Karaya Quartet
Encyclopedia
Jagdgeschwader 50, sometimes erroneously referred to as Jagdgruppe 50, was a special high-altitude fighter unit that specialized in intercepting the Royal Air Force
's de Havilland Mosquito
light bombers during World War II
.
, the first pilot in history to achieve 200 aerial victories. Both JG 50 (and its sister unit Jagdgeschwader 25) were ultimately unsuccessful in effectively countering the Mosquito and were more profitably used for interception of the US heavy bomber
formations during the daylight offensive over Europe in 1943-44
.
JG 50 were initially equipped with eight Messerschmitt Bf 109
G-5s and Bf 109G-6s polished to increase speed, and equipped with a special tank for liquefied nitrous oxide
as part of the GM-1
engine power boosting system, which was injected directly into the supercharger intake. This allowed the pilot to boost the rated horsepower of the DB 605 engine
. Graf set a world record for high altitude flight of 46885 ft (14,290.5 m) feet in one of the modified 109s. The unit was later also equipped with specially supercharged FW-190A-5.
Graf was allowed to pick any pilots he wished for the new unit, and he chose a further three aces ObLt. Alfred Grislawski
, Obfw. Ernst Süss, and Fw. Heinrich Füllgrabe
from his old Staffel - the 9. Staffel of JG 52, also known as Karaya-Staffel, after their emblem, a heart hit by an arrow underlined with the word Karaya (which was the title of their favourite song). Collectively they were known as the "Karaya Quartet".
The unit was notorious for their indiscipline and lack of respect for authority. In his biography Alfred Grislawski wrote "In 1941 - 1943, the Karayastaffel was probably the most non-militaristic unit in the entire Wehrmacht
."
On one occasion Grislawski was threatened with a court-martial
, but the accusation was dropped when a force of U.S. bombers approached and it was realized that Grislawski was the only capable fighter leader available to co-ordinate the interception.
As a talented goalkeeper, Graf had a passion for football. Using his influence, Graf was able to arrange transfers of several serving former professional football players to JG 50. He thus formed his own soccer team, 'The Red Fighters', to play exhibition matches.
Graf was charged with assessing new methods of attacking American bomber formations. He developed the "company front" attack, and was to assess weapons the fighters could use against the bombers. JG 50 was the first formation to use the WfGr.21 rocket mortar
, with one carried under each wing. While these rockets could bring down a bomber with one hit, they were designed to disperse the tightly packed bomber formations rather than as a direct fire weapon.
On 31 July 1943 the unit was declared operational, with a total of 19 aircraft. On 17 August 1943 the unit was one of those who intercepted American bomber forces attacking the Messerschmitt
factory in Regensburg
and the ball bearing plants in Schweinfurt
. Grislawski claimed two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses downed on this raid. On 6 September the unit's pilots shot down four Flying Fortresses over Stuttgart
, one to Grislawski, and two claimed by Graf with the WfGr.21, who was then shot down but survived a forced landing. Grislawski claimed one other kill with the unit, a B-17 on 14 October.
In around four months of operations Graf was the sole pilot of JG 50 to down a Mosquito, which he caught after loitering at 30,000 feet over Groningen.
By October, JG 50 had been disbanded and merged with I Gruppe, JG 301
. Graf was appointed commander of JG 11
in November 1943. On 6 November 1943 Grislawski was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 1
based at Deelen
, Holland.
By the end of the war only two of the Karaya Quartet had survived. Ernst Süss was shot dead by U.S. fighters while parachuting, and Heinrich Füllgrabe was killed in action on the Eastern Front
during the last days of the war.
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...
's de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
light bombers during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
History
On 21 July 1943, Jagdgruppe Süd der ObdL was formed as a high-altitude fighter unit to combat the RAF's Mosquito twin-engine bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. On 15 August 1943 the unit was redesignated Jagdgeschwader 50 and was commanded by Major Hermann GrafHermann Graf
Colonel Hermann Graf was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. He served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts...
, the first pilot in history to achieve 200 aerial victories. Both JG 50 (and its sister unit Jagdgeschwader 25) were ultimately unsuccessful in effectively countering the Mosquito and were more profitably used for interception of the US heavy bomber
Heavy bomber
A heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
formations during the daylight offensive over Europe in 1943-44
Combined Bomber Offensive
The Combined Bomber Offensive was an Anglo-American offensive of strategic bombing during World War II in Europe. The primary portion of the CBO was against German Air Force targets which was the highest priority from June 1943 to 1944...
.
JG 50 were initially equipped with eight 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-5s and Bf 109G-6s polished to increase speed, and equipped with a special tank for liquefied nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or sweet air, is a chemical compound with the formula . It is an oxide of nitrogen. At room temperature, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic...
as part of the GM-1
GM-1
GM-1 , colloquially known as Haha-Gerät was a system for injecting nitrous oxide into aircraft engines that was used by the Luftwaffe in World War II. This increased the amount of oxygen in the fuel mixture, and thereby improve high-altitude performance...
engine power boosting system, which was injected directly into the supercharger intake. This allowed the pilot to boost the rated horsepower of the DB 605 engine
Daimler-Benz DB 605
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9* Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London. Studio Editions Ltd, 1989. ISBN 0-517-67964-7...
. Graf set a world record for high altitude flight of 46885 ft (14,290.5 m) feet in one of the modified 109s. The unit was later also equipped with specially supercharged FW-190A-5.
Graf was allowed to pick any pilots he wished for the new unit, and he chose a further three aces ObLt. Alfred Grislawski
Alfred Grislawski
Alfred Grislawski 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. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
, Obfw. Ernst Süss, and Fw. Heinrich Füllgrabe
Heinrich Füllgrabe
Heinrich Füllgrabe was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II...
from his old Staffel - the 9. Staffel of JG 52, also known as Karaya-Staffel, after their emblem, a heart hit by an arrow underlined with the word Karaya (which was the title of their favourite song). Collectively they were known as the "Karaya Quartet".
The unit was notorious for their indiscipline and lack of respect for authority. In his biography Alfred Grislawski wrote "In 1941 - 1943, the Karayastaffel was probably the most non-militaristic unit in the entire Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
."
On one occasion Grislawski was threatened with a court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
, but the accusation was dropped when a force of U.S. bombers approached and it was realized that Grislawski was the only capable fighter leader available to co-ordinate the interception.
As a talented goalkeeper, Graf had a passion for football. Using his influence, Graf was able to arrange transfers of several serving former professional football players to JG 50. He thus formed his own soccer team, 'The Red Fighters', to play exhibition matches.
Graf was charged with assessing new methods of attacking American bomber formations. He developed the "company front" attack, and was to assess weapons the fighters could use against the bombers. JG 50 was the first formation to use the WfGr.21 rocket mortar
WGr 21 rocket launcher
The Werfer-Granate 21 rocket launcher, also known as the BR 21 in official Luftwaffe manuals, was a weapon used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II and was the first on-board rocket in service by the Luftwaffe and was introduced in mid 1943. The weapon was developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig...
, with one carried under each wing. While these rockets could bring down a bomber with one hit, they were designed to disperse the tightly packed bomber formations rather than as a direct fire weapon.
On 31 July 1943 the unit was declared operational, with a total of 19 aircraft. On 17 August 1943 the unit was one of those who intercepted American bomber forces attacking the Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt AG was a famous German aircraft manufacturing corporation named for its chief designer, Willy Messerschmitt, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, notably the Bf 109 and Me 262...
factory in Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
and the ball bearing plants in Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
. Grislawski claimed two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses downed on this raid. On 6 September the unit's pilots shot down four Flying Fortresses over Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, one to Grislawski, and two claimed by Graf with the WfGr.21, who was then shot down but survived a forced landing. Grislawski claimed one other kill with the unit, a B-17 on 14 October.
In around four months of operations Graf was the sole pilot of JG 50 to down a Mosquito, which he caught after loitering at 30,000 feet over Groningen.
By October, JG 50 had been disbanded and merged with I Gruppe, JG 301
Jagdgeschwader 301
Jagdgeschwader 301 was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. The order to form JG 301 was issued on 26 September 1943 and formed on 1 October 1943 in Neubiberg with Stab and three Gruppen as a "Wilde Sau" single-seat night fighter unit.The Geschwader was equipped with the Bf 109G and was...
. Graf was appointed commander of JG 11
Jagdgeschwader 11
Jagdgeschwader 11 was a German fighter wing of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Its primary role was the defense of Northern Germany against Allied day bomber raids...
in November 1943. On 6 November 1943 Grislawski was appointed Staffelkapitän of 1./JG 1
Jagdgeschwader 1
Jagdgeschwader 1 may refer to one of two German military units:*Jagdgeschwader 1 , a unit of the Luftstreitkräfte in World War I, commanded by Manfred von Richthofen ; also known as Jagdgeschwader 1 Flying Circus...
based at Deelen
Deelen
Deelen is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is largely located in the municipality of Ede, Netherlands, but a small part lies in the municipality of Arnhem.Deelen is best known for the Deelen Air Base, a military airfield close to the village....
, Holland.
By the end of the war only two of the Karaya Quartet had survived. Ernst Süss was shot dead by U.S. fighters while parachuting, and Heinrich Füllgrabe was killed in action 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...
during the last days of the war.