Jagdgeschwader 11
Jagdgeschwader 11 | |
---|---|
Operation Baseplate | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Hermann Graf Anton Hackl Herbert Ihlefeld Günther Specht |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | Bf 109, Fw 190 |
Jagdgeschwader 11 (JG 11) was a
The unit was initially based along the North German coast, protecting the northern flank of occupied Europe. During the summer of 1943, as the unescorted bombers penetrated deeper into Germany, JG 11 saw intensive action, with about 40 percent of some 1,200 claims submitted by the Western Front fighter wings in this period being credited to JG 1 and JG 11 .[2]
JG 11 trialled new tactics such as dropping 250 kg bombs on top of the bomber formations or using the heavy-calibre
In January 1945, the Luftwaffe made a last-ditch counterattack to stem the Allied offensives with
Formation history
Under the increasing threat of the Allied heavy bombers, the Luftwaffe decided to augment its fighter strength by creating a new wing (German: Geschwader) by splitting Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1). On 31 March 1943, JG 1 had four component groups (German: Gruppen) I., II., III. and IV./JG 1. Of these III./JG 1, located in Husum, was redesignated as I./JG 11 while I./JG 1, under Günther Beise, located in Jever became II./JG 11. A new III./JG 11 was raised under German: Hauptmann Ernst-Günther Heinze at Neumünster, equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6. A headquarters flight (German: Geschwaderstab) was formed in Jever. Former group commander (German: Gruppenkommandeur) of II./JG 77, Major Anton Mader was appointed to command the new unit.[3][4][5]
The new unit was responsible for the day defense of the German Bight, southern Norway and western Denmark. This was previously the eastern portion of JG 1's area of responsibility. JG 11 reported to the Fighter Commander of the German Bight (German: Jagdfliegerführer Deutsche Bucht) in the 2nd Fighter Division (German: 2. Jagd-Division). By mid-1943, JG 11 came under the control of the Luftwaffe Commander Center (German: Luftwaffenbefehlshaber Mitte) (Lw Bfh), which later formed Air Fleet Germany (German: Luftflotte Reich).[2][4][5]
In late June 1943 Hauptmann Günther Specht replaced Major Adolf Dickfeld as II./JG 11's commander. A perfectionist and one of the most competent group commanders, Specht led almost every mission after taking command. In a few months II./JG 11 became one of the most effective day fighter units.[6][7][8]
In mid-November 1943 Mader had a public fall-out with Generalmajor Max Ibel of 2. Jagd-Division and was sent to the Eastern Front to command Jagdgeschwader 54. He was replaced by Oberstleutnant Hermann Graf, an Eastern Front Bf 109 ace and the first pilot to claim 200 victories.[9][10]
1./JG 11 relocated to
Jasta Helgoland
In 1941, two short runways were built on neighboring sand dunes on
Aircraft of JG 11
JG 11 was initially equipped with the Fw 190 A-4 and Bf 109 G-1. It also used the Fw 190 A-6/R1, which carried six 20 mm MG 151 cannons. Towards the end of 1943 III./JG 11 started converting to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. JG 11 tended to use a combination of Bf 109s and Fw 190s, the Bf 109 for attacking fighters and the Fw 190 for attacking bombers.[2][9][14]
In March 1943 II./JG 11 started to replace the Bf 109 G-1 with the Bf 109 G-6. The G-6 had the option of two 20 mm cannons in underwing gondolas which made it more useful in destroying the tough American bombers.[15]
On 26 June 1943 a trial
Unit Emblems and color schemes
In January 1944 JG 11 was located in Dortmund alongside one group German: Gruppe of JG 1. In order to make it easier to regroup after an engagement and aid unit identification both I./JG 1 and JG 11 followed the new Luftwaffe policy and painted their aircraft with special Defense of the Reich, aft fuselage bands. I./JG 1 used a red band and JG 11 used a yellow band.[9]
The Third Staffel of JG 11 (3./JG 11) was formed from 9./JG 1 and perpetuated that unit's distinctive logo of a
Wartime history
1943
April – June 1943
JG 11 saw action immediately after its formation, with one of the first large daylight raids on 17 April 1943. 115 aircraft from four B-17 bomb groups attacked the
On 14 May 1943 multiple groups of heavy bombers conducted several missions across the
24 hours later nine B-24 groups attacked the North sea ports of Wilhelmshaven and Emden. The formation attacking Wilhelmshaven had to abort due to poor visibility over the target so instead attacked secondary targets, Heligoland Düne; the base of Jasta Heligoland and Wangerooge. They were intercepted by II./JG 1 and III./JG 54. II./JG 11 was credited with four bombers downed ; one each to Dickfeld, Specht, Knoke and Unteroffizier Helmut Lennartz. Lennartz claimed his B-24 by dropping a bomb above the formation.[15][b][c]
The mission on 11 June 1943 was the largest thus far, involving 250 B-17s. II./JG 1 and III./JG 1 intercepted a formation approaching Wilhelmshaven, resulting in ten claims for II./JG 11, including one each for Specht and Knoke.
During the raid on 25 June 1943 cloud cover obscured both primary and secondary targets so the B-17s bombed two convoys off of the Frisian Islands. II and III./JG 11 intercepted, along with six other Gruppen, and claimed six bombers. Specht and Knoke claimed one each but Knoke was injured in the hand.[20]
Operation Gomorrah/Blitz Week
During the period of 24 to 30 July, the RAF and USAAF launched a combined series of attacks on German targets known as "Blitz Week". This was a six-day round-the-clock offensive on targets inside Germany. Weather on 25 July was not favorable so two of the bomber formations attacked secondary targets, while a third abandoned their mission. II./JG 11 along with Jasta Helgoland intercepted and claimed six destroyed, with four pilots injured. The following day targets included
On 28 July 1943 15 bombers of the VIII Bomber Command targeted the
The following day the Eighth Air Force targeted Kiel's U-Boat yards and the Heinkel factory in Warnemünde. Elements of JG 11 with JG 1 used Werfer-Granate 21 (Wfr. Gr. or WGr prefix, also known as the Bordrakete 21/BR 21 in official Luftwaffe manuals) underwing rockets for the first time. The American bomber crews dubbed these "flaming baseballs". While being wildly inaccurate these rockets, containing 40.8 kg (90 lb) of explosive, could be launched from well outside the range of the bomber's defensive fire and were intended to break up the bomber formations. The launchers did however seriously reduce the performance of the fighters, making them easy prey to any Allied fighter escort. II. and III./JG 11 engaged the bombers on their return route near Heligoland, JG 11 claiming eight B-17s destroyed (III./JG 11 was credited with three aircraft). One III./JG 11 pilot was injured.[25][26]
On the last day of Blitz Week (30 July) VIII Bomber Command targeted the Fieseler Works in
August – December 1943
VIII Bomber command only had one mission in September 1943 bombing
The bombers returned to Emden on 2 October 1943 escorted by the P-47s. III./JG 11, under new leader
Six days later the bombers returned to Bremen and the U-Boat yards of Vegesack. II. and III./JG 11 intercepted and III./JG 11 claimed 11 bombers. Gruppenkommandeure Specht, Hackl and Olejnik, Knoke and Wennekers all claimed one each, and Siegfried Zick claimed one bomber south of Quakenbrück. Next day there was another attack on Kiel by B-17s with B-17F (42-5407) Fightin Pappy possibly downed by Frey. General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland flew a Fw 190 during the day's fighting and witnessed some of the attacks over the Frisian Islands. To his "disgust", he saw the BR 21 rocket-equipped fighters launch from too long a range. He also noted attacks were disorganized. Galland waited for the fighters to return to base before making his own interception, claiming a B-17 on his second pass, though he did not report the kill since he was not officially authorised to fly in combat.[28][29][30]
1944
JG 11 was transferred to II. Fliegerkorps for operations over France soon after the Allied invasion of 6 June 1944. Given the overwhelming superiority of the Allied fighter screens over the beach heads, the Luftwaffe units suffered heavily, JG 11 being no exception.[11]
In August 1944 each JG 11 Gruppe was increased to four Staffeln, with a new 4./JG 11 formed from 10. and 11./JG 11. The old 4./JG 11 became the new 8./JG 11 Staffel. Old 7./JG 11 become 10./JG 11 and a new 7./JG 11 was formed from scratch.[11]
On 17 December 1944 I./JG 11 was heavily engaged by P-47s over
By December 1944 I./JG 11 were frequently paired with the 'Sturm' Fw 190's of IV./
On 23 December I./JG 11 and JG 4 intercepted American bombers near the Trier region. JG 11 claimed 28 B-26s and several escorts while 12 Fw 190s and one P-51 went down. Major Arthur F. Jeffrey of 479 FG was credited with three victories. Fähnrich Kaluza and Oberleutnant Georg Ulrici of I./JG 11 failed to return from operations over Daun and Cochem while Unteroffizier Ehrke and Gefreiter were killed near Gillenfeld. Oberfähnrich Hans–Joachim Wesener was shot down south of Kaisersesch. JG 11's losses included 12 pilots killed, 4 missing and 11 wounded.[31][34]
Later the same day JG 11 scrambled to intercept some seventy
The next day American
On 25 December there were more losses. Flight Lieutenant Sherk of
1945
Operation Baseplate
On New Year's Day 1945, the Luftwaffe launched
At 8:00 AM, the three Gruppen of JG 11 took off from
Over Aachen, liberated by the U.S. Army in October 1944, flak burst around them, hitting the Fw 190 of Oberleutnant Hans Fielder, adjutant of III./JG 11. He had rejoined his group the previous day from Göttingen, force-landing on 23 December due to engine trouble, and was grounded. He was not expecting to participate in this operation but had to fly with a brand new Fw 190A-8 as the wingman for Oberleutnant Grosser, Staffelkapitän of 11./JG 11. A lone P-47 shot at him and a result of both flak hits and P-47 fire Fielder was wounded in the head and forced to crash-land becoming a POW. Unteroffizier Ernst Noreisch was shot down and killed.[38]
Legend of Y-29
At 8:42 AM Captain Eber E. Simpson was leading the 391st squadron on a mission to bomb German tanks near St. Vith. They ran into two Bf 109s south of Malmedy with Lieutenants John F. Bathurst and Donald G. Holt claiming one each.[39]
At 9:10 AM Lieutenant Colonel
By 9:15 AM eight P-47s of 366th FG "Red" and "Yellow" flights were preparing for armed reconnaissance over Ardennes. "Red" flight consisted of Captain Lowell B. Smith with Lieutenants John Kennedy, Melvin R. Paisley and Flight Officer Dave Johnson. "Yellow" flight included Lieutenants John Feeny, Robert V. Brulle, Currie Davis and Joe Lackey. Kennedy noticed flak bursts to the northeast, and Red flight discovered JG 11 strafing the base at Ophoven with 50 JG 11 fighters heading back to their own base. Intent on strafing parked aircraft the German pilots did not notice the P-47s.[38]
Lieutenant Paisley hit a Bf 109 using an underwing rocket and downed two more using gunfire. Smith and Brulle both shot one down, Brulle damaging another before running out of ammunition. Feeny and Lackey also shot down JG 11 aircraft. Six 352 FG pilots claimed multiple victories. Captain
The air battle of Asch, later known as the "Legend of Y-29", was a disaster for JG 11. U.S. fighters claimed 30 German fighters while JG 11 lost 28 aircraft (from 65). 25 pilots were killed. 5./JG 11 was the only unit that returned unscathed, though all the aircraft were damaged. III./JG 11 lost six pilots including Major Vowinkel. Some 40 percent of the JG 11 pilots died in the operation. At Asch four P-51s were shot down in the attack but the pilots survived. One P-47 and one P-51 were shot up on the ground.[38][40]
Other Allied Engagements
Over Ophoven Airfield, a Spitfire of No. 610 Squadron flown by Australian Flight Lieutenant A.F.O. "Tony" Gaze took off but was shot at by P-51s chasing JG 11. He however shot down one Fw 190.[38]
At Ophoven JG 11 were able to shoot up several Spitfires of
Also among the pilots killed was Major Specht. Specht received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross after his death. Paisley's wingman Johnson claimed two German fighters shot down but his aircraft was heavily damaged from return fire. Bailing out he landed in a field near Asch. A Bf 109 had "belly landed" not far from the field and he went to inspect it, riding a borrowed bicycle. The Bf 109 was still intact but the pilot was dead. Johnson claimed that the pilot's identification card named him as a Lieutenant Colonel (German: Oberstleutnant) Specht. The claim has been disproved by German records that indicate Specht flew a Fw 190 (Werknummber 205033—factory number), and that he was a Major. Johnson's actual victim that day was Oberleutnant August Engel. Hauptmann Horst-Günther von Fassong, commander of III./JG 11, also went missing near Opglabbeek shot down by P-47s.[38][41][42][a]
Defense of the Reich January–May 1945
A severely weakened JG 11 faced Hawker Tempests of No. 3 and 486 Squadrons on 14 January 1945. With the Allied fighters trying to keep the German fighters away from the Saar region, other Geschwader joined JG 11 and JG 11 lost two pilots in the engagement. JG 11 was finally ordered to move to the Eastern Front in Poland on 23 January 1945.[43]
Specht's successor as JG 11 Kommodore was Jürgen Harder, formerly Gruppenkommandeur of I./
Bomber interception tactics of JG 11
As JG 11 formed in 1943 the bombers of Eighth Air Force were starting to extend their bombing operations, and JG 11 pilots avoided combat until the escorts were forced to break off.[2]
As a means of combating the massed firepower of bomber streams, JG 11 personnel trialed the viability of bombing the formations from above with 250 kg bombs, a practice pioneered by Luftwaffe Oberleutnant Heinz Knoke in March 1943. On 28 July 1943 Unteroffizier Fest of 5./JG 11 claimed three B-17's with a single bomb. However the loss in performance of the bomb-laden Bf 109's, along with their vulnerability to escorting fighters, soon curtailed the practice. 5./JG 11 were at the forefront of tactical developments for effectively intercepting the day bomber formations. The most effective tactic were mass frontal assaults, while other methods trialed were the use of the aforementioned BR 21 heavy-calibre rocket ordnance. These were inaccurate but were used primarily to break up the bomber formations.[2]
Notable successes and losses
Several 'Bomber-killer' Aces (German: Experten) were among the veterans of II./JG 11. Hauptmann Gerhard Sommer of 4./JG 11 claimed 10 heavy bombers and Oberleutnant Heinz Knoke of 5./JG 11 claimed 12 victories by the end of 1943. Knoke's 5./JG 11 claimed as many heavy bombers as the other two Staffeln put together. This prompted 5./JG 11 to consider themselves as experts versus heavy bombers (German: Viermot Experten).[47]
Like its sister units engaged in Reich defense, JG 11 suffered heavy casualties in both pilots and aircraft. Many of the pilots killed were highly experienced and irreplaceable Experten. Hauptmann Hugo Frey (32 claims, including 26 heavy bombers, killed 8 March 1944), Hauptmann Gerhardt Sommer (20 claims, 15 heavy bombers, killed 12 May 1944) and Feldwebel Wilhelm Fest (15 claims, 8 confirmed victories May 1944) were just three of JG 11's best aces to fall.
In April 1944 Staffelkapitän of 10./
On 9 July 1944 Hackl was the 78th recipient of the
Commanding officers
Wing commanders
The list below provides its Geschwaderkommodores until its dissolution.[45][46]
• Major Anton Mader | 1 April 1943 | – | November 1943[48] |
• Oberstleutnant Hermann Graf | 11 November 1943[48] | – | 29 March 1944[49] |
• Major Anton Hackl (acting) | April 1944 | – | 15 April 1944[49] |
• Major Herbert Ihlefeld | 1 May 1944 | – | May 1944[49] |
• Major Günther Specht | 15 May 1944 | – | 1 January 1945 †[49] |
• Major Jürgen Harder | January 1945 | – | 17 February 1945 †[49] |
• Major Anton Hackl | 20 February 1945 | – | 5 May 1945[49] |
Group commanders
- I. Gruppe of JG 11
• Major Walter Spies | 1 April 1943 | – | June 1943[48] |
• Hauptmann Erwin Clausen | 20 June 1943 | – | 4 October 1943 †[48] |
• Hauptmann Erich Woitke (acting) | 4 October 1943 | – | 15 October 1943[48] |
• Hauptmann Rolf Hermichen | 16 October 1943[48] | – | May 1944[49] |
• Oberleutnant Hans-Heinrich Koenig |
May 1944 | – | 24 May 1944 †[49] |
• Oberleutnant Fritz Engau (acting) | 24 May 1944 | – | 1 June 1944[49] |
• Hauptmann Siegfried Simsch | 1 June 1944 | – | 8 June 1944 †[49] |
• Oberleutnant Fritz Engau (acting) | 8 June 1944 | – | 24 June 1944[49] |
• Hauptmann Werner Langemann | 24 June 1944 | – | 14 July 1944[49] |
• Hauptmann Walter Matoni | 15 August 1944 | – | 30 September 1944[49] |
• Hauptmann Bruno Stolle |
October 1944 | – | 25 November 1944[49] |
• Hauptmann Rüdiger Kirchmayr | 25 November 1944 | – | April 1945[49] |
• Hauptmann Karl Leonhard | April 1945 | – | 5 May 1945[49] |
- II. Gruppe of JG 11
• Hauptmann Günther Beise | 1 April 1943 | – | 15 April 1943[48] |
• Major Adolf Dickfeld | 15 April 1943 | – | May 1943[48] |
• Hauptmann Günther Specht | May 1943[48] | – | 15 April 1944[50] |
• Major Günther Rall | 19 April 1944 | – | 12 May 1944[50] |
• Hauptmann Walter Krupinski | May 1944 | – | 12 August 1944[50] |
• Hauptmann Karl Leonhard | 13 August 1944 | – | 5 April 1945[50] |
- III. Gruppe of JG 11
• Hauptmann Ernst-Günther Heinze | April 1943 | – | September 1943[51] |
• Major Anton Hackl | 1 October 1943[51] | – | May 1944[52] |
• Hauptmann Horst-Günther von Fassong | May 1944 | – | 1 January 1945 †[52] |
• Oberleutnant Paul-Heinrich Dähne | 2 January 1945 | – | February 1945[52] |
• Hauptmann Herbert Kutscha | 23 February 1945 | – | 5 May 1945[52] |
See also
- Oil Campaign of World War II
- Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II
Notes
Footnotes
- a The similar but differing meaning of Oberleutnant and Oberstleutnant may have contributed to the misunderstanding. It is not clear whether Johnson himself said Specht's name was on the ID card. Johnson died in 1976 and the authors were unable to confirm this.[42]
- b It is not known if those three claims were confirmed or not.[15]
- [c] Lennartz's claim has not been confirmed by allied records.[15]
Citations
- ^ Weal 1999, p. 93.
- ^ a b c d e Weal 1999, pp. 50–51.
- ^ Weal 1999, pp. 50–53.
- ^ a b Weal 1996, p. 44.
- ^ a b Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 80.
- ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, pp. 36–37, 91.
- ^ Weal 2006, p. 26.
- ^ Parker 1998, p. 385.
- ^ a b c d Weal 1996, pp. 51–52, 94.
- ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 156.
- ^ a b c d Caldwell & Muller 2007, pp. 184–185.
- ^ Weal 2006, p. 21–22.
- ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, pp. 80–81.
- ^ Kay & Smith 2002, p. 99.
- ^ a b c d Weal 2006, pp. 24–26.
- ^ Weal 2006, p. 46.
- ^ Weal 2006, pp. 22–23.
- ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 84.
- ^ Weal 2006, p. 27.
- ^ Weal 2006, pp. 28–29.
- ^ a b Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 124.
- ^ Weal 2006, p. 30.
- ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 100.
- ^ Weal 2006, p. 31.
- ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 101.
- ^ a b Weal 2006, p. 32.
- ^ Weal 2006, p. 49.
- ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, pp. 126–127.
- ^ Weal 1999, p. 33.
- ^ Weal 2006, p. 51–53.
- ^ a b c Parker 1998, p. 241.
- ^ Weal 2005, p. 20.
- ^ Miller 1997, p. 42.
- ^ a b Weal 1999, p. 82.
- ^ Parker 1998, p. 243.
- ^ Parker 1998, p. 267.
- ^ Parker 1998, pp. 293–298.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Parker 1998, pp. 385–387.
- ^ Parker 1998, pp. 385–391.
- ^ a b Weal 2007b, pp. 78–79.
- ^ Caldwell & Muller 2007, p. 78.
- ^ a b Manrho & Pütz 2004, p. 149.
- ^ Parker 1998, p. 470, 474.
- ^ Prien & Rodeike 1996b, p. 1648.
- ^ a b Weal 1996, p. 84.
- ^ a b Weal 2007a, p. 125.
- ^ Weal 1999, p. 47.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Prien & Rodeike 1994, p. 588.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Prien & Rodeike 1996b, p. 1615.
- ^ a b c d Prien & Rodeike 1996b, p. 1616.
- ^ a b Prien & Rodeike 1994, p. 589.
- ^ a b c d Prien & Rodeike 1996b, p. 1617.
References
- Caldwell, Donald; Muller, Richard (2007). The Luftwaffe Over Germany: Defense of the Reich. Greenhill books. ISBN 978-1-85367-712-0.
- Holm, Michael (1997–2003). "Jagdgeschwader 11 Organization". Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- Kay, Antony L.; Smith, J. Richard (2002). German Aircraft of the Second World War: Including Helicopters and Missiles. Naval Institute Press. p. 400. ISBN 1-55750-010-X.
- Manrho, John; Pütz, Ron (2004). Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope–The Attack on Allied Airfields, New Year's Day 1945. Hikoki Publications. ISBN 1-902109-40-6.
- Miller, David A. (1997). Die Schwertertraeger Der Wehrmacht: Recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords (3 Revised. ed.). Merriam Press. ISBN 1-57638-025-4.
- Parker, Danny S. (1998). To Win The Winter Sky: The Air War Over the Ardennes, 1944-1945. Da Capo Press. ISBN 1-58097-006-0.
- Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter (1994). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945: Teil 1, 1939–1943 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11: Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945] (in German). Vol. I 1939–1943. Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-21-2.
- Prien, Jochen; Rodeike, Peter (1996b). Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11—Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945: Teil 3, 1944–1945 [Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11—Operations in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945] (in German). Vol. III 1944–1945. Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-25-0.
- Reimer, Michael. "Jagdgeschwader 1 Oesau". Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- Weal, John (1996). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front. ISBN 1-85532-595-0.
- Weal, John (1999). Bf 109 F/G/K Aces of the Western Front. ISBN 1-85532-905-0.
- Weal, John (2001). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. ISBN 1-84176-084-6.
- Weal, John (2005). Luftwaffe Sturmgruppen. ISBN 1-84176-908-8.
- Weal, John (2006). Bf 109 Defence of the Reich Aces. ISBN 1-84176-879-0.
- Weal, John (2007a). Jagdgeschwader 53 Pik As. ISBN 978-1-84603-204-2.
- Weal, John (2007b). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front (Illustrated ed.). ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.