Jagdgeschwader 53
Encyclopedia
Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik-As was a Luftwaffe
fighter
-wing
of World War II
. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean.
Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937. JG53 flew the various models of Bf-109 throughout the second world war.
The Geschwader commenced its wartime operations with a high proportion of its personnel experienced ex Condor Legion
pilots. Including Oblt. Werner Mölders
; Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 53 based at Wiesbaden. On 14 May 1940 JG 53 claimed some 43 on that one day. The Battle of France
thus saw the Geschwader score heavily during May and June 1940, with some 275 claims against Armee de l'Air and Royal Air Force
forces, Mölders claiming 25 kills thus far, and Lt. Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller with 8 kills. Geschwaderkommodore
of JG 53 during the spring and summer of 1940 was Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel
.
While JG 53 was making a reputation for itself during the Battle of Britain
, according to RAF Air Ministry intelligence summary no 60, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring
was informed that Major Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel's wife was Jewish. Göring then ordered the whole of Stab/JG 53 to remove the "Pik As" emblem from their planes, and replace it with a red stripe around the engine cowling as punishment. All of Stab./JG 53's planes immediately were stripped of their "Pik As" insignia, and soon after the whole of the Stab./JG 53 had also stripped the swastikas off the tails of their planes in protest. During this phase of the Battle of Britain, Stab.JG 53's planes were easily recognizable because of the red band and the absence of a swastika on the tail of their Bf-109's. On 30 September Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
became Kommodore and the Stab.JG53 was allowed to paint the "Pik As" back on their Bf-109's, removing the red band from their cowlings.
The Geschwader was one of the most effective during the Battle, claiming 258 kills for 51 pilots killed or POW, with Hpt. Hans Karl Meyer the top scorer with 21 kills, Hpt. Bretnutz 18 and Lt Schmidt 17 claims.
JG 53 claimed its 500th victory in November 1940.
. Under the control of Luftflotte 2
commanded by Feldmarschall Albert Kesselring
, The Geschwader, now equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109F, flew operations from Warsaw-Bielany.
On 31 July 1941 JG 53 shot down its 1,000 aircraft. In the period 22 June 1941 – 5 December 1941 JG 53 claimed to destroy 762 Soviet aircraft, losing 35 in aerial combat, and two on the ground.
(though elements also served in the Netherlands from July to November 1941). The III. Gruppe was transferred to North Africa
for a short time in December 1941 while the rest of JG 53 was eventually moved to Comiso
in Sicily for operations against Malta, which ended in May 1942. In the summer of 1942, II./JG 53 operated from the island of Pantelleria
for operations over Malta and as escort missions for attacks on British supply convoys. Almost 200 kills are recorded by JG 53 during those five months, the majority of victims Hurricanes and Spitfires. Oblt. Franz Schiess
(67 victories) recorded 11 victories over Malta, including his 20th, a Spitfire shot down on 18 July 1942. Hpt. Gerhard Michalski
was the most successful German fighter pilot over Malta, claiming 26 victories. Michalski became Gruppenkommandeur II./JG 53 in June 1942 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 41 victories in September. On 15 October Michalski was shot down by the No 126 Squadron Spitfires of F/L. Jones and F/Sgt Varey. He bailed out of his Bf 109 G-2, landing in the sea, and was rescued by the German air-sea rescue service.
.
's Fliegerkorps VIII to support Operation Blau. Led by Major Herbert Kaminski, during the period May–September 1942 in the Eastern Front, I./JG 53 claimed 918 victories
but suffering in return the loss of 34 Bf.109s, 18 pilots killed in action and nine wounded.
In August, I. Gruppe 's Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller claimed 25 Soviet Air Force victories, and between 1 September 1942 – 19 September 1942, claimed another 35 victories. On 19 September, he claimed his 100th and 101st victories resulting in the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. He was awarded the Eichenlaub on 23 September. Leutnant Walter Zellot
was also very successful in August 1942, claiming 44 out of his 86 victories that month. Ofw. Wilhelm Crinius
recorded the 1,000th victory for I./JG 53 on 27 August. Flying with Wolfgang Tonne
and "Tutti" Müller in I./JG 53, Crinius was particularly successful during this period, recording 40 victories in August and 46 victories in September, including his 100th victory on 22 September. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub on 23 September and promoted to Leutnant. The Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 53, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Tonne
also was credited with his 100th, 101st and 102nd kills on 22 September 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad
.
In spite of all these impressive achievements, during the Stalingrad campaign the I./JG 53 faced stiff resistance of the Soviet VVS and PVO both in the air and the ground, and several of the unit's aces were shot down, wounded, captured or killed.
On 1 November 1942, Hauptmann "Tutti" Müller was appointed Gruppenkommandeur
of I./JG 53 and led the unit back to the Mediterranean Theater. By November 1942 the entire Geschwader was again concentrated on Sicily for a belated offensive against Malta, in this case an abortive and short-lived blitz foiled by the much-strengthened defenders. During its 1942 operations over North Africa, Sicily and Malta JG 53 had claimed a total of at least 388 aircraft shot down. Hauptmann Gerhard Michalski
claimed 25 over Malta (the Luftwaffe's top scorer) Major Günther von Maltzhan claimed 13, while Oblt Franz Schieß claimed 10. With the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November, the Geschwader again found its components separated.
The Tunisian theatre saw several Luftwaffe fighter units thrown into battle ; II./JG 2, III./ZG 2, I./JG 53, II./JG 51 and JG 77 with the Regia Aeronautica’s 155° Gruppo C.T . The Wehrmacht launched its offensive on Kasserine on 14 February 1943, and although the Luftwaffe did its utmost and scored heavily against the Allied fighter cover, lack of resources doomed the Afrika Korps
to defeat. The Bf 109-Gs of JG 53 and JG 77 were left alone to defend Tunisia.
III./JG 53 returned from North Africa to Sicily in November, having claimed another 113 air kills, to add to the 61 claimed over Malta earlier in the year. Losses, however, had been heavy, with 14 pilots killed, 3 POW and 7 more badly injured. Obfw. Walter Stumpf (47 kills) was the unit's top scorer, though he was killed by flak on 13 October 1942.
With Allied navies dominating the sea lanes, a vast air supply route was organized between Tunisia and Sicily, I./JG 53 being one of the units organizing escort for the slow transport Junkers Ju-52 aircraft. Here Lt. Crinius quickly recorded another 14 victories, until 13 January 1943, when in combat with RAF Spitfires Crinius’ aircraft was hit and, wounded in the thigh, he ditched his Bf 109 G-2 and was rescued by French sailors, becoming a prisoner of war. Oblt Franz Schieß also claimed 20 kills over Tunisia.
The second half of 1943 saw German forces retreating north through Italy
. During these months JG 53 saw continuous action over Italy with losses mounting alarmingly to an unprecedented level coupled with diminishing success. Oblt Franz Schieß, now Staffelkaptän of 8./JG 53 and with 67 claims, was killed in action versus P-38's on 2 September 1943.
) operations, stationed near Vienna
from October 1943 to March 1944, before moving to south Western Germany. On 7 January 1944 now based at Vienna-Seyring, II./JG 53 were scrambled to intercept a large formation of bombers. At 8,000 metres they intercepted up to 25 P-38 fighters. In the ensuing combat, which drifted south and ended over northern Yugoslavia, II./JG 53 claimed some 15 P-38s shot down.
The winter of 1943/44 saw bitter fighting over Italy, where the Geschwaderstab, I. and III./JG 53 facing overwhelming odds in their struggle over both the front lines at Cassino
and Anzio bridge head, and Northern Italy.
II./JG 53 was the sole ‘Pik As’ gruppe to see action against the Allied invasion forces
on 6 June 1944. The Luftwaffe fighter units in France suffered catastrophic losses, and II./JG 53 was no exception. In just one month of operations, the Gruppe reported 42 aircraft lost through enemy action , 18 in accidents, 20 abandoned and a further 20 through other causes; approximately 200% of its operational strength. On 22 August while escorting low-level operations against the American XV Corps near Mantes, II gruppe were surprised by a large formation of P-38's and suffered seven aircraft lost.
III./JG 53 also returned from Italy in June 1944 and after a short period refitting was active in the Defence of the Reich. When the Allies launched Operation Market Garden
both II. and III.JG53 were called into action. Autumn 1944 also saw the addition of a new IV. Gruppe to the Geschwader with Stab, II., III, IV./JG 53 based along the south western sector of the Western Front.
I./JG53 was later moved to Romania
to protect the vital oilfields of Ploesti and also saw further action in Hungary
, where it was to take part in the fierce fighting on the South Eastern part of the Russian Front in late 1944 and early 1945, eventually retreating into Czechoslovakia
and Austria before it was finally disbanded in April 1945 - its remnants amalgamated into II./JG 52.
For the remainder of the war the Geschwader (minus I. Gruppe) stayed in the southwest where it fought until the end, retreating into Southern Germany and finally disbanded days before VE Day.
One of the last living pilots of III./JG53 was Hans-Georg Tewes. He did 2011 in Lingen/Germany in the age of 90 years
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
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
-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....
of 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...
. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean.
Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937. JG53 flew the various models of Bf-109 throughout the second world war.
Campaign in the West
Condor Legion
The Condor Legion was a unit composed of volunteers from the German Air Force and from the German Army which served with the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legion developed methods of terror bombing which were used widely in the Second World War...
pilots. Including Oblt. 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...
; Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 53 based at Wiesbaden. On 14 May 1940 JG 53 claimed some 43 on that one day. The Battle of France
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...
thus saw the Geschwader score heavily during May and June 1940, with some 275 claims against Armee de l'Air and Royal Air Force
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...
forces, Mölders claiming 25 kills thus far, and Lt. Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller with 8 kills. 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...
of JG 53 during the spring and summer of 1940 was Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel
Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel
Hans-Jürgen Erdmann von Cramon-Taubadel was German Luftwaffe Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 "Pik As"...
.
While JG 53 was making a reputation for itself during 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...
, according to RAF Air Ministry intelligence summary no 60, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
was informed that Major Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel's wife was Jewish. Göring then ordered the whole of Stab/JG 53 to remove the "Pik As" emblem from their planes, and replace it with a red stripe around the engine cowling as punishment. All of Stab./JG 53's planes immediately were stripped of their "Pik As" insignia, and soon after the whole of the Stab./JG 53 had also stripped the swastikas off the tails of their planes in protest. During this phase of the Battle of Britain, Stab.JG 53's planes were easily recognizable because of the red band and the absence of a swastika on the tail of their Bf-109's. On 30 September Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn
Oberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
became Kommodore and the Stab.JG53 was allowed to paint the "Pik As" back on their Bf-109's, removing the red band from their cowlings.
The Geschwader was one of the most effective during the Battle, claiming 258 kills for 51 pilots killed or POW, with Hpt. Hans Karl Meyer the top scorer with 21 kills, Hpt. Bretnutz 18 and Lt Schmidt 17 claims.
JG 53 claimed its 500th victory in November 1940.
Campaign in the East
In April 1941 the Geschwader then transferred to the Russian Front for Operation BarbarossaOperation 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...
. Under the control of Luftflotte 2
Luftflotte 2
Luftflotte 2 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was formed February 1, 1939 in Braunschweig and transferred to Italy on November 15, 1941...
commanded by Feldmarschall Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring
Albert Kesselring was a German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords...
, The Geschwader, now equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109F, flew operations from Warsaw-Bielany.
On 31 July 1941 JG 53 shot down its 1,000 aircraft. In the period 22 June 1941 – 5 December 1941 JG 53 claimed to destroy 762 Soviet aircraft, losing 35 in aerial combat, and two on the ground.
Campaign in the South
Later in the year JG 53 moved to bases in Sicily for operations against MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
(though elements also served in the Netherlands from July to November 1941). The III. Gruppe was transferred to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
for a short time in December 1941 while the rest of JG 53 was eventually moved to Comiso
Comiso
Comiso is an Italian municipality in the Province of Ragusa in Sicily.-Geography:Comiso consists of three boroughs: Comiso, Pedalino, and Quaglio. It lies some 22 km west of Ragusa in the South of Sicily...
in Sicily for operations against Malta, which ended in May 1942. In the summer of 1942, II./JG 53 operated from the island of Pantelleria
Pantelleria
Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and just east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani...
for operations over Malta and as escort missions for attacks on British supply convoys. Almost 200 kills are recorded by JG 53 during those five months, the majority of victims Hurricanes and Spitfires. Oblt. Franz Schiess
Franz Schiess
Franz Schieß was a German fighter ace. He scored 67 victories in 657 missions, whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109.-War time service:...
(67 victories) recorded 11 victories over Malta, including his 20th, a Spitfire shot down on 18 July 1942. Hpt. Gerhard Michalski
Gerhard Michalski
Gerhard Michalski was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.-Military career:...
was the most successful German fighter pilot over Malta, claiming 26 victories. Michalski became Gruppenkommandeur II./JG 53 in June 1942 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz for 41 victories in September. On 15 October Michalski was shot down by the No 126 Squadron Spitfires of F/L. Jones and F/Sgt Varey. He bailed out of his Bf 109 G-2, landing in the sea, and was rescued by the German air-sea rescue service.
Splitting up
In May 1942 after the termination of the German air offensive against the British island fortress of Malta the "Pik As" Geschwader was split up, with its three Gruppen scattered over three theatres of operation. III./JG 53 again saw service in North Africa supporting Rommel's planned advance on Cairo. Stab and II./JG 53 which were left behind on Sicily after the end of the "Malta Blitz" in May for service over the central Mediterranean, and I./JG 53 was moved to the Eastern front, where it was to take part in the German summer offensive in the southern sector aimed at Stalingrad and the CaucasusCaucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.
I./JG 53 in the Eastern Front and the Battle of Stalingrad
Together with the whole JG 3 and JG 52, plus Stab and II./JG 77, I./JG 53 was deployed in Luftflotte 4Luftflotte 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...
's Fliegerkorps VIII to support Operation Blau. Led by Major Herbert Kaminski, during the period May–September 1942 in the Eastern Front, I./JG 53 claimed 918 victories
but suffering in return the loss of 34 Bf.109s, 18 pilots killed in action and nine wounded.
In August, I. Gruppe 's Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller claimed 25 Soviet Air Force victories, and between 1 September 1942 – 19 September 1942, claimed another 35 victories. On 19 September, he claimed his 100th and 101st victories resulting in the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. He was awarded the Eichenlaub on 23 September. Leutnant Walter Zellot
Walter Zellot
Walter Zellot was a World War II fighter ace from Germany. He was born on 6 October 1920 in Spittal an der Drau in the Austrian state of Carinthia. Zellot is credited for shooting down 86 Allied aircraft in 296 different missions. Among these 83 were achieved over the Eastern Front.-World War...
was also very successful in August 1942, claiming 44 out of his 86 victories that month. Ofw. Wilhelm Crinius
Wilhelm Crinius
Wilhelm Crinius 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. Crinius is credited with 114 aerial victories claimed in approximately 400 combat missions. He...
recorded the 1,000th victory for I./JG 53 on 27 August. Flying with Wolfgang Tonne
Wolfgang Tonne
Wolfgang Tonne 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...
and "Tutti" Müller in I./JG 53, Crinius was particularly successful during this period, recording 40 victories in August and 46 victories in September, including his 100th victory on 22 September. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub on 23 September and promoted to Leutnant. The Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 53, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Tonne
Wolfgang Tonne
Wolfgang Tonne 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...
also was credited with his 100th, 101st and 102nd kills on 22 September 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
.
In spite of all these impressive achievements, during the Stalingrad campaign the I./JG 53 faced stiff resistance of the Soviet VVS and PVO both in the air and the ground, and several of the unit's aces were shot down, wounded, captured or killed.
- 30 June 1942: A Yak-1 fighter shot down Leutnant Joachim Louis's Bf.109F-4Messerschmitt Bf 109The 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...
W.Nr 10206, who bailed out and was became a POW. Louis was the Gruppenadjutant and had then 22 victories to his credit. - 8 July 1942: Wilhelm CriniusWilhelm CriniusWilhelm Crinius 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. Crinius is credited with 114 aerial victories claimed in approximately 400 combat missions. He...
(then an Unteroffizier with 12 kills) was shot down by flak over Voronezh at 8:50 hs. - 6 August 1942: Leutnant Hans RöhrigHans RöhrigHans Röhrig was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross during World War II. Hans Röhrig was credited with 75 victories. He recorded 56 victories over the Eastern front and 19 victories recorded over the Western front.-In the War:Hans Röhrig was first assigned to...
(flying Bf.109G-2Messerschmitt Bf 109The 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...
W.Nr 13480) is forced to bail out by a Yak-1 fighter, apparently flown by Soviet ace Starshiy Leytenant Mikhail BaranovMikhail BaranovMikhail Dmitrievich Baranov was a WWII Soviet pilot, who during the early stages of the Battle of Stalingrad became the leading Soviet ace of 1942 with 21 aerial victories...
(183 IAP, 269 IAD). At that time Röhrig had under his belt eight out of the 75 victories he would be credited with. Baranov subsequently would shot down the Ju.87D-3Junkers Ju 87The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
of Unteroffizier Herbert Oswald (2./StG 2), one of the Stukas the I. Gruppe was escorting. - 19 August 1942: Walter ZellotWalter ZellotWalter Zellot was a World War II fighter ace from Germany. He was born on 6 October 1920 in Spittal an der Drau in the Austrian state of Carinthia. Zellot is credited for shooting down 86 Allied aircraft in 296 different missions. Among these 83 were achieved over the Eastern Front.-World War...
's Bf.109G-2Messerschmitt Bf 109The 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...
W.Nr.14189 was shot-up by a Soviet fighter, probably the Yak-1 flown by future ace Boris M. Vasilyev (929 IAP). - 7 September 1942: While escorting a Fw.189A-1 of 4.(H)/10, 10-kills ace Feldwebel Wilhelm Budke was caught by surprise by Soviet Yak-7B ace Sultan Amet-Khan (4 IAP), and had to bail out of his Bf.109G-2 W.Nr. 13680. Amet-Khan's comrade ace Ivan Stepanenko shot up the Fw.189 (W.Nr. 2230), which was damaged beyond repair (65%) and was scrapped.
- 8 September 1942: 38-victories experte Oberfeldwebel Hans Kornatz is downed and injured in air combat, probably by Spanish Yak-1 pilot José Pascual Santamaría (788 IAP, 102 IAD PVO), who shot down three Bf.109 that day, but was also forced to bail out and died when his parachute failed to open.
- 9 September 1942: 60-kills experte Leutnant Alfred FrankeAlfred FrankeAlfred Franke 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...
(flying Bf.109G-2Messerschmitt Bf 109The 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...
W.Nr 13442, 2./JG 53) was downed in air combat by Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik pilot Pavel S. Vinogradov (694 IAP, 228 ShAD) and perished in the crash. - 10 September 1942: three I./JG 53 experten were killed or wounded over Stalingrad: Unteroffizier Heinrich Wöhrle (10 victories, WIA), Feldwebel Franz Hagedorn (37 kills, killed by another Il-2 Shturmovik) and Leutnant Walter ZellotWalter ZellotWalter Zellot was a World War II fighter ace from Germany. He was born on 6 October 1920 in Spittal an der Drau in the Austrian state of Carinthia. Zellot is credited for shooting down 86 Allied aircraft in 296 different missions. Among these 83 were achieved over the Eastern Front.-World War...
(86 victories), who was shot down and killed by flak. - 13 September 1942: While escorting Ju.88s, 11-kills ace Unteroffizier Erwin Meier (2./JG 53) jumped the Yak-1 of female pilot Raisa Belyaeva. However, was surprised by another Yak-1 flown by future leading female ace Lydia LitvyakLydia LitvyakLydia Vladimirovna Litvyak Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak (Лидия Владимировна Литвяк, (Moscow, August 18, 1921 – Krasnyi Luch August 1, 1943), also known as Lydia Litviak or Lilya Litviak, was a fighter pilot in the Soviet Air Force during World War II...
and had to bail out of his flaiming Bf.109G-2 W.Nr. 13556, being taken prisoner by Soviet troops.
Reunited on the African front
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 I./JG 53 and led the unit back to the Mediterranean Theater. By November 1942 the entire Geschwader was again concentrated on Sicily for a belated offensive against Malta, in this case an abortive and short-lived blitz foiled by the much-strengthened defenders. During its 1942 operations over North Africa, Sicily and Malta JG 53 had claimed a total of at least 388 aircraft shot down. Hauptmann Gerhard Michalski
Gerhard Michalski
Gerhard Michalski was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.-Military career:...
claimed 25 over Malta (the Luftwaffe's top scorer) Major Günther von Maltzhan claimed 13, while Oblt Franz Schieß claimed 10. With the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November, the Geschwader again found its components separated.
The Tunisian theatre saw several Luftwaffe fighter units thrown into battle ; II./JG 2, III./ZG 2, I./JG 53, II./JG 51 and JG 77 with the Regia Aeronautica’s 155° Gruppo C.T . The Wehrmacht launched its offensive on Kasserine on 14 February 1943, and although the Luftwaffe did its utmost and scored heavily against the Allied fighter cover, lack of resources doomed the Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
to defeat. The Bf 109-Gs of JG 53 and JG 77 were left alone to defend Tunisia.
III./JG 53 returned from North Africa to Sicily in November, having claimed another 113 air kills, to add to the 61 claimed over Malta earlier in the year. Losses, however, had been heavy, with 14 pilots killed, 3 POW and 7 more badly injured. Obfw. Walter Stumpf (47 kills) was the unit's top scorer, though he was killed by flak on 13 October 1942.
With Allied navies dominating the sea lanes, a vast air supply route was organized between Tunisia and Sicily, I./JG 53 being one of the units organizing escort for the slow transport Junkers Ju-52 aircraft. Here Lt. Crinius quickly recorded another 14 victories, until 13 January 1943, when in combat with RAF Spitfires Crinius’ aircraft was hit and, wounded in the thigh, he ditched his Bf 109 G-2 and was rescued by French sailors, becoming a prisoner of war. Oblt Franz Schieß also claimed 20 kills over Tunisia.
The second half of 1943 saw German forces retreating north through 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...
. During these months JG 53 saw continuous action over Italy with losses mounting alarmingly to an unprecedented level coupled with diminishing success. Oblt Franz Schieß, now Staffelkaptän of 8./JG 53 and with 67 claims, was killed in action versus P-38's on 2 September 1943.
Defense of the Reich
II./JG 53 was withdrawn from Italy in October 1943, and was the first Gruppe of the Geschwader to be employed on Reichsverteidigung (Defense of the ReichDefense of the Reich
The Defence of the Reich is the name given to the strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe over German occupied Europe and Germany itself during World War II. Its aim was to prevent the destruction of German military and civil industries by the Western Allies...
) operations, stationed near Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
from October 1943 to March 1944, before moving to south Western Germany. On 7 January 1944 now based at Vienna-Seyring, II./JG 53 were scrambled to intercept a large formation of bombers. At 8,000 metres they intercepted up to 25 P-38 fighters. In the ensuing combat, which drifted south and ended over northern Yugoslavia, II./JG 53 claimed some 15 P-38s shot down.
The winter of 1943/44 saw bitter fighting over Italy, where the Geschwaderstab, I. and III./JG 53 facing overwhelming odds in their struggle over both the front lines at Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
and Anzio bridge head, and Northern Italy.
II./JG 53 was the sole ‘Pik As’ gruppe to see action against the Allied invasion forces
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
on 6 June 1944. The Luftwaffe fighter units in France suffered catastrophic losses, and II./JG 53 was no exception. In just one month of operations, the Gruppe reported 42 aircraft lost through enemy action , 18 in accidents, 20 abandoned and a further 20 through other causes; approximately 200% of its operational strength. On 22 August while escorting low-level operations against the American XV Corps near Mantes, II gruppe were surprised by a large formation of P-38's and suffered seven aircraft lost.
III./JG 53 also returned from Italy in June 1944 and after a short period refitting was active in the Defence of the Reich. When the Allies launched Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
both II. and III.JG53 were called into action. Autumn 1944 also saw the addition of a new IV. Gruppe to the Geschwader with Stab, II., III, IV./JG 53 based along the south western sector of the Western Front.
I./JG53 was later moved to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
to protect the vital oilfields of Ploesti and also saw further action 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...
, where it was to take part in the fierce fighting on the South Eastern part of the Russian Front in late 1944 and early 1945, eventually retreating into Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and Austria before it was finally disbanded in April 1945 - its remnants amalgamated into II./JG 52.
For the remainder of the war the Geschwader (minus I. Gruppe) stayed in the southwest where it fought until the end, retreating into Southern Germany and finally disbanded days before VE Day.
Geschwaderkommodore
- Oberst Bruno LöerzerBruno LoerzerBruno Loerzer was an officer in the German Luftstreitkräfte during World War I and Luftwaffe during World War II....
, March 1937 – March 1938 - Oberstleutnant Werner JunckWerner JunckWerner Junck was a German World War II Luftwaffe Generalleutnant and the one time commander of Fliegerführer Irak...
, April 1938 – September 1939 - Major Hans Klein, 1 September 1939 – 15 December 1939
- Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-TaubadelHans-Jürgen von Cramon-TaubadelHans-Jürgen Erdmann von Cramon-Taubadel was German Luftwaffe Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 "Pik As"...
, 1 January 1940 – 30 September 1940 - Oberst Günther Freiherr von MaltzahnGünther Freiherr von MaltzahnOberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, October 1940 – October 1943 - Major Friedrich-Karl Müller (acting) October 1943 – October 1943
- Major Kurt UbbenKurt UbbenKurt "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...
(acting) October 1943 – November 1943 - Oberstleutnant Helmut BennemannHelmut BennemannDr. med. dent. Helmut BennemannIn German a Doctor of Medical Dentistry is abbreviated as Dr. med. dent. . was a German Oberstleutnant....
, November 1943 – April 1945
I./JG 53
- Hauptmann Lothar von Janson, 1 May 1939
- Hauptmann Albert Blumensaat, 1 July 1940
- Hauptmann Hans-Karl MayerHans-Karl MayerHans-Karl Mayer 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 September 1940 - Hauptmann Hans-Heinrich Brustellin, October 1940
- Oberleutnant Wilfried Balfanz, 1 June 1941
- Hauptmann Franz von WerraFranz von WerraFranz Xaver Baron von Werra was a German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace who was shot down over England and captured...
, July 1941 - Hauptmann Ignaz Prestele (acting), August 1941
- Major Herbert Kaminski, 1 November 1941
- Hauptmann Walter Spies, August 1942
- Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl Müller, November 1942
- Major Jürgen HarderJürgen HarderJürgen Harder was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Harder claimed 64 aircraft shot down in approximately 500 missions...
, 15 February 1944 - Hauptmann Wolfgang Ernst (acting), January 1945
- Hauptmann Erich HartmannErich HartmannErich Alfred Hartmann , nicknamed "Bubi" by his comrades and "The Black Devil" by his Soviet enemies, was a German World War II fighter pilot and is the highest-scoring fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare...
(acting), February 1945 - Hauptmann Helmut LipfertHelmut LipfertHelmut Lipfert was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. Lipfert ranks as the world's thirteenth fighter ace. Lipfert was credited with 203 victories achieved in 687 combat missions...
, 15 February 1945 - 17 April 1945
II./JG 53
- Major Hubert Merhart von Bernegg, 1 May 1939
- Major Günther Freiherr von MaltzahnGünther Freiherr von MaltzahnOberst Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn was a German World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace and Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 19 August 1939 - Hauptmann Heinz BretnützHeinz BretnützHeinz "Pietzsch" Bretnütz was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II...
, 9 October 1940 - Hauptmann Walter Spies, June 1941
- Hauptmann Gerhard MichalskiGerhard MichalskiGerhard Michalski was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.-Military career:...
, July 1942 - Hauptmann Hans-Jürgen Westphal (acting), 19 June 1943
- Major Karl-Heinz Schnell (acting), July 1943
- Major Julius Meimberg, 24 April 1944
III./JG 53
- Hauptmann 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...
, 1 November 1939 - Hauptmann Rolf PingelRolf PingelRolf Pingel 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.Pingel was born 1 October 1913 in Kiel...
(acting), June 1940 - Hauptmann Harro Harder, July 1940
- Hauptmann Wolf-Dietrich WilckeWolf-Dietrich WilckeWolf-Dietrich "Fürst" Wilcke was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until his death. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
, 13 August 1940 - Major Erich Gerlitz, May 1942
- Hauptmann Franz GötzFranz Götz (pilot)Franz Götz 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...
, October 1942 - Hauptmann Siegfried Luckenbach, 18 January 1945
- Hauptmann Wolfgang Ernst (acting), April 1945
One of the last living pilots of III./JG53 was Hans-Georg Tewes. He did 2011 in Lingen/Germany in the age of 90 years
IV./JG 53
- Hauptmann Hans Morr, 25 October 1944
- Hauptmann Friedrich Müer, October 1944
- Hauptmann Alfred Hammer, 9 January 1945
External links
- http://www.feldgrau.com/JG53.htm A list of commanders and the organisation of JG 53