Jagdgeschwader 6
Encyclopedia
Jagdgeschwader 6 Horst Wessel
was a Luftwaffe
fighter
-wing
of World War II
. The first Geschwaderkommodore
was Oberstleutnant
Johann Kogler who became a POW during the Operation Bodenplatte
when he crashed and was taken prisoner by British troops on 1 January 1945.
JG 6 was created on October 13, 1944 from the remnants of the Messerschmitt Bf 110
equipped unit Zerstörergeschwader 26
(ZG 26, 26th Destroyer Wing) which had suffered severe losses as a bomber-destroyer unit in the Defence of the Reich during early 1944 against the Allied bomber offensive. JG 6 inherited the honorific name Horst Wessel from the Zerstörergeschwader it was created from.
airfield onto the Focke-Wulf Fw 190
, with an intended role as air superiority fighters and ground attack. For the latter role the aircraft were fitted with tubular launchers for the Werfer-Granate 21, 21 cm Nebelwerfer
based mortar rockets. The third group was immediately renamed Kommando Nowotny
and replaced by another group with 4 Staffel
n, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
G.
With the minimum of training JG 6 then served on the Western Front up until the end of the war in May 1945.
JG 6 were initially based near Charleville
from 21 August. In the months after the Normandy invasion the numerically superior Allied fighter forces had destroyed most Luftwaffe fighter units sent against them over the expanding beachhead. JG 6 proved no exception, its inexperienced pilots suffering heavy casualties.
On 25 August 1944 the 367th Fighter Group
(367th FG), flying P-38 Lightning
s, was sent to bomb three airfields at Péronne
, Rosières-en-Santerre
and Clastres
. The attack force at Clastres
encountered over 40 FW 190's of II./JG 6, flying together as a gruppe for the first time. During the ensuing dogfight the 33 P-38's of the 367th FG lost 7 P-38s (II./JG 6 claimed 11 destroyed) while II./JG 6 lost 16 FW 190s destroyed and 14 pilots killed. (The 367th FG claimed 20 destroyed). Amongst those killed was Staffelkapitän
of 8th Staffel, Leutnant Rudi Dassow, one of the most successful twin-engined experten with 22 kills.
II./JG 6 could only field five serviceable aircraft next day and were reduced to a single serviceable Fw 190 after just five days of operations.
II./JG 6 lost some 10 pilots killed or missing on 1 January 1945 during Operation Bodenplatte
, including the Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 6 Hptm. Norbert Katz and Kommodore Obstlt. Johann Kogler, who became a POW after his Fw 190 A-9 was shot down by AA fire North West of Venlo
. To replace Kogler in mid-January 1945 Gerhard Barkhorn
was assigned as Geschwaderkommodore. However Barkhorn did not remain in this position for long, being forced to take a medical absence because of physical and mental strain.
Late in January 1945 JG 6 was among several units switched to the Oder Front, flying ground strafing operations against the advancing Soviet forces. The first Focke Wulf Fw190D-9's were operational within JG 6 at the end of January 1945.
III./JG 6 was dissolved on 4 April 1945.
JG 6 was based in Czechoslovakia at the war's end. On 8 May 1945 some pilots flew all serviceable D-9s remaining into Fürth
airfield in southern Germany, and surrendered to the 10th Reconnaissance Group of the U.S. Army based there.
Horst Wessel
Horst Ludwig Wessel was a German Nazi activist who was made a posthumous hero of the Nazi movement following his violent death in 1930...
was a Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
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...
. The first 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...
was 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...
Johann Kogler who became a POW during the Operation Bodenplatte
Operation Bodenplatte
Operation Bodenplatte launched on 1 January 1945, was an attempt by the Luftwaffe to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries during the Second World War. The goal of Bodenplatte was to gain air superiority during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge, to allow the German Army and...
when he crashed and was taken prisoner by British troops on 1 January 1945.
JG 6 was created on October 13, 1944 from the remnants of the Messerschmitt Bf 110
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten...
equipped unit Zerstörergeschwader 26
Zerstörergeschwader 26
Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft-wing of World War II.-History:Zerstörergeschwader 26 was formed in early 1936 from the Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel". The Geschwaderstab and I. Gruppe was located in Dortmund, II. Gruppe in Werl and III....
(ZG 26, 26th Destroyer Wing) which had suffered severe losses as a bomber-destroyer unit in the Defence of the Reich during early 1944 against the Allied bomber offensive. JG 6 inherited the honorific name Horst Wessel from the Zerstörergeschwader it was created from.
Operational Service
In July 1944 the unit hastily converted at their Königsberg/OderChojna
Chojna is a small town in western Poland in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It lies approximately 60 km south of Szczecin and participates in the Douzelage....
airfield onto 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...
, with an intended role as air superiority fighters and ground attack. For the latter role the aircraft were fitted with tubular launchers for the Werfer-Granate 21, 21 cm Nebelwerfer
Nebelwerfer
The Nebelwerfer was a World War II German series of weapons originally designed to deliver chemical weapons. They were initially developed by and assigned to the Wehrmacht's so-called Chemical Troops ...
based mortar rockets. The third group was immediately renamed 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 replaced by another group with 4 Staffel
Staffel
Staffel may refer to:* Staffel** Staffelkapitän, a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe** Schutz Staffel** DDR-Liga Staffel A** 5th Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 200, an unit** Propaganda-Staffel- Family name :...
n, flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
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...
G.
With the minimum of training JG 6 then served on the Western Front up until the end of the war in May 1945.
JG 6 were initially based near Charleville
Charleville
Charleville can refer to:* Charleville, County Cork, a town in Ireland**Charleville railway station**Charleville GAA**Charleville * Charleville, Queensland, a town in Australia...
from 21 August. In the months after the Normandy invasion the numerically superior Allied fighter forces had destroyed most Luftwaffe fighter units sent against them over the expanding beachhead. JG 6 proved no exception, its inexperienced pilots suffering heavy casualties.
On 25 August 1944 the 367th Fighter Group
367th Fighter Group
The 367th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with XII Tactical Air Command stationed at Seymour Johnson Field , North Carolina...
(367th FG), flying P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
s, was sent to bomb three airfields at Péronne
Péronne-en-Mélantois
-References:*...
, Rosières-en-Santerre
Rosières-en-Santerre
Rosières-en-Santerre is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated some southeast of Amiens, at the junction of the D28 and D329 roadsnext to the Mcdonalds-Population:-Places of interest:...
and Clastres
Clastres
Clastres is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
. The attack force at Clastres
Clastres
Clastres is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
encountered over 40 FW 190's of II./JG 6, flying together as a gruppe for the first time. During the ensuing dogfight the 33 P-38's of the 367th FG lost 7 P-38s (II./JG 6 claimed 11 destroyed) while II./JG 6 lost 16 FW 190s destroyed and 14 pilots killed. (The 367th FG claimed 20 destroyed). Amongst those killed was 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....
of 8th Staffel, Leutnant Rudi Dassow, one of the most successful twin-engined experten with 22 kills.
II./JG 6 could only field five serviceable aircraft next day and were reduced to a single serviceable Fw 190 after just five days of operations.
II./JG 6 lost some 10 pilots killed or missing on 1 January 1945 during Operation Bodenplatte
Operation Bodenplatte
Operation Bodenplatte launched on 1 January 1945, was an attempt by the Luftwaffe to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries during the Second World War. The goal of Bodenplatte was to gain air superiority during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge, to allow the German Army and...
, including the Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 6 Hptm. Norbert Katz and Kommodore Obstlt. Johann Kogler, who became a POW after his Fw 190 A-9 was shot down by AA fire North West of Venlo
Venlo
Venlo is a municipality and a city in the southeastern Netherlands, next to the German border. It is situated in the province of Limburg.In 2001, the municipalities of Belfeld and Tegelen were merged into the municipality of Venlo. Tegelen was originally part of the Duchy of Jülich centuries ago,...
. To replace Kogler in mid-January 1945 Gerhard Barkhorn
Gerhard Barkhorn
Lieutenant-General Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn , was the second most successful fighter ace of all time after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann...
was assigned as Geschwaderkommodore. However Barkhorn did not remain in this position for long, being forced to take a medical absence because of physical and mental strain.
Late in January 1945 JG 6 was among several units switched to the Oder Front, flying ground strafing operations against the advancing Soviet forces. The first Focke Wulf Fw190D-9's were operational within JG 6 at the end of January 1945.
III./JG 6 was dissolved on 4 April 1945.
JG 6 was based in Czechoslovakia at the war's end. On 8 May 1945 some pilots flew all serviceable D-9s remaining into Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
airfield in southern Germany, and surrendered to the 10th Reconnaissance Group of the U.S. Army based there.
Geschwaderkommodore
- Oberstleutnant Johann Kogler, July 1944 – 1 January 1945
- Major Gerhard BarkhornGerhard BarkhornLieutenant-General Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn , was the second most successful fighter ace of all time after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann...
, 16 January 1945 – 10 April 1945 - Major Gerhard SchöpfelGerhard SchöpfelGerhard Schöpfel was a German World War II Luftwaffe 45-victory flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He held the position of Geschwaderkommodore of fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 26....
, 10 April 1945 – 17 April 1945 - Major 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...
, 17 April 1945 – 8 May 1945
I./JG 6
- Hauptmann Willi Elstermann 1 November 1944 – 2 February 1945
- Major Otto BertramOtto BertramOtto Bertram was a was a German Spanish Civil War and World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until the end of World War II...
, February 1945 – May 1945
III./JG 6
- Hauptmann Theodor WeissenbergerTheodor WeissenbergerMajor Theodor Weissenberger was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the end of World War II in 1945. He flew more than 500 combat missions claiming 208 enemy aircraft shot down...
, 14 October 1944 – 24 November 1944 - Major Kühle, November 1944
- Hauptmann Kurt Müller, 21 January 1945 – 4 April 1945