Zerstörergeschwader 26
Encyclopedia
Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe
heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft
-wing
of World War II
.
"Horst Wessel". The Geschwaderstab
and I. Gruppe was located in Dortmund
, II. Gruppe in Werl
and III. Gruppe in Lippstadt
. The Geschwader was subordinated to Luftflotte 2
. The Geschwader was re-equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110
shortly before the outbreak of World War II
.
duties during the Invasion of Poland. The II. Gruppe was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109
and was also known as Jagdgruppe 126 until 1 February 1940.
On 29 September 1939 ZG 26 achieved their first victories when 3. Staffel shot down 5 Royal Air Force
(RAF) Hampden
twin-engine bombers of No. 144 Squadron, Leutnant Günther Specht
claiming 2. On 3 December 1939, Specht shot down a No. 38 Squadron
Wellington
bomber over the North Sea
. However, return fire seriously wounding him in the left eye and he ditched safely in the sea. Although Specht lost the sight in his left eye he continued operational flying.
from May-June 1940. 12 May saw III./ZG 26 in action and the Gruppe claimed 8 enemy aircraft shot down for no loss. On 14 May the Allied Air Forces launched a series of desperate attacks against the bridges around Sedan
at a heavy cost. ZG 26 helped provide air cover. The next day conflicts with fighters caused 2 aircraft of 2./ZG26 to be shot down and 2 more returned damaged with wounded on board. Among the ZG 26 losses was that of I. Gruppe Gruppenadjutant Oblt. Hans-Gunther Koch, who was killed in action. Both Hptm. Herbert Kaminski, the Staffelkapitän of 2./ZG 26 and his Bordfunker returned to base wounded. On 18 May further heavy combat resulted in losses for ZG 26, among these being 5 Staffel CO Hptm. Eberhard d'Elsa, who was taken prisoner and returned later from captivity, though such were his injuries that he did not return to flying duties.
By 19 May 5./ZG 26 had only 3 serviceable Bf-110’s available. Led by their new Staffelkapitän
, Oblt. Theodor Rossiwall
, they were soon engaged in combat with Allied fighters, and III./ZG 26 claimed some 19 victories for the day. 9 more victories followed the next day, although 7./ZG 26 had Staffelkapitän Oblt. Kurt-Wilhelm Heinrich wounded, dying of his injuries on 24 May. The Geschwader was now encountering more and more RAF fighters as the German advance moved towards the beleaguered B.E.F. around Dunkirk. On 23 May Lt. Specht shot down 3 Spitfires of No. 92 Squadron ( two were lost, one of which was flown by S/L. Roger Bushell
who was made prisoner) . However, his aircraft was damaged in the dogfight, Specht forced-landing with serious wounds, which would keep him from combat duty for some time. 6 more RAF fighter were claimed on 27 May, while on 31 May 5./ZG 26 'bounced' a formation of unsuspecting Spitfires and claimed 5 victories for no loss. Following the successful Dunkirk evacuation, the Luftwaffe turned to the drive south and west into France. ZG 26 claimed numerous more victories over RAF and French Air Force aircraft, with 8 victories on 3 June,and 9 more on 14 June.
With the battle won ZG 26 moved into airfields based around Crecy-en-Ponthieu
, Lille
, and Yvrench
.
On 11 August convoy 'Booty' was the target for fighter-bomber unit Erpr.Gr.210, with escort provided by I./ZG 26. 1.Staffel lost 2 aircraft, with 2 Bf-110’s from 2.Staffel, returning to France with heavy damage. 1./ZG 26 Staffelkapitän Hptm. Johann Kogler, spent several days adrift in the North Sea before being rescued by the German air-sea rescue service.
'Adlertag' on 13 August, got off to the bad start when, due to poor weather all morning attacks were cancelled. However, although the recall order reached the Bf-110 of ZG 26, the Do 17s of KG 2 they were escorting did not receive the order. Frantic attempts by the Zerstörer crews to alert the Do-17s to turn back proved fruitless and the Dorniers continued to their target. ZG 26 returned to base, leaving KG 2 to press on alone.
Later in the day Erpr.Gr.210 took off to attack on Rochford
airfield, escorted by I./ZG 26. Weather conditions at this time of day were no better than in the morning and the mission was aborted, Erpr.Gr.210 releasing its bombs over Canterbury and returning to base. I./ZG 26 ran into the Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron and, for the loss of one Bf-110, claimed 4 shot down.
On 18 August the Bf-110s of ZG 26 escorted bombers to the airfields of Biggin Hill
and Kenley
. ZG 26 took heavy losses from the RAF fighters, and 9 Bf-110’s were shot down, including those of I.Gruppe Adjutant, Oblt. Rudiger Proske (taken prisoner), and the 3.Staffel Staffelkapitän Oblt. Hans-Jurgen Kirchoff (killed). In late afternoon ZG 26 escorted a force of bombers to attack Hornchurch
and North Weald and again, the Zerstörer suffered losses. The Staffelkapitän of 2./ZG 26 Hptm. Herbert Kaminski ditched into the North Sea and, with his Bordfunker spent four days in a dinghy before being rescued. ZG 26 had 13 Bf-110’s shot down, 6 crash landing back in France, with 2 'write-offs' while claiming 25 RAF fighters shot down. ZG 26 lost another 3 on 26 August.
On 2 September I. and II. Gruppen escorted a raid targeted at airfields near the Thames. The bomber force reached its objectives with only one bomber was shot down, and ZG 26 lost 2 shot down, with another returning with combat damage. On 6 September ZG 26 also lost Oblt. Friedrich Viertel, the Geschwader Technical Officer, who survived as a prisoner after being shot down into the Channel, with 3. and 7. Staffeln each losing a Bf-110. On 11 September, in further raids against London, the main Zerstörer escort force was ZG 26, with elements of V.(Z)/LG 1, and II. and III./ZG 76 also taking part. ZG 26 took most losses, losing 5 aircraft.
On 25 September ZG 26 provided fighter cover for KG 55 attacking the Bristol Aeroplane works at Filton. The bombers reached their objective while the ZG 26 tangled with defending fighters. III Gruppe lost 2 Bf-110’s, while Staffelkapitain 7.Staffel, Oblt. Ernst Matthes force-landed. During an escort mission with Erpr.Gr.210, the next day ZG 26 suffered the loss of 2 more Bf-110’s.
On 7 October III./ZG 26 provided escort for the Ju-88s of 11./ KG 51 attacking the Westland aircraft works at Yeovil
. Strong RAF resistance hit ZG 26 hard, with II Gruppe losing 3 aircraft shot down and III Gruppe losing 4.
Overall, operations against the UK during the Battle of Britain
had showed up the vulnerability of the Bf 110 to a well organised, modern single-seat fighter force, ZG 26 losing some 95 aircraft during the July-December 1940 period , with over 118 aircrew killed or prisoner..
Despite the heavy losses the unit did produce some successful Experten, with Fw. Walter Scherer of III Gruppe claiming 10 victories and Lt. Sophus Baagoe
claiming 9. Major Johann Schalk
and Lt. Botho Sommer also reached 'ace' status. In 7. Staffel Lt. Kuno-Adalbert Konopka and Fw. Helmut Haugk both had over 5 claims, while 8. Staffel's Lt. Siegfried Kuhrke scored 5.
, the three Gruppen of ZG 26 remained intact and were withdrawn to Germany to rest and re-equip in November and December 1940. The Geschwader would see service on all fronts in the years to come.
Many of the Zerstörergeschwadern previously employed on day operations were now converted into the night fighter role for home defence. However, the proposed re-designation of I. and II./ZG 26 as I. and II./NJG 4 was suspended, and these two Gruppen formed part of the aerial support provided by the Luftwaffe for the forthcoming Balkans campaign.
VIII. Fliegerkorps
assembled the attacking force, including ZG 26 for the offensive to begin on 6 April, I./ZG 26 escorting to bombers attacking Belgrade
. Encountering Bf-109Es of the Yugoslavian Air Force, 2 enemy machines were claimed shot down, but the Zerstörer lost 5 in return. In the south, II./ZG 26 lost two Bf-110s while III./ZG 26 also claimed 2 Yugoslavian Air Force Bf-109s.
The end of the first day broke the resistance of the Yugoslavian air force and the Zerstörers switched to attacking ground targets in support of the advancing German troops.
On 31 January, III./ZG 26 became the first Luftwaffe unit to go to North Africa. Under Major Karl Kaschka, the unit transferred to Castel Benito, Sirte
, and Arco Philaenorum. A Bf-110 from the Gruppe which became the first German aircraft to be lost in North Africa when it forced-landed behind British lines on 14 February.
III gruppe then took part in the successful invasion of Greece. On 20 April a force from II./ZG 26 tangled with Hurricanes over Piraus. II. Gruppe lost two Bf-110s, but made 5 victory claims over the Hurricanes, including Squadron Leader 'Pat' Pattle of No. 33 Squadron, arguably the top scoring RAF pilot of the War, with a score of 40-50. As the Luftwaffe gained air superiority , strafing attacks on airfields increased and losses increased to AA and small arms fire. On 27 April Bf-110s of I./ZG 26 caught a large body of troops in the open and were able to carry out a devastating attack in return for 2 Bf-110s crash-landed.
With the closing of the campaign in Greece, attention now turned in support of the invasion of Crete
On 14 May 1941, Oberleutnant Baagoe (14 kills) was strafing the airfield at Heraklion
when his Bf 110 D-3 was shot down into the sea. He was to be awarded the Ritterkreuz posthumously a month later. On 21 May, another irreplaceable experten, the Gruppenkommandeur
of I./ZG 26, Hptm. Wilhelm Makrocki was killed when his Bf 110 D-3 was hit by exploding debris from a small ship he was attacking, and he crashed into the sea.
Parallel to this activity 7./ZG 26 was posted to Sicily early 1941 in order to protect supply routes from Italy to North Africa, and to attack enemy shipping, reconnaissance missions and convoy patrols, in addition to supporting the ground forces in North Africa. The unit also participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia and flew missions over Malta.
By June 1941 III./ZG 26 were based at Derna in North Africa and part of Fliegerfuhrer Afrika
, supporting the Axis ground forces. In December 1941, 7./ZG 26 joined the rest of III gruppe at Derna to counter the Allied ground offensive codenamed "Operation Crusader
".
Given its harbour facilities, the Axis siege of the Allied port of Tobruk
was vital to the African theatre of operations as 1941 wore on. 7. and 9. Staffeln of ZG 26 were based in Sicily and Crete during the summer, and 8. Staffel claimed the most air kills, with most of the aerial action over Sidi Barrani. Ofw. Richard Heller (8./ZG 26) was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 21 August with his tally at 11, having claimed III. Gruppe’s 200th victory earlier in the month.
The counter-attack from Allied ground forces took place in November under the code name "Operation Crusader". Aerial combat was intense, and on 4 December Gruppenkommandeur Major Karl Kaschka was shot down. His successor Hptm. Thomas Steinberger lasted until 24 December he was lost on a ferry flight. Hptm. Georg Christl became the third Gruppenkommandeur of III./ZG 26 in weeks.
Hauptmann Georg Christl was awarded the Ritterkreuz for his leadership during the desert campaign on 18 March 1942. on 23 October the Third Battle of El Alamein commenced a major Allied advances occurred into November. III./ZG 26 carried out bombing and strafing attacks. A heavy loss occurred on 4 December when a Ju 52 carrying essential ground personnel was shot down.
By late 1942 III./ZG 26 was based in Sicily. Leutnant Paul Bley was posted to 8./ZG 26, and was particularly successful against the United States Army Air Forces
's (USAAF) P-38 Lightning
twin-engine fighters, claiming at least five of the type in early 1943. Bley was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./ZG 26 in 1943.
Allied landings in Morocco and Algeria in November 1942 saw American forces entering combat, for the first time. III./ZG 26, saw losses increase as modern Allied fighters in increasing numbers were encountered. Convoy cover and transport escort duties continued, with III gruppe where possible attacking American bombers seeking out the German convoys. On 3 February 4 Bf-110s attacking a formation of B-26s were bounced by the P-38 escort. Only Fw. Wegmann managed to escape. On 5 April, a formation of Ju 52/3ms attempting to take supplies to the Afrika Korps was intercepted by P-38s. The 18 Luftwaffe escort was overwhelmed when a further force of 26 P-38s entered the fray. 2 Bf110s were lost in addition to 14 Ju52s . 18 April saw a Ju 52/3m force attacked by British and American fighters, resulting in a loss of 24 Ju52s and 10 escorts. The air war was being lost by the Luftwaffe , and the likes of the Bf-110s of III./ZG 26 were taking unsustainable losses.
The gruppe moved to Rome before being transferred back to the Reich in July 1943.
During this initial period the I. Gruppe claimed 51 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 11 aircraft shot down in aerial combat. Kaminski was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 6 August for 5 victories.
ZG 26 were soon transferred North to support the drive towards Leningrad
. By August I. and II./ZG 26 were operating from Sarudinye, and later Smolensk. Their role was again multi-functional- to attack enemy forces, airfields, tank and artillery concentrations, communications networks, and the rail and river network bringing supplies to the beleaguered city.
Through the winter of 1941-42 the two Gruppen were rotated between the Eastern Front and Germany, and on 27 January 1942 that 1./ZG26 lost its commander Hptm. Wilhelm Spies
, who was shot down on a low-level attack south-west of Suchinitschi. Another was Ritterkruez holder Lt. Eduard Meyer
, killed in a mid-air collision on 31 March 1942.
Shortly afterwards, both Gruppen returned to Germany where the Gruppen were disbanded.
On the far northern Russian Front, in July 1944 13.(Z) JG 5 was redesignated 10./ZG 26, part of the new IV. Gruppe of ZG 26, retaining its base as Herdla
. The new 12 Staffel was also equipped with the Bf-110, being based at Oerlandet. By November, the Staffel was based at Trondheim. A further re-designation took place in February 1945 when the 10 and 12 Staffeln of ZG 26 were incorporated into 7./JG 5, part of the new 11./ JG 5.
. III. Gruppe remained the sole autonomous Gruppe while the other Gruppen were integrated into Zerstörergeschwader 2 and Zerstörergeschwader 3.
The II. Gruppe was re-equipped with the Messerschmitt Me 410
Hornisse. In October 1943, Hauptmann Eduard Tratt
was appointed Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG 26. On 29 November, he shot down a USAAF B-17 as his 30th victory.
ZG 26 meanwhile was soon in action against the bombers of the USAAF Eight Air Force. ZG 26 claimed some 19 bombers downed on 8 October, while intercepting a raid against Münster
on 10 October, II. and III. Gruppen suffered moderate losses but claimed 18 bombers in return. Four days later, ZG 26 took part in inflicting heavy losses on American bombers during the raid on Schweinfurt
, claiming 10 victories. ZG 26's conflict against the USAAF day bombers was infrequent, although on 29 November 1943 6 bombers of the 95th Bomb Group
were downed over Bremen
by a frontal Werfer-Granate 21
rocket attack by six Me 410's (9 were claimed) and on 16 March 1944 18 bombers were downed over Augsburg
.
III./ZG 26 under Major Johann Kogler ,was based in Wunstorf
during early 1944, with Bf 110's armed with two 30mm and four 20mm cannon ( two in a ventral fuselage gun pod
) , and four Werfer-Granate 21 210mm rocket launchers, designed to break up the massed bomber formations from long range. ZG 26's Me 410s also gradually took on added weight with extra cannon and rockets, culminating in the fitting of a bomb-bay mount 50 mm Bordkanone BK 5 cannon
( with 21 rounds) on the Me 410A-1/U4 aircraft on duty.
Burdened by such equipment the Zerstöreren compromised high altitude performance and rendered the aircraft highly vulnerable when caught by the Allied fighter escorts. On 20 February, 16 Bf 110G's of III Gruppe were intercepted by the P-47 Thunderbolt
s of the 56th Fighter Group, losing 11 aircraft shot down. Two more were lost on 22 February in addition to Hauptmann Tratt, who was shot down and killed in combat over Nordhausen
flying a Me 410 A-1. He was posthumously awarded the Eichenlaub on 26 March and promoted to Major. Tratt was the highest scoring Zerstörer pilot of the war.
Berlin was the target of the American 'heavies' for the first time on 6 March, and interception was made by ZG 26 who claimed 8 bombers destroyed. However, II. and III./ZG 26 lost 11 out of the 17 aircraft deployed, a crippling loss rate; I. and III.Gruppen of ZG 26 were withdrawn to Konigsberg, where they began conversion to the Me 410. On 11 April II./ZG 26 downed ten B-17s without any losses, although their second sortie of the day ZG 26 was intercepted by strong formations of escorting P-51s that shot down 8 Me 410s and 3 Bf 110s; 16 crewman were killed, and 3 wounded.
I and II./ZG 26 claimed another 16 bombers down over the North Baltic coast on 29 May 1944.
By June 1944 the 35 operational Me 410B-2s of Stab, I and II./ZG 26 were based at Konigsburg-Neumark, while 7. ZG 26 (still flying Bf 110-G) were at Fels am Wagram
. The Geschwader was disbanded in late July 1944, with II. Gruppe and III. Gruppe remustered to II. Gruppe and III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 6
during the summer of 1944. The IV. Gruppe was created on 5 September 1944 in Norway.
The pilots integrated into Jagdgeschwader 6
took heavy casualties through 1944 during operations against the Allied day bomber offensive.
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....
heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft
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...
.
History
Zerstörergeschwader 26 was formed in early 1936 from the Jagdgeschwader 134Jagdgeschwader 134
Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing prior to World War II. JG 134 was formed on 4 January 1936 with III. Gruppe in Döberitz. The Geschwader was given the honorific name Horst Wessel on 24 March 1936. II Gruppe was formed on 15 March 1936 in Werl and was followed by the...
"Horst Wessel". The Geschwaderstab
Stab (Luftwaffe designation)
During World War II, the suffix Stab was used in the German Luftwaffe to designate a headquarters unit. This applied to subordinate units in each Gruppe or Geschwader — the equivalent units to wings and groups in other air forces.These command units used the green colour of their aircraft...
and I. Gruppe was located in Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, II. Gruppe in Werl
Werl
Werl is a town located in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Werl is easily accessible because it is located between the Sauerland, Münsterland, and the Ruhr Area...
and III. Gruppe in Lippstadt
Lippstadt
Lippstadt is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the largest town within the district of Soest.-Geography:Lippstadt is situated in the Lippe valley, roughly 70 kilometres east of Dortmund and roughly 30 kilometres west of Paderborn...
. The Geschwader was subordinated to 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...
. The Geschwader was re-equipped with 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...
shortly before the outbreak 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...
.
Early war years, 1940-41
ZG 26 was tasked with 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...
duties during the Invasion of Poland. The II. Gruppe was equipped with 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...
and was also known as Jagdgruppe 126 until 1 February 1940.
On 29 September 1939 ZG 26 achieved their first victories when 3. Staffel shot down 5 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...
(RAF) Hampden
Handley Page Hampden
The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force serving in the Second World War. With the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane...
twin-engine bombers of No. 144 Squadron, Leutnant Günther Specht
Günther Specht
Günther Specht was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II.Specht joined the heavy fighter wing "Horst Wessel" in early 1939. The unit was initially equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109s and later with the Bf 110. In 1939 he was wounded by an RAF tail gunner and blinded in one eye...
claiming 2. On 3 December 1939, Specht shot down a No. 38 Squadron
No. 38 Squadron RAF
No. 38 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a bomber squadron formed in 1916 and was disbanded for the last time in 1967.-World War I :...
Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
bomber over the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. However, return fire seriously wounding him in the left eye and he ditched safely in the sea. Although Specht lost the sight in his left eye he continued operational flying.
Battle of France 1940
The unit took part in the Battle of FranceBattle 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...
from May-June 1940. 12 May saw III./ZG 26 in action and the Gruppe claimed 8 enemy aircraft shot down for no loss. On 14 May the Allied Air Forces launched a series of desperate attacks against the bridges around Sedan
Sedan, France
Sedan is a commune in France, a sub-prefecture of the Ardennes department in northern France.-Geography:The historic centre is built on a peninsula formed by an arc of the Meuse River. It is around from the Belgian border.-History:...
at a heavy cost. ZG 26 helped provide air cover. The next day conflicts with fighters caused 2 aircraft of 2./ZG26 to be shot down and 2 more returned damaged with wounded on board. Among the ZG 26 losses was that of I. Gruppe Gruppenadjutant Oblt. Hans-Gunther Koch, who was killed in action. Both Hptm. Herbert Kaminski, the Staffelkapitän of 2./ZG 26 and his Bordfunker returned to base wounded. On 18 May further heavy combat resulted in losses for ZG 26, among these being 5 Staffel CO Hptm. Eberhard d'Elsa, who was taken prisoner and returned later from captivity, though such were his injuries that he did not return to flying duties.
By 19 May 5./ZG 26 had only 3 serviceable Bf-110’s available. Led by their new 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....
, Oblt. Theodor Rossiwall
Theodor Rossiwall
Theodor Rossiwall was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Rossiwall claimed 19 aircraft shot down in over 400 missions...
, they were soon engaged in combat with Allied fighters, and III./ZG 26 claimed some 19 victories for the day. 9 more victories followed the next day, although 7./ZG 26 had Staffelkapitän Oblt. Kurt-Wilhelm Heinrich wounded, dying of his injuries on 24 May. The Geschwader was now encountering more and more RAF fighters as the German advance moved towards the beleaguered B.E.F. around Dunkirk. On 23 May Lt. Specht shot down 3 Spitfires of No. 92 Squadron ( two were lost, one of which was flown by S/L. Roger Bushell
Roger Bushell
Squadron Leader Roger Joyce Bushell RAF was a South African-born British Auxiliary Air Force pilot who organised and led the famous escape from the Nazi prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft III. He was a victim of the Stalag Luft III murders. The escape was used as the basis for the film The Great...
who was made prisoner) . However, his aircraft was damaged in the dogfight, Specht forced-landing with serious wounds, which would keep him from combat duty for some time. 6 more RAF fighter were claimed on 27 May, while on 31 May 5./ZG 26 'bounced' a formation of unsuspecting Spitfires and claimed 5 victories for no loss. Following the successful Dunkirk evacuation, the Luftwaffe turned to the drive south and west into France. ZG 26 claimed numerous more victories over RAF and French Air Force aircraft, with 8 victories on 3 June,and 9 more on 14 June.
With the battle won ZG 26 moved into airfields based around Crecy-en-Ponthieu
Crécy-en-Ponthieu
Crécy-en-Ponthieu is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France, located south of Calais. It gives its name to Crécy Forest, which starts about two kilometres to the south-west of the town and which is one of the largest forests in the north of France...
, Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, and Yvrench
Yvrench
Yvrench is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Yvrench is situated 9 miles northeast of Abbeville, on the D108 road, the route of the old Roman road, the Chaussée Brunehaut.-Population:...
.
Battle of Britain 1940
III./ZG26 flew its first mission against the UK on 9 July, losing one Bf-110. ZG 26 was heavily engaged on 10 July when escorting Do 17s attacking the channel convoy codenamed 'Bread'. The defending RAF fighters were drawn up to protect the merchantmen and the ZG 26 crews claimed 12 Spitfires and Hurricanes (although RAF losses were 1 shot down,1 crash-landed). III./ZG26 in turn lost 3 Bf-110’s and another damaged.On 11 August convoy 'Booty' was the target for fighter-bomber unit Erpr.Gr.210, with escort provided by I./ZG 26. 1.Staffel lost 2 aircraft, with 2 Bf-110’s from 2.Staffel, returning to France with heavy damage. 1./ZG 26 Staffelkapitän Hptm. Johann Kogler, spent several days adrift in the North Sea before being rescued by the German air-sea rescue service.
'Adlertag' on 13 August, got off to the bad start when, due to poor weather all morning attacks were cancelled. However, although the recall order reached the Bf-110 of ZG 26, the Do 17s of KG 2 they were escorting did not receive the order. Frantic attempts by the Zerstörer crews to alert the Do-17s to turn back proved fruitless and the Dorniers continued to their target. ZG 26 returned to base, leaving KG 2 to press on alone.
Later in the day Erpr.Gr.210 took off to attack on Rochford
Rochford
Rochford is a small town in the Rochford district of Essex in the East of England. It is sited about 43 miles from Central London and approximately 21 miles from the Essex county town, Chelmsford...
airfield, escorted by I./ZG 26. Weather conditions at this time of day were no better than in the morning and the mission was aborted, Erpr.Gr.210 releasing its bombs over Canterbury and returning to base. I./ZG 26 ran into the Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron and, for the loss of one Bf-110, claimed 4 shot down.
On 18 August the Bf-110s of ZG 26 escorted bombers to the airfields of Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill is an area and electoral ward in the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley in southeast London, United Kingdom.-History:Historically the settlement was known as Aperfield and formed part of the parish of Cudham...
and Kenley
Kenley
Kenley is a district in the south of the London Borough of Croydon. It borders Purley, Coulsdon, Riddlesdown, Caterham and Whyteleafe. Kenley is situated 13 miles south of Charing Cross. The 2001 census showed Kenley having a population of 13,525....
. ZG 26 took heavy losses from the RAF fighters, and 9 Bf-110’s were shot down, including those of I.Gruppe Adjutant, Oblt. Rudiger Proske (taken prisoner), and the 3.Staffel Staffelkapitän Oblt. Hans-Jurgen Kirchoff (killed). In late afternoon ZG 26 escorted a force of bombers to attack Hornchurch
Hornchurch
Hornchurch is a large suburban town in England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Hornchurch is in North-East London .It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan. It comprises a number of shopping...
and North Weald and again, the Zerstörer suffered losses. The Staffelkapitän of 2./ZG 26 Hptm. Herbert Kaminski ditched into the North Sea and, with his Bordfunker spent four days in a dinghy before being rescued. ZG 26 had 13 Bf-110’s shot down, 6 crash landing back in France, with 2 'write-offs' while claiming 25 RAF fighters shot down. ZG 26 lost another 3 on 26 August.
On 7 October III./ZG 26 provided escort for the Ju-88s of 11./ KG 51 attacking the Westland aircraft works at Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
. Strong RAF resistance hit ZG 26 hard, with II Gruppe losing 3 aircraft shot down and III Gruppe losing 4.
Overall, operations against the UK 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...
had showed up the vulnerability of the Bf 110 to a well organised, modern single-seat fighter force, ZG 26 losing some 95 aircraft during the July-December 1940 period , with over 118 aircrew killed or prisoner..
Despite the heavy losses the unit did produce some successful Experten, with Fw. Walter Scherer of III Gruppe claiming 10 victories and Lt. Sophus Baagoe
Sophus Baagoe
Sophus Baagoe was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Baagoe claimed 14 aerial victories, 13 over the Western Front and 1 over the Mediterranean Front...
claiming 9. Major Johann Schalk
Johann Schalk
Johann Schalk was a flying ace and high ranking officer in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He is credited with 15 aerial victories, 4 of which on the Eastern front, claimed in 163 combat missions....
and Lt. Botho Sommer also reached 'ace' status. In 7. Staffel Lt. Kuno-Adalbert Konopka and Fw. Helmut Haugk both had over 5 claims, while 8. Staffel's Lt. Siegfried Kuhrke scored 5.
Mediterranean and Africa 1941-42
Following 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...
, the three Gruppen of ZG 26 remained intact and were withdrawn to Germany to rest and re-equip in November and December 1940. The Geschwader would see service on all fronts in the years to come.
Many of the Zerstörergeschwadern previously employed on day operations were now converted into the night fighter role for home defence. However, the proposed re-designation of I. and II./ZG 26 as I. and II./NJG 4 was suspended, and these two Gruppen formed part of the aerial support provided by the Luftwaffe for the forthcoming Balkans campaign.
VIII. Fliegerkorps
8th Air Corps (Germany)
VIII. FliegerkorpsFor more details see Luftwaffe Organization was formed 19 July 1939 in Oppeln as Fliegerführer z.b.V. The abbreviation z.b.V. is German and stands for zur besonderen Verwendung . Fliegerführer z.b.V was renamed to VIII. Fliegerkorps on 10 November 1939...
assembled the attacking force, including ZG 26 for the offensive to begin on 6 April, I./ZG 26 escorting to bombers attacking Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. Encountering Bf-109Es of the Yugoslavian Air Force, 2 enemy machines were claimed shot down, but the Zerstörer lost 5 in return. In the south, II./ZG 26 lost two Bf-110s while III./ZG 26 also claimed 2 Yugoslavian Air Force Bf-109s.
The end of the first day broke the resistance of the Yugoslavian air force and the Zerstörers switched to attacking ground targets in support of the advancing German troops.
On 31 January, III./ZG 26 became the first Luftwaffe unit to go to North Africa. Under Major Karl Kaschka, the unit transferred to Castel Benito, Sirte
Sirte
Sirte is a city in LibyaSirte may also refer to:* Sirte Declaration, a 1999 resolution to create the African Union* Sirte Oil Company, a Libyan oil companyIn geography:* Gulf of Sirte, alias for Gulf of Sidra on Libya's coast...
, and Arco Philaenorum. A Bf-110 from the Gruppe which became the first German aircraft to be lost in North Africa when it forced-landed behind British lines on 14 February.
III gruppe then took part in the successful invasion of Greece. On 20 April a force from II./ZG 26 tangled with Hurricanes over Piraus. II. Gruppe lost two Bf-110s, but made 5 victory claims over the Hurricanes, including Squadron Leader 'Pat' Pattle of No. 33 Squadron, arguably the top scoring RAF pilot of the War, with a score of 40-50. As the Luftwaffe gained air superiority , strafing attacks on airfields increased and losses increased to AA and small arms fire. On 27 April Bf-110s of I./ZG 26 caught a large body of troops in the open and were able to carry out a devastating attack in return for 2 Bf-110s crash-landed.
With the closing of the campaign in Greece, attention now turned in support of the invasion of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
On 14 May 1941, Oberleutnant Baagoe (14 kills) was strafing the airfield at Heraklion
Heraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
when his Bf 110 D-3 was shot down into the sea. He was to be awarded the Ritterkreuz posthumously a month later. On 21 May, another irreplaceable experten, 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...
of I./ZG 26, Hptm. Wilhelm Makrocki was killed when his Bf 110 D-3 was hit by exploding debris from a small ship he was attacking, and he crashed into the sea.
By June 1941 III./ZG 26 were based at Derna in North Africa and part of Fliegerfuhrer Afrika
Fliegerführer Afrika
Fliegerführer Afrika was part of Luftflotte 2 , one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It acted in the Mediterranean and Libya in North African areas during 1941-1942...
, supporting the Axis ground forces. In December 1941, 7./ZG 26 joined the rest of III gruppe at Derna to counter the Allied ground offensive codenamed "Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk....
".
Given its harbour facilities, the Axis siege of the Allied port of Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
was vital to the African theatre of operations as 1941 wore on. 7. and 9. Staffeln of ZG 26 were based in Sicily and Crete during the summer, and 8. Staffel claimed the most air kills, with most of the aerial action over Sidi Barrani. Ofw. Richard Heller (8./ZG 26) was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 21 August with his tally at 11, having claimed III. Gruppe’s 200th victory earlier in the month.
The counter-attack from Allied ground forces took place in November under the code name "Operation Crusader". Aerial combat was intense, and on 4 December Gruppenkommandeur Major Karl Kaschka was shot down. His successor Hptm. Thomas Steinberger lasted until 24 December he was lost on a ferry flight. Hptm. Georg Christl became the third Gruppenkommandeur of III./ZG 26 in weeks.
Hauptmann Georg Christl was awarded the Ritterkreuz for his leadership during the desert campaign on 18 March 1942. on 23 October the Third Battle of El Alamein commenced a major Allied advances occurred into November. III./ZG 26 carried out bombing and strafing attacks. A heavy loss occurred on 4 December when a Ju 52 carrying essential ground personnel was shot down.
By late 1942 III./ZG 26 was based in Sicily. Leutnant Paul Bley was posted to 8./ZG 26, and was particularly successful against the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
's (USAAF) 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...
twin-engine fighters, claiming at least five of the type in early 1943. Bley was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./ZG 26 in 1943.
Allied landings in Morocco and Algeria in November 1942 saw American forces entering combat, for the first time. III./ZG 26, saw losses increase as modern Allied fighters in increasing numbers were encountered. Convoy cover and transport escort duties continued, with III gruppe where possible attacking American bombers seeking out the German convoys. On 3 February 4 Bf-110s attacking a formation of B-26s were bounced by the P-38 escort. Only Fw. Wegmann managed to escape. On 5 April, a formation of Ju 52/3ms attempting to take supplies to the Afrika Korps was intercepted by P-38s. The 18 Luftwaffe escort was overwhelmed when a further force of 26 P-38s entered the fray. 2 Bf110s were lost in addition to 14 Ju52s . 18 April saw a Ju 52/3m force attacked by British and American fighters, resulting in a loss of 24 Ju52s and 10 escorts. The air war was being lost by the Luftwaffe , and the likes of the Bf-110s of III./ZG 26 were taking unsustainable losses.
The gruppe moved to Rome before being transferred back to the Reich in July 1943.
Russia 1941-2
On 22 May 1941, Hauptmann Herbert Kaminski was appointed Gruppenkommandeur I./ZG 26. He led the Gruppe during the invasion of Russia, flying ground attack missions on North Russian airfields. I and II.Gruppen of ZG26 were initially allocated to the central front, with an initial role of attacking Russian airfields to destroy enemy aircraft and render the airfields unserviceable. They would also carry out a multiplicity of tasks supporting ground forces.During this initial period the I. Gruppe claimed 51 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 11 aircraft shot down in aerial combat. Kaminski was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 6 August for 5 victories.
ZG 26 were soon transferred North to support the drive towards Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. By August I. and II./ZG 26 were operating from Sarudinye, and later Smolensk. Their role was again multi-functional- to attack enemy forces, airfields, tank and artillery concentrations, communications networks, and the rail and river network bringing supplies to the beleaguered city.
Through the winter of 1941-42 the two Gruppen were rotated between the Eastern Front and Germany, and on 27 January 1942 that 1./ZG26 lost its commander Hptm. Wilhelm Spies
Wilhelm Spies
Wilhelm Spies was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. Wilhelm Spies was shotdown on 27 January 1942 near Suchinitschi, Russia. He was posthumously promoted to Major and awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 5...
, who was shot down on a low-level attack south-west of Suchinitschi. Another was Ritterkruez holder Lt. Eduard Meyer
Eduard Meyer (pilot)
Eduard Meyer 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...
, killed in a mid-air collision on 31 March 1942.
Shortly afterwards, both Gruppen returned to Germany where the Gruppen were disbanded.
On the far northern Russian Front, in July 1944 13.(Z) JG 5 was redesignated 10./ZG 26, part of the new IV. Gruppe of ZG 26, retaining its base as Herdla
Herdla
Herdla is an island in Askøy, Norway, at the north end of the island of Askøy. The island was part of the municipality of Herdla until 1 January 1964. The island has a nature reserve with 220 registered species of birds...
. The new 12 Staffel was also equipped with the Bf-110, being based at Oerlandet. By November, the Staffel was based at Trondheim. A further re-designation took place in February 1945 when the 10 and 12 Staffeln of ZG 26 were incorporated into 7./JG 5, part of the new 11./ JG 5.
Disbandment 1942
The Geschwader was disbanded in April 1942. The Geschwaderstab formed the Geschwaderstab of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 was a Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. NJG 3 was formed on 29 September 1941 in Stade from Stab./ZG 26.-Kommodore:*Major Johann Schalk, 1 December 1941 – 1 August 1943...
. III. Gruppe remained the sole autonomous Gruppe while the other Gruppen were integrated into Zerstörergeschwader 2 and Zerstörergeschwader 3.
Reformation and Reich defence 1943
The Geschwader was reformed in 1943 from the old III. Gruppe and the I. Gruppe and III. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 1.The II. Gruppe was re-equipped with the Messerschmitt Me 410
Messerschmitt Me 410
The Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse was a German heavy fighter and Schnellbomber used by Luftwaffe during World War II. Though essentially a straightforward modification of the Me 210, it was designated the Me 410 to avoid association with its notoriously flawed predecessor.-Design and...
Hornisse. In October 1943, Hauptmann Eduard Tratt
Eduard Tratt
Eduard Tratt was a Luftwaffe fighter, test pilot and flying ace of World War II. Major Eduard Tratt was a the highest scoring Zerstörer pilot of the war with 38 victories and Gruppenkommandeur of II./Zerstörergeschwader 26 . He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak...
was appointed Gruppenkommandeur II./ZG 26. On 29 November, he shot down a USAAF B-17 as his 30th victory.
ZG 26 meanwhile was soon in action against the bombers of the USAAF Eight Air Force. ZG 26 claimed some 19 bombers downed on 8 October, while intercepting a raid against Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
on 10 October, II. and III. Gruppen suffered moderate losses but claimed 18 bombers in return. Four days later, ZG 26 took part in inflicting heavy losses on American bombers during the raid on Schweinfurt
Second Raid on Schweinfurt
The second Schweinfurt raid bombed World War II ball bearing factories to reduce production of these vital parts for all manner of war machines. Named Black Thursday because the loss of aircrewmen was the highest for any USAAF mission...
, claiming 10 victories. ZG 26's conflict against the USAAF day bombers was infrequent, although on 29 November 1943 6 bombers of the 95th Bomb Group
95th Bomb Group
The 95st Bomb Group was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. Classified as a heavy bombardment group, the 95th operated B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft.-Organization of the 95th Bomb Group :...
were downed over Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
by a frontal Werfer-Granate 21
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...
rocket attack by six Me 410's (9 were claimed) and on 16 March 1944 18 bombers were downed over Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
.
III./ZG 26 under Major Johann Kogler ,was based in Wunstorf
Wunstorf
Wunstorf is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km west of Hanover. The following localities belong to the city of Wunstorf: Blumenau , Bokeloh, Grossenheidorn, Idensen , Klein Heidorn, Kolenfeld, Luthe, Mesmerode, Steinhude, Wunstorf....
during early 1944, with Bf 110's armed with two 30mm and four 20mm cannon ( two in a ventral fuselage gun pod
Gun pod
A gun pod is a detachable pod or pack containing machine guns or automatic cannon and ancillaries, mounted externally on a vehicle such as a military aircraft which may or may not also have its own guns....
) , and four Werfer-Granate 21 210mm rocket launchers, designed to break up the massed bomber formations from long range. ZG 26's Me 410s also gradually took on added weight with extra cannon and rockets, culminating in the fitting of a bomb-bay mount 50 mm Bordkanone BK 5 cannon
BK-5 cannon
The Bordkanone 5, or BK 5 for short, was a 50 mm autocannon intended primarily for use against Allied heavy bombers, especially the USAAF's combat box heavy bomber flight formations, so that defending Luftwaffe fighter aircraft could fire from a great enough distance to make the USAAF bomber's...
( with 21 rounds) on the Me 410A-1/U4 aircraft on duty.
Burdened by such equipment the Zerstöreren compromised high altitude performance and rendered the aircraft highly vulnerable when caught by the Allied fighter escorts. On 20 February, 16 Bf 110G's of III Gruppe were intercepted by the P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
s of the 56th Fighter Group, losing 11 aircraft shot down. Two more were lost on 22 February in addition to Hauptmann Tratt, who was shot down and killed in combat over Nordhausen
Nordhausen
Nordhausen is a town at the southern edge of the Harz Mountains, in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Nordhausen...
flying a Me 410 A-1. He was posthumously awarded the Eichenlaub on 26 March and promoted to Major. Tratt was the highest scoring Zerstörer pilot of the war.
Berlin was the target of the American 'heavies' for the first time on 6 March, and interception was made by ZG 26 who claimed 8 bombers destroyed. However, II. and III./ZG 26 lost 11 out of the 17 aircraft deployed, a crippling loss rate; I. and III.Gruppen of ZG 26 were withdrawn to Konigsberg, where they began conversion to the Me 410. On 11 April II./ZG 26 downed ten B-17s without any losses, although their second sortie of the day ZG 26 was intercepted by strong formations of escorting P-51s that shot down 8 Me 410s and 3 Bf 110s; 16 crewman were killed, and 3 wounded.
I and II./ZG 26 claimed another 16 bombers down over the North Baltic coast on 29 May 1944.
By June 1944 the 35 operational Me 410B-2s of Stab, I and II./ZG 26 were based at Konigsburg-Neumark, while 7. ZG 26 (still flying Bf 110-G) were at Fels am Wagram
Fels am Wagram
Fels am Wagram is a municipality in the district of Tulln in Lower Austria, Austria....
. The Geschwader was disbanded in late July 1944, with II. Gruppe and III. Gruppe remustered to II. Gruppe and III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 6
Jagdgeschwader 6
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,...
during the summer of 1944. The IV. Gruppe was created on 5 September 1944 in Norway.
The pilots integrated into Jagdgeschwader 6
Jagdgeschwader 6
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,...
took heavy casualties through 1944 during operations against the Allied day bomber offensive.
Kommodore
- Oberst Kurt-Bertram von DöringKurt-Bertram von DöringGeneralleutnant Kurt-Bertram von Döring was a German World War II Luftwaffe Generalleutnant...
, 1 May 1939 – 14 December 1939 - Oberstleutnant Joachim-Friedrich HuthJoachim-Friedrich HuthJoachim-Friedrich Huth was a German soldier serving in the Luftstreitkräfte during World War I, in the Luftwaffe during World War II and Luftwaffe of the Bundeswehr in post World War II Germany...
, 14 December 1939 – 1 November 1940 - Oberst Johann SchalkJohann SchalkJohann Schalk was a flying ace and high ranking officer in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He is credited with 15 aerial victories, 4 of which on the Eastern front, claimed in 163 combat missions....
, 1 November 1940 – 29 September 1941 - Oberstleutnant Karl Boehm-Tettelbach, October 1943 – June 1944
- Oberstleutnant Johann Kogler, June 1944 – July 1944
I./ZG 26
- Hauptmann Karl Kaschka, 1 May 1939 – January 1940
- Hauptmann Wilhelm Makrocki, 27 January 1940 – 21 May 1941
- Hauptmann Herbert Kaminski, May 1941 – 1941
- Hauptmann Wilhelm SpiesWilhelm SpiesWilhelm Spies was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. Wilhelm Spies was shotdown on 27 January 1942 near Suchinitschi, Russia. He was posthumously promoted to Major and awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 5...
, 27 January 1942
II./ZG 26
- Major Friedrich Vollbracht, 1 May 1939 – April 1940
- Hauptmann Ralph von RettbergRalph von RettbergRalph von Rettberg 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...
, April 1940 – April 1942 - Hauptmann Eduard TrattEduard TrattEduard Tratt was a Luftwaffe fighter, test pilot and flying ace of World War II. Major Eduard Tratt was a the highest scoring Zerstörer pilot of the war with 38 victories and Gruppenkommandeur of II./Zerstörergeschwader 26 . He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak...
, 11 October 1943 – 22 February 1944
III./ZG 26
- Hauptmann Johann Schalk, 1 May 1939 – 1 September 1940
- Major Karl Kaschka, 1 September 1940 – 4 December 1941
- Hauptmann Thomas Steinberger, 4 December 1941 – 24 December 1941
- Hauptmann Georg ChristlGeorg ChristlGeorg Christl 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...
, 25 December 1941 – 12 July 1943 - Major Fritz Schulze-Dickow, 12 July 1943 – 11 February 1944
- Major Johann Kogler, 11 February 1944 – 2 June 1944
- Hauptmann Werner ThierfelderWerner ThierfelderWerner Thierfelder 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. Werner Thierfelder was killed on 18 July 1944...
, 2 June 1944 – 18 July 1944