Kampfgeschwader 27
Kampfgeschwader 27 | |
---|---|
Active | 1 May 1939 – April 1945 |
Country | wing |
Role | Maritime interdiction Air interdiction Close air support Offensive counter air Anti-aircraft warfare |
Size | Air Force Wing |
Nickname(s) | Boelcke |
Patron | Oswald Boelcke |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol | Geschwaderkennung of 1G |
'Kampfgeschwader' 27 Boelcke was a Luftwaffe medium bomber wing of World War II.
Formed in May 1939, KG 27 first saw action in the
In July 1940, KG 27 fought in the
At this time, all three combat groups remained operational but were converted to fighter units for Defence of the Reich duties. It is not known when KG 27 was disbanded. An anti-locomotive staffel was known to have operated as a bomber unit into April 1945. The date given for Oberstleutnant Rudolf Kiel's relief of command is 10 April 1945. Kiel was the wing's final commanding officer.
Formation
Stab. (command staffel – squadron)/KG 27 was formed at
I./KG 27 was formed from I./KG 157 at the same base. Oberstleutnant Fritz Graumnitz was appointed as the group's commander. The group could field 31 from 35 operational bombers.[2] Major Sigismund Freiher von Falkenstein led the group from 1 October 1940 to 21 May 1940. He was succeeded by Gerhard Ulbricht on 3 June 1940, with Konrad Aschenbrenner acting as commander in between.[3]
II./KG 27 was formed at Wunstorf, with Major Arno deSalengre Drabbe in command on 32 (of 35) combat-ready bombers.[3]
III./KG 27 was formed at Delmenhorst by the redesignation of III./KG 157. Otto Sommer was placed in the command. All three groups were equipped with the Heinkel He 111 and trained through the summer to reach operational readiness. Third group was the largest with 33 airworthy bombers from a total of 36.[4] Sommer was replaced on 30 June 1939 with Oberstleutnant Andreas Nielsen until 24 February 1940.[5]
War Service
KG 27 was fragmented and placed unto different divisions and air fleets. Stab./KG 27 was placed under IV Fliegerkorps under the command of
Poland and Phoney War
On 1 September the
On the third day the
Individually KG 27 bombed many targets in northern and central Poland. I./KG 27 struck at targets and cities in the
KG 27 spent the
Western Europe
By 10 May 1940 Stab. and I. groups were at Hannover while II. and III. remained at Delmenhorst and Wunstorf respectively. KG 27 was handed to the IV Fliegerkorps under the command of Luftflotte 2. All but one of first group's 36 He 111s were operational while second group could muster 25 from 35 machines and third group 32 from 38.[11]
On 10 May
Stab./KG 27 suffered the first loss in combat. The gunners accounted for four
From 10 to 15 May II./KG 27 supported the German Sixth Army in Belgium attacking Lille, Antwerp, Brussels and Namur. II./KG 27 was in action over Gembloux on 11 May, prior to the Battle of Gembloux, and was engaged by French fighters over Calais. It flew in support of the advance in Flanders and Artois, but also the break-through to the English Channel. It lost an aircraft over Cambrai and Tournai on 18 May.[3] The group lost its commander Major Reinhold Tamm shot down and captured. Tamm had replaced Drabbe on 29 March. Friedrich-Karl Schlichting assumed command of the group.[20]
III./KG 27 bombed targets in the Lille, Antwerp, Brussels and Namur area in the same time frame and also attacked Wavre on 16 May.[12] III./KG 27 and its operations are not well recorded. It is believed to have supported the Flanders advance in the Artois region and perhaps offered interdiction support at the Battle of Gembloux.[2]
At this time, one recorded action on 14 May involved I and III./KG 27, which was supported by low-level
On 20 May
On 3 June KG 27 flew in
By 14 June Alfred Keller commanding IV Fliegerkorps sent out armed reconnaissance aircraft to find targets in an increasingly fluid situation. III./KG 27 dispatched 20 Heinkels on these flights.[24]
On 28/29 June 1940, KG 27 began operations against ports in southern England and Wales. By the Armistice of 22 June 1940 the three groups had moved into their respective bases at Tours, Dinard and Rennes.
Battle of Britain
KG 27 replaced commanding officer Behrendt with Oberst Bernhard Georgi on 21 June. KG 27 began flying night operations over Britain on 28/29 June 1940 before the Battle of Britain started. These operations were restricted to southern England and Wales. All three groups remained with Fliegerkorps IV, now under the command of Luftflotte 3.
First group began the campaign with 22 of 32 bombers serviceable. The status of second group shows 21 of 34 bombers were available before the main attacks started on 13 August. III./KG 27 could field 23 operational machines from 31 on 13 August. Third group did not have a commanding officer, according to records, after the death of their commander on 22 May. At some point in early June Major Manfred Freiherr Speck von Sternberg took command.[5]
KG 27 was a participant in the
On 30 July II./KG 27 was known to have attacked
On 13 August 1940—Adlertag—KG 27 flew against Bristol, Birkenhead and Liverpool. KG 27 abandoned most of its operations. III./KG 27 did attempt to make it through to the Bristol docks, for example, losing one He 111 to No. 87 Squadron RAF in the attempt. Little damage was done.[30]
The following day unprotected bombers from the third group bombed Southampton where the main rail line was blocked. Three small formations of He 111s penetrated No. 10 Group RAF's fighter screen undetected and flew north to the West Midlands. The airfield at Colerne, Wiltshire, was bombed with little damage. Three managed to reach Sealand airfield in Cheshire where more damage was done, but had no lasting effect. Anti-aircraft gunfire betrayed their presence and No. 7 Operational Training Unit pilots scrambled and shot one down. No. 92 Squadron RAF and No. 43 Squadron RAF also intercepted; two bombers fell to each squadron. Of the five bombers lost, two crewmen were killed and the rest were reported missing and their fate is unknown. One squadron leader was among them.[31]
KG 27 escaped the heavy fighting of 15 August without loss. The following day a full-strength raid, escorted by Bf 110s, was caught as it crossed the coast near Brighton. No. 1, 64 and 615 Squadron intercepted and the latter accounted for one bomber from I. and II./KG 27. One crew was rescued by a Heinkel He 59 air-sea rescue unit.[32]
On
On 19 August and 20 August, KG 27 attempted to strike at the Albert Dock, Liverpool. On the former date, one He 111 of third group was caught and destroyed by No. 66 Squadron RAF at 18:30 in the evening. In the early hours of the 20th, at least 30 tracks were reported over Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Some crews did not persevere across country, and unloaded bombs on RAF Bomber Command flare paths. Five such airfields were hit and six aircraft destroyed. Apart from Liverpool, which was hit by 12 aircraft, Sheffield, Derby, Hull, Nottingham and Leicester were raided by a small number of bombers and there were 112 British casualties.[36]
I./KG 27 flew mainly maritime patrol operations between Brittany and Ireland from mid-August to early September.[37] The second group continued with night attacks on Liverpool, Birkenhead, London, Birmingham and Coventry until 29 August.[38] Third group also engaged in night attacks and flew sporadic attacks on airfields. On 30 August it lost one bomber in a daylight raid over the English coast to 601 Squadron and another was brought damaged by ground-fire over the West Midlands.[39]
By 7 September serviceability rates had fallen. I. Gruppe had only 13 of 35 bombers available while two group had 15 from 32 available. On this date, the emphasis shifted from attacking airfields, to attacking London.
Third group had been reduced to just 20 He 111s of which 13 were operational. Second and third group flew a few to a moderate number of attacks on airfields in September. On 13 September III./KG 27 flew against targets in the Bristol Channel area. On 18 and 19 September KG 27 was known to have operated for it suffered losses in accidents and combat. On 20th I./KG 27 lost
The Blitz
In October the bombing campaign shifted to night, and became known as The Blitz. KG 27 was in action on 8 and 9 October. The 22 October was particularly costly. Three He 111s were lost; one struck a barracks after combat damage killing 13, along with the crew, and injuring 11 ground-crew. Two bombers crashed following in-air fires. One of the bombers was piloted by III./KG 27 commanding officer Manfred Speck von Sternberg. Hans-Henning von Beust replaced him formally on 31 October.
KG 27 flew throughout the Blitz, with all three groups operating. A full list of the targets, dates, and groups involved is known.
Specific operations were also carried out. All three groups were involved in Operation Mondscheinsonate (Moonlight Sonata), which was the code word for the attack on Coventry on 14 November 1940.
KG 27 operated with multiple groups and which each group attacking several targets in one night. For example, on 6/7 November 1940, III./KG 27 struck Liverpool, Southampton, Bristol, Falmouth and Fowey.[44]
Other towns were also bombed;
I./KG 27 switched to anti-shipping operations in the last week of April. All three groups returned to bombing operations for the final time on 4/5 June 1941. I and II./KG 27 attacked Birmingham while third group struck at Bristol alone; the Filton, Colerne and Hucclecote area were hit.[47]
Eastern Front
KG 27 transferred to Romania in mid-June 1941. Stab., I., and II./KG 27 were based at Focșani. III./KG 27 was moved to Zilistea. All remained under the IV Fliegerkorps and were assigned to Luftflotte 4 to support Army Group South. Third group mustered 25 serviceable He 111s from 28 at the outset; second group, 21 from 24; first group 22 from 30. Little is known of I. and III./KG 27 operations until early September 1941.
On 22 June
It supported the advance in
From 12 to 19 July rail lines in the Zhmerinka area near
In August, I./KG 27 attacked the
In late August and September KG 27's focus shifted to Odessa and the
KG 27 submitted claims for six ships sunk and another eight damaged on 16 October. Only one ship (1,412-t Bolshevik) was sunk, and by neighbouring I./KG 28. The Axis air forces were unable to prevent the evacuation of 350,000 soldiers and civilians and 200,000 of arms and material during the
In the month of September KG 27 flew 871 sorties, claimed 15 aircraft destroyed, one destroyer and three freighters sunk, 243 vehicles and three trains destroyed.[1]
In October KG 27 continued operating on the Black Sea and over the Caucasus. II./KG 27 flew a night attack against
On 12 November nine He 111s suffered a loss when a MiG 3 piloted by Lieutenant Yakov Ivanov brought down Wilhelm Hofmann's bomber by ramming as the bombed the port of Gelendzhik.[54] In November, KG 27 flew 503 sorties, claimed 53 aircraft, one destroyer, 12 freighters, seven trains, three tanks and 294 vehicles destroyed.[1] KG 27 supported German forces in the Battle of Rostov.[1]
Black Sea and Stalingrad
The main activities of KG 27 in the winter, 1941/42, revolved around the
KG 27 supported the
KG 27 was sent south soon after to support the
After the Soviet Operation Uranus surrounded Axis forces in the city, the remaining groups took part in desperate counterattacks. Even medium bombers were used in close air support. With other units, KG 27 inflicted heavy losses to Soviet infantry and horses on 25 November in action along the Chir river. KG 27 assisted with the failed airlift but third group was sent to Hannover to rebuild and rest from December 1942 until 14 January 1943. The group returned to combat operations as Army Group South sought to prevent a total collapse of the front. II./KG 27 is known to have supported the recapture of Kharkov and Belgorod in March 1943.[60][61]
Crimea to the Balkans
KG 27 flew support for the
On 5 July 1943 the
II./KG 27 supported the 1st Panzer Army and
I./KG 27 returned to the Ukraine in January 1944 and flew attack and air-supply missions in the
I./KG 27 flew night combat missions against rail and airfields during the Soviet summer offensive Operation Bagration. Gomel, Rovno, Korosten, Minsk, Sarny, Kazatin were attacked over June and July 1944. By 30 June it could muster 41 He 111s but fuel shortages reduced flying time and at Raffelding Austria, it was renamed I./KG(J) 27 and committed to Defence of the Reich duties from 23 November 1944.[67]
III./KG 27's operations are not known. It did fly supply missions to Vilnius in Lithuania from 12 to 15 July and to German forces isolated by the Soviet offensive (23 July). By 31 August, the group's 32 Heinkels were sent to Athens to help evacuate German forces from the Balkans. At Wels, on 23 November 1944, it became KG 27's third fighter group.[68]
Other units
IV.(Erg)/KG 27 was formed in June or July 1940. Erganzungsgruppe./KG 27 was the initial designation but it was renamed on 24 November 1940. It was probably formed at Avord, France. The main purpose of the group was to provide reserve aircraft and crew to resupply the three bomber groups. It remained in France until August 1942. The group was four staffel (squadron) strong; numbers 10 to 13 were under its command by August 1942. It saw some action in the west; for example it flew a bombing raid on Southampton on 7 July 1941, and Birmingham from 27 to 31 July 1942. It took a peripheral part in the Battle of Stalingrad, and bombed
14.(Eis)/KG 27 was an independent staffel and specialised in anti-locomotive operations. It was formed at Kiev in either December 1942, or January 1943. In March 1944, the unit was part of VIII Fliegerkorps but by 26 June was under the command of IV Fliegerkorps. It fought around Kiev, Voronezh and Zhitomir. It withdrew to Szolnok, Hungary, wit 11 aircraft on 23 September, under I Fliegerkorps. On 10 October it had 7 serviceable aircraft from 10 in western Hungary. It remained in Hungary, fighting in the Siege of Budapest and then disbanding in April 1945.[5]
Commanding officers
- Oberst Hans Behrendt, 1 May 1939 – 21 June 1940
- Oberstleutnant Bernhard Georgi, 22 June 1940 – 17 July 1940 (KIA)
- Oberst Gerhard Conrad, 26 July 1940 – 6 October 1940
- Major Gerhard Ulbricht, November 1940 – December 1941
- Oberst Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust, January 1942 – 25 November 1943
- Major Karl-August Petersen 29 September 1943 – 4 November 1943
- Oberstleutnant Rudi Kiel, 5 November 1943 – 10 April 1945
Notes and references
Citations
- ^ a b c d e de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 98.
- ^ a b c d de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 99.
- ^ a b c d e de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 103.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 108.
- ^ a b c d e de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 110.
- ^ Hooton 2007a, pp. 86–87.
- ^ Hooton 1994, p. 187.
- ^ Hooton 1994, p. 176.
- ^ Hooton 2007a, p. 87.
- ^ Hooton 1994, p. 180.
- ^ a b c d de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 99, 103, 107.
- ^ a b c de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 107.
- ^ Mackay 2003, p. 56.
- ^ Hooton 1994, p. 242.
- ^ Hooton 2007b, pp. 48.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 28–56.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 49–50.
- ^ Hooton 1994, p. 243.
- ^ Mackay 2003, p. 57.
- ^ a b c de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 106.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 117, 119.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 238–241.
- ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 85.
- ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 87.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 174.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 176.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 201.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 224, 226.
- ^ Bergström 2015, p. 99.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 241.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 246–247.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 270, 272.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 281.
- ^ Price 2010, p. 55.
- ^ Price 2010, p. 225.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 286–287.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 100.
- ^ a b de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 104.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 525.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 414.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 415.
- ^ Goss 2010, pp. 212–248.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 100, 104, 107.
- ^ a b Goss 2010, p. 215.
- ^ Goss 2010, p. 225.
- ^ Goss 2010, pp. 217, 219, 222, 224, 226–227, 231–233, 239, 243–245.
- ^ Goss 2010, p. 248.
- ^ a b Bergström 2007a, p. 41.
- ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 62.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 101, 108.
- ^ Bergström 2007a, pp. 98, 99.
- ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 102.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 101, 104–105.
- ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 104.
- ^ Bergström 2007b, p. 28.
- ^ Hayward 1998, p. 123.
- ^ a b Bergström 2007b, p. 41.
- ^ Bergström 2007b, pp. 64, 76.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 101.
- ^ a b de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 101, 104, 108.
- ^ Bergström 2007b, pp. 90–91.
- ^ Bergström 2007c, p. 19.
- ^ Bergström 2008, p. 25.
- ^ Bergström 2008, p. 27.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 102–104.
- ^ Bergström 2008, p. 48.
- ^ a b de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 102.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 109.
Bibliography
- Bergström, Christer (2007a). Barbarossa — The Air Battle: July–December 1941. London: Chevron/Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-85780-270-2.
- Bergström, Christer (2007b). Stalingrad — The Air Battle: November 1942 – February 1943. London: Chevron/Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-85780-276-4.
- Bergström, Christer (2007c). Kursk – The Air Battle: July 1943. Hinkley: Midland Puplishing. ISBN 978-1-903223-88-8.
- Bergström, Christer (2008). Bagration to Berlin – The Final Air Battles in the East: 1944–1945. Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-903223-91-8.
- Bergström, Christer (2015). The Battle of Britain: An Epic Conflict Revisited. Oxford, UK: Casemate. ISBN 978-1612-00347-4.
- Cull, Brian; Lander, Bruce; Weiss, Heinrich (1999). Twelve Days in May. London: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-1-90230-412-0.
- de Zeng, Henry; Stankey, Douglas; Creek, Eddie (2007). Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source Volume 1. Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5.
- Goss, Chris (2010). The Luftwaffe's Blitz: The Inside Story, November 1940—May 1941. Manchester: Crecy. ISBN 978-0-85979-148-9.
- ISBN 978-0-7006-1146-1.
- Hooton, Edward (1994). Phoenix Triumphant: The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 978-1-86019-964-6.
- Hooton, Edward (2007a). Luftwaffe at War; Gathering Storm, 1933 - 1939. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-903223-71-0.
- Hooton, Edward (2007b). Luftwaffe at War; Blitzkrieg in the West 1939 - 1940. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-85780-272-6.
- Mackay, Ron (2003). Heinkel He 111. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-86126-576-0.
- Mason, Francis (1969). Battle Over Britain. London, UK: McWhirter Twins. ISBN 978-0-901928-00-9.
- ISBN 978-1-84425-820-8.
Further reading
- Bergström, Christer; Mikhailov, Andrey (2001). Black Cross / Red Star Air War Over the Eastern Front, Volume II, Resurgence January–June 1942. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 978-0-935553-51-2.
- Brooks, Andrew. Air War Over Russia. Ian Allan Publishing. 2003. ISBN 978-0-7110-2890-6
- Dierich, Wolfgang. Kampfgeschwader "Edelweiss" : The history of a German bomber unit, 1935–45. Allan; London. 1975. ISBN 978-0-7110-0601-0
- Echternkamp, Jörg (2014). Germany and the Second World War Volume IX/II: German Wartime Society 1939–1945: Exploitation, Interpretations, Exclusion. Oxford OUP. ISBN 978-0199542963
- Goss, Chris. (2000a). Luftwaffe Fighters and Bombers: The Battle of Britain. Stackpole, London. ISBN 978-0-81170-749-7
- Goss, Chris. (2000b). The Luftwaffe Bombers' Battle of Britain. Crecy, Manchester. ISBN 0-947554-82-3
- Hooton, E.R. (1997). Eagle in Flames: The Fall of the Luftwaffe. Arms & Armour Press. ISBN 1-86019-995-X
- Hooton, E.R. (2016). War over the Steppes: The air campaigns on the Eastern Front 1941–45. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1472815629
- Jackson, Robert. Air War Over France, 1939–1940. Ian Allan, London. 1974. ISBN 0-7110-0510-9
- James, T.C.G and ISBN 978-0-7146-8149-8
- ISBN 978-1-877-85313-5.
- Parker, Nigel (2013). Luftwaffe Crash Archive: Volume 1: A Documentary History of Every Enemy Aircraft Brought Down Over the United Kingdom, September 1939 – 14 August 1940. Red Kite, London. ISBN 978-1906592097