Jagdgeschwader 54
Encyclopedia
Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz (Green Hearts) was a Luftwaffe
fighter wing
during the Second World War. It was known as the Green Hearts Wing, and it was the second highest scoring wing of all time, JG 52 being the highest. JG 54 flew on the Eastern Front
, racking up over 9,600 kills, with aces such as Walter Nowotny
, Otto Kittel
, Freiherr Peter Grunhertz, Hans "Phips" Philipp, Gunther Lutzow, Emil "Bully" Lang (Lang holds the record for most kills in a day,18), Max-Hellmuth Ostermann
, Dietrich Hrabak, Werner Schroer and Hannes Trautloft
being the most famous Experten.
Having enjoyed initial success over the Channel and South-east England during the summer of 1940, the unit was transferred to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1941 for Operation Barbarossa
- the German invasion of the Soviet Union. JG 54 would remain a Jagdwaffe stalwart in the east, flying firstly Bf 109Fs and then the Fw 190.
JG 54 was known for its non-standard camouflage schemes. For example, Bf-109F-4's on the Leningrad front 1941–42 were painted in black-green/dark-green splinter finish with yellow under cowling and under the wing tips.
The initial unit designation for II./JG 54 was I./JG 138. This unit was raised in 1938 after the Austrian annexation
. Thus many Austria
n nationals were recruited when I./JG 138 was formed. I./JG 138 was briefly designated I./JG 76 before finally becoming II./JG 54 on 6 April 1940.
III./JG 54 has its roots in Prussia
. Initially raised as I./JG 21, the members were drawn from the Jesau region in Prussia. On 15 July 1939, I./JG 21 was redesignated III./JG 54. However, the bureaucratic nature of the young Luftwaffe was such that it was over a year before records would reflect the new designation. Thus III./JG 54 fought in Poland and France as I./JG 21.
. Equipped with BF 109Ds their operations consisted of ground attack, air superiority and escorting Stukas. Several pilots of JG 54 were awarded decorations during this campaign.
The Battle of France
broke out on 10 May 1940. The Luftwaffe operated by advancing in front of the German army to destroy French airfields and industrial complexes. JG 54's role was to escort the bombers (Stukas
and Heinkel He 111
s mostly)) and to conduct fighter sweeps in French airspace in order to maintain air superiority. These roles were maintained throughout the operations at Dunkirk against the evacuating British Expeditionary Force
. During the period 10 May to 21 June (until their transfer to Holland and the capitulation of France) JG 54 claimed 17 aircraft, according to JG 54 documentation.
Before the Battle of Britain
the Geschwader were again transferred, this time to Holland. The principal reasons for the transfer were the reequipping of the unit and giving the pilots a chance to rest before air defence operations continued against British bombers. In a particularly devastating raid on the Soesterberg airfield, III/JG 54 suffered heavy ground crew and equipment losses. While in Holland they claimed another 21 aircraft (20 Blenheim Bombers
and 1 Supermarine Spitfire
)
began in late July and early August, with the goal of destroying the RAF, a prerequisite of a land invasion of Britain. The three JG 54 Gruppen were transferred to airfields near Calais
on 6 August 1940. Over the next months JG 54 would experience the most hostile fighting environment they had yet encountered. Dissatisfied with the fighter arm's performance, Göring's subsequent purge of the older peace-time Jagdgeschwader commanders in mid 1940 resulted in Major Hannes Trautloft
being placed in command of JG 54, replacing Major Mettig. Serving in that capacity until July 1943, Trautloft was a natural leader and left an indelible mark on JG 54 and was regarded as a leader who cared for his men. Trautloft also devised the 'Green Heart' emblem of JG 54, adopting the regional emblem of his birth place in Thüringen ('The green heart of Germany')
The Battle of Britain would prove to be costly for both the Luftwaffe and JG 54. The Geschwader lost 43 pilots, 40 percent of the pilots they began the battle with. The 3 staffel itself went from 12 pilots to 2 by the end of the Battle. JG 54 however claimed some 238 enemy aircraft destroyed. The first Knight's Cross or Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, given upon achieving 20 victories, was awarded to Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak
, Kommandeur II/JG 54, during the Battle on 21 October.
.
Claiming 45 kills on the first day, JG 54 served on the Northern Front
during the invasion of Soviet Russia
on 22 June 1941 as part of the Luftwaffe's Luftflotte 1, and would remain on that part of the Eastern Front for most of its existence. The Finnish, Baltic & Leningrad Fronts were far more static in nature than other Eastern Front theatres, leading to a more stable existence for JG 54 operations, although the severe cold during the winters of 1941-44 would constantly hamper fighter operations. JG 54's operations for 1941-43 had essentially a twofold objective; to keep pressure upon the beleaguered Leningrad sector, and to reduce Soviet pressure on the Lake Ilmen
area at the German flank.
By 18 July the Geschwader had chalked up its 500th Soviet air claim, and on 1 August became the third Geschwader to claim 1,000 air kills.
In the period 22 June - 5 December 1941 the unit destroyed 1,078 Soviet aircraft in return for 46 losses in aerial combat and a single fighter on the ground.
Trautloft instituted the successful tactic of intercepting Soviet nuisance raiders on moonlit nights, and JG 54 claimed 56 kills in January–July 1942 while suffering no losses on these interceptions. In February 1942 alone JG 54 claimed 201 kills for 18 pilots killed. The 2,000 kill came on 4 April 1942 by Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Klemm
.
JG 54 received its first Focke Wulf Fw 190's in February 1943, and on 23 February 1943, JG 54 claimed its 4,000 kill. On 7 March 1943 the unit claimed 59 aircraft shot down in one day. During 1943 a schwarm of 1./JG 54 became the most successful formation of its type in the Luftwaffe; Hpt. Walter Nowotny
(257 kills), Uzz Karl Schnörrer
(46), Lt Anton Döbele
(94) and Lt Rudolf Rademacher
(126) amassed 500 air victories between them in 1943-1944.
Trautloft left JG 54 in July 1943 when General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland
asked him to join his staff as Inspizient Ost. (He ended the war with 57 victories and the Knight's Cross
.) After his departure JG 54 continued operating on the Northern Front, and their victory tally rose continuously. The 7,000 JG 54 claim was made on 23 March 1944, with the 8,000 mark passed on 15 August.
I.,II. and IV./ JG 54 ended the war fighting around the Baltic region, supporting the troops of Army Group North
through Latvia
and Estonia
, and into the Courland Pocket
of East Prussia. JG 54 could never hope to regain air superiority against the mounting number of Russian aircraft. The Russians never defeated Army Group North, which held out until the last day of the war, surrendering 210,000 Germans to the Soviets in Courland.
The remaining serviceable FW-190's were ordered fly to Flensburg
on the Danish border, with the German Navy evacuating as many of the ground personnel as possible by ship. The JG 54 pilots, led by Oberst Dietrich Hrabak
, ripped out all unnecessary equipment from the fighters, allowing room to take two men, one man crouching behind the seat and the other fitting into the fuselage. In this way at least 90 JG 54 personnel escaped Russian capture.
, Geschwaderkommodore
of JG 26 and charged with III gruppe's training, refused to declare the gruppe operational. III Gruppe transferred to North Germany as a result, supporting Jagdgeschwader 1
. The gruppe would take several losses before acclimatising to the new theatre; two experienced III gruppe experten - Hpt Günter Fink
and Lt. Friedrich Rupp - would be killed in action on 15 May alone. III./JG 54 would remain in the west for the rest of the war.
During the autumn of 1944, III./JG 54 was the first Luftwaffe unit to be supplied with the new Fw 190 D-9 "Dora". The D-9s were used in base defence missions for the Me 262 jets of Kommando Nowotny
, and later over North-West Europe. 68 operational aircraft were available early in December, but such were the heavy losses sustained that the gruppe was disbanded soon after. Hpt. 'Bazi' Weiß
,(121 kills), the Gruppenkommandeur
, and 12 other pilots were killed by RAF fighters on 29 December 1944 alone.
At the end of 1944 Zerstörer Geschwader ZG 76 was disbanded and its pilots formed the nucleus of a new III./JG 54. Operating from Muncheberg
, near Berlin
, the unit's Fw 190s saw intensive action against Russian ground targets such as road and rail supply columns, flak positions, armour and the bridges across the River Oder. A few weeks before the war ended, the depleted III./JG 54 was disbanded, being absorbed into JG 26.
Although Luftwaffe documentation were destroyed at the end of the war surviving records indicate JG 54 lost 501 pilots killed in action and 242 pilots missing, with 40 aircrew POW. Total losses in aircraft were approximately 1071 Bf 109 and 746 FW 190.
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 the Second World War. It was known as the Green Hearts Wing, and it was the second highest scoring wing of all time, JG 52 being the highest. JG 54 flew on the Eastern 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...
, racking up over 9,600 kills, with aces such as Walter Nowotny
Walter Nowotny
Major Walter "Nowi" Nowotny was an Austrian-born German fighter ace of World War II. He is credited with 258 aerial victories in 442 combat missions...
, Otto Kittel
Otto Kittel
Otto "Bruno" Kittel was a World War II Luftwaffe flying ace. He flew 583 combat missions on the Eastern Front, claiming 267 aerial victories, making him the fourth highest scoring ace in aviation history...
, Freiherr Peter Grunhertz, Hans "Phips" Philipp, Gunther Lutzow, Emil "Bully" Lang (Lang holds the record for most kills in a day,18), Max-Hellmuth Ostermann
Max-Hellmuth Ostermann
Max-Hellmuth Ostermann 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 102 enemy aircraft shot down claimed in over 300 combat missions...
, Dietrich Hrabak, Werner Schroer and Hannes Trautloft
Hannes Trautloft
Johannes "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...
being the most famous Experten.
Having enjoyed initial success over the Channel and South-east England during the summer of 1940, the unit was transferred to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1941 for Operation Barbarossa
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...
- the German invasion of the Soviet Union. JG 54 would remain a Jagdwaffe stalwart in the east, flying firstly Bf 109Fs and then the Fw 190.
JG 54 was known for its non-standard camouflage schemes. For example, Bf-109F-4's on the Leningrad front 1941–42 were painted in black-green/dark-green splinter finish with yellow under cowling and under the wing tips.
Formation
I./JG 54 was initially formed as I./JG 70 near Nürnberg in July 1939. As was to become tradition within the "Grünherzgeschwader", the Gruppe took the Nürnberg coat-of-arms (a vertically divided shield with a black heraldic bird on the left, and red and white diagonal stripes on the right) to represent the region the unit came from. On 15 September 1939, I./JG 70 was redesignated I./JG 54.The initial unit designation for II./JG 54 was I./JG 138. This unit was raised in 1938 after the Austrian annexation
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
. Thus many 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...
n nationals were recruited when I./JG 138 was formed. I./JG 138 was briefly designated I./JG 76 before finally becoming II./JG 54 on 6 April 1940.
III./JG 54 has its roots in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. Initially raised as I./JG 21, the members were drawn from the Jesau region in Prussia. On 15 July 1939, I./JG 21 was redesignated III./JG 54. However, the bureaucratic nature of the young Luftwaffe was such that it was over a year before records would reflect the new designation. Thus III./JG 54 fought in Poland and France as I./JG 21.
Polish Campaign
JG 54 first saw combat in the fall of 1939 in the offensive against Poland. II/JG 54 and III/JG 54 saw combat, while I/JG 54 remained stationed in HerzogenaurachHerzogenaurach
Herzogenaurach is a town in the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt, in Bavaria, Germany. It is probably best known for being the home of the sporting goods companies Adidas and Puma.-Geography:...
. Equipped with BF 109Ds their operations consisted of ground attack, air superiority and escorting Stukas. Several pilots of JG 54 were awarded decorations during this campaign.
Campaign in the West
After the success in Poland JG 54 was transferred back, on 9 October 1939, to Germany, occupying airfields in the west and south. Before the invasion of France, during a period known as Sitzkrieg, they operated mainly in an air defence role. Flying routine sweeps up to the French border, contact was limited to small skirmishes with French or British reconnaissance planes. The Geschwader began to field BF 109Es at this time as well.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...
broke out on 10 May 1940. The Luftwaffe operated by advancing in front of the German army to destroy French airfields and industrial complexes. JG 54's role was to escort the bombers (Stukas
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
and Heinkel He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
s mostly)) and to conduct fighter sweeps in French airspace in order to maintain air superiority. These roles were maintained throughout the operations at Dunkirk against the evacuating British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
. During the period 10 May to 21 June (until their transfer to Holland and the capitulation of France) JG 54 claimed 17 aircraft, according to JG 54 documentation.
Before 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...
the Geschwader were again transferred, this time to Holland. The principal reasons for the transfer were the reequipping of the unit and giving the pilots a chance to rest before air defence operations continued against British bombers. In a particularly devastating raid on the Soesterberg airfield, III/JG 54 suffered heavy ground crew and equipment losses. While in Holland they claimed another 21 aircraft (20 Blenheim Bombers
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
and 1 Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
)
The Battle of Britain
The Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
began in late July and early August, with the goal of destroying the RAF, a prerequisite of a land invasion of Britain. The three JG 54 Gruppen were transferred to airfields near Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
on 6 August 1940. Over the next months JG 54 would experience the most hostile fighting environment they had yet encountered. Dissatisfied with the fighter arm's performance, Göring's subsequent purge of the older peace-time Jagdgeschwader commanders in mid 1940 resulted in Major Hannes Trautloft
Hannes Trautloft
Johannes "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...
being placed in command of JG 54, replacing Major Mettig. Serving in that capacity until July 1943, Trautloft was a natural leader and left an indelible mark on JG 54 and was regarded as a leader who cared for his men. Trautloft also devised the 'Green Heart' emblem of JG 54, adopting the regional emblem of his birth place in Thüringen ('The green heart of Germany')
The Battle of Britain would prove to be costly for both the Luftwaffe and JG 54. The Geschwader lost 43 pilots, 40 percent of the pilots they began the battle with. The 3 staffel itself went from 12 pilots to 2 by the end of the Battle. JG 54 however claimed some 238 enemy aircraft destroyed. The first Knight's Cross or Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, given upon achieving 20 victories, was awarded to Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak
Dietrich Hrabak
Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II on 8 May 1945 and again in the Bundeswehr from 1955 until his retirement on 30 September 1970...
, Kommandeur II/JG 54, during the Battle on 21 October.
Aftermath of Britain and The Balkans
After the Luftwaffe's defeat, the three gruppen were all assigned to separate locations once again. I/JG 54 was assigned as a subordinate of JG 1 from [27 September], 1940 until May 1941; II/JG 54 was given winter's rest from 3 December 1940, until 23 January 1941 at Delmenhorst airfield; III/JG 54 was put on a similar rest after a short lived air defense role in Holland. II/JG54 and III/JG 54 served briefly in France at Le Mans and Cherbourg. They provided air protection over Normandy, but due to quiet conditions much of the unit's time was devoted to training. On 29 March 1941 Stab, II, and III/JG 54 were relocated to the Balkans. Conducting mostly ground attack operations on locomotives and rolling stock, they also encountered Yugoslavian BF 109Ds that had been purchased from Germany prior to hostilities. After the defeat of Yugoslavia, JG 54 traded in their Emil(109-E) model 109s for the more modern Franz(109-F) models. Reunited with I/JG 54 the unit was transferred into Prussia to begin training and preparations 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...
.
The Eastern Front
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
during the invasion of Soviet Russia
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...
on 22 June 1941 as part of the Luftwaffe's Luftflotte 1, and would remain on that part of the Eastern Front for most of its existence. The Finnish, Baltic & Leningrad Fronts were far more static in nature than other Eastern Front theatres, leading to a more stable existence for JG 54 operations, although the severe cold during the winters of 1941-44 would constantly hamper fighter operations. JG 54's operations for 1941-43 had essentially a twofold objective; to keep pressure upon the beleaguered Leningrad sector, and to reduce Soviet pressure on the Lake Ilmen
Lake Ilmen
Ilmen is a historically important lake in the Novgorod Oblast of Russia, formerly a vital part of the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks. The city of Novgorod lies six kilometers below the lake's outflow....
area at the German flank.
By 18 July the Geschwader had chalked up its 500th Soviet air claim, and on 1 August became the third Geschwader to claim 1,000 air kills.
In the period 22 June - 5 December 1941 the unit destroyed 1,078 Soviet aircraft in return for 46 losses in aerial combat and a single fighter on the ground.
Trautloft instituted the successful tactic of intercepting Soviet nuisance raiders on moonlit nights, and JG 54 claimed 56 kills in January–July 1942 while suffering no losses on these interceptions. In February 1942 alone JG 54 claimed 201 kills for 18 pilots killed. The 2,000 kill came on 4 April 1942 by Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Klemm
Rudolf Klemm
Rudolf Klemm 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...
.
JG 54 received its first Focke Wulf Fw 190's in February 1943, and on 23 February 1943, JG 54 claimed its 4,000 kill. On 7 March 1943 the unit claimed 59 aircraft shot down in one day. During 1943 a schwarm of 1./JG 54 became the most successful formation of its type in the Luftwaffe; Hpt. Walter Nowotny
Walter Nowotny
Major Walter "Nowi" Nowotny was an Austrian-born German fighter ace of World War II. He is credited with 258 aerial victories in 442 combat missions...
(257 kills), Uzz Karl Schnörrer
Karl Schnörrer
Lieutenant Karl "Quax" Schnörrer was a famous "ace" of the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He flew a total of 536 missions and recorded 46 victories....
(46), Lt Anton Döbele
Anton Döbele
Anton Döbele 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...
(94) and Lt Rudolf Rademacher
Rudolf Rademacher
Rudolf "Rudi" Rademacher was a German World War II fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(126) amassed 500 air victories between them in 1943-1944.
Trautloft left JG 54 in July 1943 when General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland
Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland was a German Luftwaffe General and flying ace who served throughout World War II in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions, and fought on the Western and the Defence of the Reich fronts...
asked him to join his staff as Inspizient Ost. (He ended the war with 57 victories and the Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
.) After his departure JG 54 continued operating on the Northern Front, and their victory tally rose continuously. The 7,000 JG 54 claim was made on 23 March 1944, with the 8,000 mark passed on 15 August.
I.,II. and IV./ JG 54 ended the war fighting around the Baltic region, supporting the troops of Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
through Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, and into the Courland Pocket
Courland Pocket
The Courland Pocket referred to the Red Army's blockade or encirclement of Axis forces on the Courland peninsula during the closing months of World War II...
of East Prussia. JG 54 could never hope to regain air superiority against the mounting number of Russian aircraft. The Russians never defeated Army Group North, which held out until the last day of the war, surrendering 210,000 Germans to the Soviets in Courland.
The remaining serviceable FW-190's were ordered fly to Flensburg
Flensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
on the Danish border, with the German Navy evacuating as many of the ground personnel as possible by ship. The JG 54 pilots, led by Oberst Dietrich Hrabak
Dietrich Hrabak
Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II on 8 May 1945 and again in the Bundeswehr from 1955 until his retirement on 30 September 1970...
, ripped out all unnecessary equipment from the fighters, allowing room to take two men, one man crouching behind the seat and the other fitting into the fuselage. In this way at least 90 JG 54 personnel escaped Russian capture.
Partial regrouping to the Western Front
In February 1943 III./JG 54 was transferred back to the west for operations against the RAF and USAAF. At first they were to operate as stand alone BF 109 unit, but later were attached to JG 26. Intensive training in the more rigorous techniques of fighting on the Western Front were only partly successful, and Oberst Josef PrillerJosef 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...
, 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 26 and charged with III gruppe's training, refused to declare the gruppe operational. III Gruppe transferred to North Germany as a result, supporting Jagdgeschwader 1
Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War 2)
Jagdgeschwader 1 was a German World War II fighter unit or "wing" which used the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft, between 1940–1944. The name of the unit derives from Jagd, meaning "hunt" and Geschwader, meaning "wing"...
. The gruppe would take several losses before acclimatising to the new theatre; two experienced III gruppe experten - Hpt Günter Fink
Günter Fink
Günter Fink 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. Günter Fink was killed on 15 May 1943 after engaging in...
and Lt. Friedrich Rupp - would be killed in action on 15 May alone. III./JG 54 would remain in the west for the rest of the war.
During the autumn of 1944, III./JG 54 was the first Luftwaffe unit to be supplied with the new Fw 190 D-9 "Dora". The D-9s were used in base defence missions for the Me 262 jets of Kommando Nowotny
Kommando Nowotny
Kommando Nowotny was a Luftwaffe fighter Gruppe formed during the last months of World War II for testing and establishing tactics for the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, and was created and first commanded by Walter Nowotny, from whom it drew its name....
, and later over North-West Europe. 68 operational aircraft were available early in December, but such were the heavy losses sustained that the gruppe was disbanded soon after. Hpt. 'Bazi' Weiß
Robert Weiß
Robert "Bazi" Weiß was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1939 until his death on 29 December 1944.- Biography :...
,(121 kills), the Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur
Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe position , that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air forces. Gruppenkommandeur usually has the rank of Hauptmann or Major, and commands a Gruppe, which is a sub-division of a Geschwader. A Gruppe usually consists of three or four...
, and 12 other pilots were killed by RAF fighters on 29 December 1944 alone.
At the end of 1944 Zerstörer Geschwader ZG 76 was disbanded and its pilots formed the nucleus of a new III./JG 54. Operating from Muncheberg
Müncheberg
Müncheberg is a small town in Märkisch-Oderland, Germany approximately half-way between Berlin and the border with Poland.-Geography:Prior to 2003 the area today covered by Müncheberg was organized as the so-called "Amt Müncheberg"...
, near Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, the unit's Fw 190s saw intensive action against Russian ground targets such as road and rail supply columns, flak positions, armour and the bridges across the River Oder. A few weeks before the war ended, the depleted III./JG 54 was disbanded, being absorbed into JG 26.
Although Luftwaffe documentation were destroyed at the end of the war surviving records indicate JG 54 lost 501 pilots killed in action and 242 pilots missing, with 40 aircrew POW. Total losses in aircraft were approximately 1071 Bf 109 and 746 FW 190.
Geschwaderkommodore
- Major Martin Mettig; 2 February 1940 to 25 August 1940
- Oberst 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...
; 25 August 1940 to 5 July 1943 - Major Hubertus von BoninHubertus von BoninHubertus von Bonin was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe until his death on 15 December 1943. 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 shooting down 77 enemy...
; 6 July 1943 to 15 December 43 - Oberstleutnant Anton MaderAnton MaderOberstleutnant Anton Mader was German World War II Luftwaffe 86 victories Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
; 28 January 1944 to September 1944 - Oberst Dietrich HrabakDietrich HrabakDietrich "Dieter" Hrabak was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II on 8 May 1945 and again in the Bundeswehr from 1955 until his retirement on 30 September 1970...
; 1 October 1944 to 8 May 1945
I./JG 54
- Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-TaubadelHans-Jürgen von Cramon-TaubadelHans-Jürgen Erdmann von Cramon-Taubadel was German Luftwaffe Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 "Pik As"...
, 15 September 1939 - Hauptmann Hubertus von BoninHubertus von BoninHubertus von Bonin was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe until his death on 15 December 1943. 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 shooting down 77 enemy...
, 28 December 1939 - Hauptmann Erich von SelleErich von SelleErich von Selle was a German Luftwaffe Flying ace during World War II. He also held various senior command positions in the Luftwaffe including Geschwaderkommodore of the Jagdgeschwader 1 fighter wing.In his private life he was married to Harda Jenny Auguste von Langendorff. The couple had 3...
, 1 July 1941 - Hauptmann Franz EckerleFranz EckerleFranz Eckerle 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...
, 20 December 1941 - Hauptmann Hans PhilippHans PhilippLieutenant Colonel Hans Philipp was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until he was killed in action 8 October 1943 by a P-47 Thunderbolt-pilot. It is believed that he was shot down by Robert S. Johnson...
, 17 February 1942 - Major Reinhard SeilerReinhard SeilerMajor Reinhard Seiler was German Spanish Civil War and World War II Luftwaffe Ace, commander of Jagdgeschwader 104 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves....
, 15 April 1943 - Major Gerhard HomuthGerhard HomuthMajor Gerhard Homuth was a German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He scored all but two of his 63 victories against the Western Allies whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109, and was one of the top scoring aces in the North African campaign.- Military career :Homuth initially served in the...
, 1 August 1943 - Hauptmann Walter NowotnyWalter NowotnyMajor Walter "Nowi" Nowotny was an Austrian-born German fighter ace of World War II. He is credited with 258 aerial victories in 442 combat missions...
, 10 August 1943 - Hauptmann Horst AdemeitHorst AdemeitHorst Ademeit Horst Ademeit Horst Ademeit (* 8 February 1912 in Breslau, † 7 August 1944 near Dünaburg (Missing in action, most likely Killed in action) 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...
, 4 February 1944 - Hauptmann Franz Eisenach, 9 August 1944
II./JG 54
- Hauptmann Wilfried Müller-Rienzburg, 1 April 1938 - 9 January 1940
- Major Albert Blumensaat, 10 January 1940 - 5 February 1940
- Major Richard Kraut, 5 February 1940 - 10 July 1940
- Hauptmann Otto Hans Winterer, 11 July 1940 - 14 August 1940
- Hauptmann Dietrich HrabakDietrich HrabakDietrich "Dieter" Hrabak was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II on 8 May 1945 and again in the Bundeswehr from 1955 until his retirement on 30 September 1970...
, 26 August 1940 - 27 October 1942 - Major Hans "Assi" Hahn, 19 November 1942 - 21 February 1943
- Hauptmann Heinrich Jung, 21 February 1943 - 30 July 1943
- Hauptmann Erich RudorfferErich RudorfferMajor Erich Rudorffer is a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace, one of a handful who served with the Luftwaffe through the whole of World War II. He is 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare, and currently both the oldest jet fighter ace, and the most successful ace still...
, 1 August 1943 - February 1945 - Hauptmann Herbert Findeisen, February 1945 - 8 May 1945
III./JG 54
- Major Martin Mettig, 15 July 1939 - 2 February 1940
- Hauptmann Fritz Ultsch, 3 February - 5 September 1940
- Oberleutnant Günther Scholz (acting), 6 September 1940 - 4 November 1940
- Hauptmann Arnold Lignitz, 4 November 1940 - 30 September 1941
- Hauptmann Reinhard SeilerReinhard SeilerMajor Reinhard Seiler was German Spanish Civil War and World War II Luftwaffe Ace, commander of Jagdgeschwader 104 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves....
, 1 October 1941 - Hauptmann Siegfried SchnellSiegfried SchnellMajor Siegfried Schnell was German World War II Luftwaffe 93 victories Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, May 1943 - Oberleutnant Rudolf Patzak (acting), February 1944
- Hauptmann Rudolf KlemmRudolf KlemmRudolf Klemm 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...
(acting), February 1944 - Hauptmann Rudolf Sinner, March 1944
- Major Reinhard Schroer, 14. March 1944
- Hauptmann Robert WeißRobert WeißRobert "Bazi" Weiß was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1939 until his death on 29 December 1944.- Biography :...
, 21. July 1944 - Oberleutnant Hans DortenmannHans DortenmannHans Dortenmann 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.Dortenmann was born 11 December 1921 at Weingarten...
(acting), January 1945 - Oberleutnant Wilhelm Heilmann (acting), January 1945
- Major Rudolf Klemm, February 1945
IV./JG 54
- Hauptmann Erich RudorfferErich RudorfferMajor Erich Rudorffer is a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace, one of a handful who served with the Luftwaffe through the whole of World War II. He is 7th most successful fighter pilot in the history of air warfare, and currently both the oldest jet fighter ace, and the most successful ace still...
, July 1943 - 30 July 1943 - Hauptmann Rudolf Sinner, August 1943 - 11 February 1944
- Hauptmann Siegfried SchnellSiegfried SchnellMajor Siegfried Schnell was German World War II Luftwaffe 93 victories Flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 11 February 1944 - 25 February 1944 - Hauptmann Gerhard Koall (acting), February 1944 - May 1944
- Major Wolfgang SpäteWolfgang SpäteMajor Wolfgang Späte was a German World War II Luftwaffe flying ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, May 1944 - 30 September 1944 - Hauptmann Rudolf Klemm, 1 October 1944 - 12 February 1945
- Hauptmann Fritz-Karl Schloßstein, March 1945 - April 1945
Knight's Cross recipients of JG 54
| Name | Knight's Cross | | Oak Leaves | | Swords | | Diamonds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Leaves with JG 52 | ||||
| Knight's Cross with JG 2 | ||||
| * | ||||
| *Oak Leaves with JG 2 | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
| * | ||||
External links
See also
- Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II