IV./JG 51, and in mid-February he was awarded the Swords, after achieving 90 claims before departing for JG 77.Most of early 1942 was spent in operations supporting the Central Front drive towards Moscow, or defensive missions against counter-attacks on Heeresgruppe Mittes left flank. 2. Staffel were now released from the unpopular fighter-bomber operations conducted since the start of the offensive the previous year.
After the Winter offensive there followed a lull in operational intensity, with April–June 1942 seeing little fighting in the air. However, JG 51 lost three of its experten in less than ten days; Lt. Hans Strelow,(68 victories) was lost on 22 May; 2. JG 51's Oblt. Erwin Fleig (66 victories), ex-wingman to Werner Molders, bailed out and captured on 29 May; and two days later Hptm. Josef Fozo, (27 victories) Kommandeur I./JG 51 was severely injured in a landing accident and would never return to first-line service.
In June 1942 a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Air Force volunteer staffel was attached to JG 51, becoming 15.(span.)/JG 51. Commanded by Comandante Julio Salvador Diaz-Benjumea, a 24-kill ace of the Spanish Civil War, and flying the Bf-109F and then the FW 190, 15./JG 51 was finally recalled to Spain in January 1944, after 2,500 sorties had been flown, with 149 air kills being claimed, for 17 pilots killed in action. Capt. Gonzaldo Hevia was top scorer with 11 claims.
Night bomber attacks during June 1942 managed to put a part of JG 51's aircraft out of commission on the airfields at Orel
Oryol
Oryol or Orel is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow...
, Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
and Dugino. However, Soviets bomber and ground-attack operations in daylight against the same targets on 5 July proved far more costly. II./JG 51 claimed some 46 Soviet aircraft shot down in return for 2 Bf 109 F-2s with severe battle damage.
The renewed Soviet offensive on 30 July saw heavy rain ground most German aircraft. Massive formations attacks of Il-2 Shturmoviks, split the front-line German Infantry divisions. Major Karl-Gottfried Nordmann, Kommodore JG 51, instructed all pilots to concentrate on the Il-2s and on 1 August, JG 51 claimed 20 I1-2s shot down. Ofw. Franz-Josef Beerenbrock
Franz-Josef Beerenbrock
Franz-Josef Beerenbrock was one of the most successful German fighter aces of World War II. He claimed 117 aerial victories in approximately 400 combat missions, all on the Eastern Front...
of IV.JG 51, claimed nine of these aircraft in three sorties.
On 2 August, JG 51 claimed 45 victories, though during the first three days of August 20 JG 51 aircraft were shot down. On 2 August, Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 51, Hptm. Richard Leppla, was shot down and was seriously injured. The next day, 11.JG 51's Staffelkapitän Obit. Georg Seelmann
Georg Seelmann
Georg Seelmann 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...
(39 victories) bailed out injured, as were Obit. Harald Jung of 4.JG 51, and Lt. Gottfried Schlitzer of 9.JG 51. To bolster JG 51 Major Joachim Müncheberg
Joachim Müncheberg
Joachim Müncheberg was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace 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. He is credited with 135 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 500 combat missions...
arrived from JG 26 to be groomed for the role of Geschwaderkommodore. Two of the 16 victories by JG 51 on 3 August 1942 were Major Muncheberg's 84th and 85th kills.
In August 1942, JG 51 suffered heavier losses than at any time previously during the conflict; 101 Bf 109s destroyed or written off from all causes in the month, with 17 pilots killed, missing, or hospitalised.
Early in September 1942, I./JG 51 were withdrawn to convert to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190
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...
. By November 1942 JG 51 had claimed 4,000 kills in total.
Mediterranean Operations (Late 1942)
In November 1942 II./JG 51 was transferred to the Mediterranean theatre under Hauptmann Hartmann GrasserHartmann Grasser
Hartmann Grasser was a World War II German fighter ace. He was credited with shooting down 103 Allied aircraft while flying 700 missions on the Western Front , Eastern Front , and in North Africa He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, fighting over 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...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
before leaving for Sardinia in April 1943. 3.JG 1 were also transferred in, and subordinated to II gruppe as 6 staffel While in Tunisia, Grasser claimed 12 victories to raise his total to 103, while Anton Hafner
Anton Hafner
Anton "Toni" Hafner 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...
claimed a further 20. The gruppe claimed 7 Spitfires on 27 November, and claimed some two dozen fighters in the first two weeks of December. Although II./JG 51 would claim some 121 air victories, the far superior numbers of 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...
and USAAF fighters meant their effect on the air and ground battles were gradually minimised and their losses increased.
By April the hard pressed gruppe were stationed near Tunis as the superior numbers of the Allied armies further reduced the Axis perimeter. The unit handed over its remaining aircraft to JG 77 and left the continent on 19 April 1943. The unit had lost 26 pilots killed, almost a 100% loss rate since their arrival.
In July the unit flew intensively from Trapani
Trapani
Trapani is a city and comune on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.-History:...
against the invasion forces in Sicily, claiming 26 kills. In March 1944 the gruppe moved eastwards into Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and the Balkans, in order to cover the vital Ploesti oil fields.
Later in 1943 II gruppe joined in the defence of the Reich against the USAAF 15th Air Force's bomber offensive, being stationed at various times in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
until late 1944. 6 B-17's were downed on 23 June 1944, and 5 B-24s were claimed the day after. 7 bombers were claimed without loss on 15 July. At this time 5. JG 51 were detached to Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
covering Axis maritime supply routes.
Kursk (1943)
During the offensiveBattle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
around the Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
salient, I.,III. and IV./J.G. 51 was based at Orel
Oryol
Oryol or Orel is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow...
with Luftflotte 6
Luftflotte 6
Luftflotte 6 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on May 5, 1943 from Luftwaffenkommando Ost in Central Russia...
, flying alongside I./JG 54, in support of Army Group Centre. These gruppen were tasked with escorting Ju 88s, He 111s, and Ju 87s as well as defensive interceptions and offensive sweeps over the battle area. On 5 July 1943, the Soviets launched concentrated air attacks against the German airfields, and as all available Luftflotte 4
Luftflotte 4
Luftflotte 4 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed on March 18, 1939 from Luftwaffenkommando Österreich in Vienna. The Luftflotte was redesignated on April 21, 1945 to Luftwaffenkommando 4, and became subordinated to Luftflotte 6. It was the...
and 6 fighters scrambled, one of the largest air battles in history began. JG 51 scored heavily, Oberfeldwebel Strassl claiming 30 shot down in the next 3 days to raise his score to 67. On 8 July 1943, Hubert Strassl
Hubert Strassl
Hubert Strassl was a former German 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...
was bounced by four LaGG-3s 60 km north of Kursk. Strassl had already downed three enemy aircraft on this day, but he had to bail out of his FW 190A-4 'Black 4'. Strassl failed to open his parachute in time. He was posthumously awarded the Ritterkreuz in November 1943.
In late July 1943, JG 51 claimed its 6,000 victory. The Geschwader then converted back to the Bf 109-G due to increased demand for the Focke Wulf Fw-190 from other fronts. In May 1944 JG 51 claimed its 8,000 aircraft destroyed. JG 51 featured heavily defending the retreat following the Soviet Offensive of June 1944, operating with III./JG 52 as the heavily outnumbered fighter cover.
Oblt. 'Toni' Hafner shot down a Russian Yak-7 fighter for his 204th claim on 17 October 1944, although during the low-level combat his Bf 109G hit a tree and crashed, killing JG 51's highest scoring ace.
Normandy (1944)
7./JG 51, (with Bf 109G-6's) was attached to II./JG 1 in May 1944 from Brest-Litovsk, with pilots arriving at Störmede late in May and hurriedly converting to the FW-190. (It was later renamed 8./JG 1 on 15 August 1944 when the four-Staffeln Gruppe became standard)7. Staffel was led by Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross winner) Hptm. Karl-Heinz Weber
Karl-Heinz Weber
Karl-Heinz Weber was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Weber was credited with 136 victories. All his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front in over 500 combat missions....
with 136 confirmed kills. Its two other experten were Lt. Friedrich Krakowitzer (23 kills) and Ofhr. Günther Heckmann with 12 kills.
7./JG 51 joined II. Gruppe with 15 pilots on strength at the end of May, and during the first two months of the Normandy campaign the staffel was decimated, with twelve pilots killed, one POW and one severely wounded.
As the war turned against Germany JG 51 was forced to operate closer and closer to Germany, finally staging out of East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
.
Geschwaderkommodore
- OberstOberstOberst 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...
Theo OsterkampTheo OsterkampTheodor "Theo" Osterkamp was a World War I and World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He flew in the first World War, scoring 32 victories...
, 25.11.39 - 23.7.40 - OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
Werner MöldersWerner MöldersWerner 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...
, 27.7.40 - 19.7.41 - Oberst Theo Osterkamp (acting), 28.7.40 - 7.8.40
- Oberstleutnanat Friedrich BeckhFriedrich BeckhOberstleutnant Friedrich Beckh was 48 victory-Luftwaffe flying ace and recipient 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...
, 19.7.41 - 10.4.42 - Major Günther LützowGünther LützowColonel Günther Lützow was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and a leader in the "Fighter Pilots Revolt". Lützow was credited with 110 victories achieved in over 300 combat missions. He scored 5 victories during the Spanish Civil War...
(acting), 9.41 - 8.11.41 - Oberstleutnanat Karl-Gottfried NordmannKarl-Gottfried NordmannOberstleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann was a German World War II Luftwaffe 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...
, 10.4.42 - 30.3.44 - Major Fritz LosigkeitFritz LosigkeitMajor Fritz Losigkeit was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and recipient 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...
, 1.4.44 - 31.3.45 - Major Heinz LangeHeinz LangeHeinz Lange was a German World War II Luftwaffe 70-victory flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51. He held the rank of Major.-Career:Lange was born on 2 October 1917 in Colgne, the son of a...
, 2.4.45 - 8.5.45
I./JG 51
- Major Ernst Freiherr von Berg, 1 May 1939
- Hauptmann Hans-Heinrich Brustellin, 23 September 1939
- Hauptmann Hermann-Friedrich JoppienHermann-Friedrich JoppienHauptmann Hermann-Friedrich "Jupp" Joppien was German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and 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 to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
, 18 October 1940 - Hauptmann Wilhelm Hachfeld, 26 August 1941
- Hauptmann Josef FözöJosef FözöJosef "Joschko" Fözö was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II....
, 3 May 1942 - Hauptmann Heinrich KrafftHeinrich KrafftHeinrich "Gaudi" Krafft 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 June 1942 - Hauptmann Rudolf Busch, 15 December 1942
- Major Erich LeieErich LeieErich Leie was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe until his death on 7 March 1945...
, 18 January 1943 - Hauptmann Günther SchackGünther SchackGünther Schack was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1939 until the end of World War II in 1945. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He claimed 174 enemy aircraft shot down,...
, 29 December 1944
II./JG 51
- Major Kramer, October 1939
- Major Ernst Günther Burgaller, 26 October 1939
- Hauptmann Günther Matthes, 3 February 1940
- Hauptmann Josef Fözö, 21 February 1941
- Hauptmann Hartmann GrasserHartmann GrasserHartmann Grasser was a World War II German fighter ace. He was credited with shooting down 103 Allied aircraft while flying 700 missions on the Western Front , Eastern Front , and in North Africa He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, September 1941 - Major Karl RammeltKarl RammeltKarl Rammelt 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...
, 6 June 1943 - Oberleutnant Otto Schultz, 24 December 1944
III./JG 51
- Hauptmann Hannes TrautloftHannes TrautloftJohannes "Hannes" Trautloft was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1932 until the end of the war and again from 1957-1970. He flew 560 combat sorties and was credited with 58 victories. He was regarded as a very competent leader, and much respected from those...
, 4 July 1940 - Hauptmann Walter OesauWalter OesauWalter "Gulle" Oesau was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944...
, 25 August 1940 - Hauptmann Richard LepplaRichard LepplaRichard Leppla was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Leppla claimed 68 aerial victories claimed in over 500 combat missions...
, 11 November 1940 - Hauptmann Karl Heinz Schnell, 8 August 1942
- Hauptmann Fritz LosigkeitFritz LosigkeitMajor Fritz Losigkeit was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and recipient 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...
, 26 June 1943 - Hauptmann Diethelm von Eichel-StreiberDiethelm von Eichel-StreiberDiethelm von Eichel-Streiber was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He claimed a total of 96 victories and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, 1 May 1944 - Hauptmann Joachim BrendelJoachim BrendelJoachim Brendel was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. Brendel was credited with 189 victories claimed in 950 all Eastern Front combat missions...
, 1 September 1944
IV./JG 51
- Hauptmann Johannes Janke, 21 November 1940
- Major Friedrich BeckhFriedrich BeckhOberstleutnant Friedrich Beckh was 48 victory-Luftwaffe flying ace and recipient 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...
, 1 March 1941 - Hauptmann Karl-Gottfried NordmannKarl-Gottfried NordmannOberstleutnant Karl-Gottfried Nordmann was a German World War II Luftwaffe 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...
, 20 July 1941 - Hauptmann Hans Knauth, 10 April 1942
- Major Rudolf ReschRudolf ReschRudolf Resch 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. Rudolf Resch was shot down and killed on 11 July 1943 by...
, 1 March 1943 - Major Hans Ekkehard BobHans Ekkehard BobHans Ekkehard Bob was a German Fighter pilot, serving with the Luftwaffe. During World War II, Bob flew approximately seven hundred combat missions, and claimed sixty victories; thirty-seven of which were on the eastern front....
, 1 August 1943 - Major Heinz Lange, 9 May 1944
- Oberleutnant Günther JostenGünther JostenGünther Josten 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military...
, 12 April 1945 - Major Heinz Lange, 29 April 1945
Pilots attached to JG 51
- Werner MöldersWerner MöldersWerner 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...
- Hermann GrafHermann GrafColonel Hermann Graf was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts...
- Heinrich BärHeinrich BärOskar-Heinz "Pritzl" Bär was a German Luftwaffe flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
- Josef PrillerJosef PrillerJosef "Pips" Priller was a German World War II fighter ace. He has become famous because of the publicity regarding his Focke-Wulf's Fw 190A-8's single strafing pass attack on Sword Beach on June 6, 1944 , accompanied by his wingman Herbert Huppertz...
- Walther Wever
- Anton HafnerAnton HafnerAnton "Toni" Hafner 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...
- Horst-Günther von FassongHorst-Günther von FassongHauptmann Horst-Günther von Fassong was a German World War II Luftwaffe 136 victories Flying ace...
- Hermann-Friedrich JoppienHermann-Friedrich JoppienHauptmann Hermann-Friedrich "Jupp" Joppien was German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and 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 to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
- Günther JostenGünther JostenGünther Josten 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military...
See also
- Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II