Kampfgeschwader 3
Kampfgeschwader 3 | |
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Insignia | |
Identification symbol | Geschwaderkennung of 5K |
Kampfgeschwader 3 "Blitz" (KG 3) was a Luftwaffe bomber wing during World War II .
KG 3 was created in 1939 as the Luftwaffe reorganised and expanded to meet Adolf Hitler's rearmament demands. It was founded in May 1939 and by December 1939, had three active Gruppen (Groups). KG 3 operated the Dornier Do 17 and Junkers Ju 88 medium bombers.
KG 3 served in the
In June 1941 it supported Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. KG 3 remained on the Eastern Front for the duration of the wing's existence as a bomber unit. III./KG 3 became the last Gruppe in the Luftwaffe to operate the Dornier Do 17.[2] The Gruppe was also converted to the Heinkel He 111 and used as a delivery platform to launch V-1 flying bombs against the United Kingdom from the spring to late summer, 1944.
KG 3 was ordered to disband on 18 August 1944 but by the 10 September the dissolution of the wing was still ongoing. All Gruppen ceased to exist by October 1944 and were merged with other Luftwaffe units before the German capitulation in May 1945.
History
Kampfgeschwader 3 was formed on 1 May 1939 at Fürstenwalde in eastern Germany with Stab/KG 3 on 1 May 1939.[1] The Stab unit was transferred to Ebling, East Prussia before the end of May. Oberst Wolfgang von Chamier-Glisczinski became the first Geschwaderkommodore. KG 3 was equipped with the Dornier Do 17Z.
II and III Gruppen were formed near Magdeburg and Altenburg–Thuringia, respectively, on the same day. All Gruppen were allocated the Do 17. III Gruppe was formed from III./KG 153. From May–August 1939 the three units underwent intensive training in the Do 17. II./KG 3 was placed under the command of Hauptmann Ernst Exss from 1 May 1939, but he was replaced by Oberst Viktor Seebauer until the 1 July. Oberstleutnant Erich Munske was the Gruppenkommandeur upon the outbreak of war. III./KG 3 was commanded by Oberstleutnant Hans Grund, but he was replaced by Oberstleutnant Karl Neuhüttler on 1 July. Oberst Albrecht Jahn was the group's first wartime commanding officer.[3]
I Gruppe was not formed until 19 September 1939 near Burg, made up of personnel from II., and III.Gruppe. The group was placed under the command of Oberstleutnant Rudolf Gabelmann. It likely became operational on 1 March 1940, after over five weeks of training during the winter, during which it "worked up" on the Dornier Do 17Z.[4]
War service
In August 1939, the operational Gruppen were transferred to Luftflotte 1. The mechanics of the Elbing airfield were able to ensure seven of the nine Do 17s belonging to Stab/KG 3 were operational. At Heiligenbeil II./KG 3 could commit 36 operational bombers from 38 to action. III./KG 3 were quipped with 39 bombers, with 30 combat ready at Heiligenbeil. KG 3 were in a position to offer support Fall Weiss, the attack on Poland, with 86 bombers.[5] Luftflotte 1 was to support the German 3rd Army, attacking from Prussia, and the main elements of Army Group North attacking Polish Corridor.[6] By 1 September KG 3 was based at Heiligenbeil under the Luftwaffenkommando Ostpreussen (Luftwaffe Command East Prussia) under the command of Wilhelm Wimmer.[7] The command was independent from Luftflotte 1, and was to support the 3rd Army's drive Toruń, Płock, Warsaw and Polish Corridor.[8]
Poland and the Phoney War
On the 1 September 1939 German forces
The Geschwader ceased operations on 21 September 1939 and were ordered to western Germany to face a possible Allied attack, which petered out. III./KG 3 was ordered to Fritzlar, southwest of Kassel and then moved to Würzburg for five months until 5 April 1940.[13] Karl Neuhuttler handed over command to Albrecht Jahn on 1 July and Jahn was replaced as group commander on 2 March, by Major Wilhelm-Georg von Kunowski, with Jahn moving to II./KG 3.[14] II./KG 3 was based at Schweinfurt until May 1940.[10] The group command was change to Oberstleutnant Albrecht Jahn in April, but only to the 16 May, when he was replaced mid-campaign, but Hauptmann Otto Pilger.[15] I./KG 3 was based at Kitzingen from 16 April 1940 in preparation for the offensive.[4] The unit did not participate in Operation Weserübung but instead spent the spring training and resting in preparation for the western offensive in 1940.[16]
Western Europe
Stab./KG 3 was placed under the command of
On 10 May 1940 the offensive began and the Luftwaffe sought to gain
KG 3 was active in supporting the advance in southern
The bomber groups supported the
KG 3's Gruppen were at unknown bases in June. They may have still operated from Germany. The wing was involved in Operation Paula on 3 June 1940. The purpose of the operation was to attack airfields and factories in the Paris area.[27] KG 3 operations for the duration of Fall Rot are not clear. It is believed that it supported Army Group A and Army Group C encircle the Maginot Line and supported the advance to Switzerland.[1] KG 3 were one of four bomber formations ordered to assist the storming of the Maginot defences on 18 June 1940. In the event, the Armistice of 22 June 1940 preempted the operation.[28]
Battle of Britain
The Luftwaffe rapidly reorganised the Luftflotten in France, Belgium and the Netherlands in June and July 1940. The British refusal to surrender or come to terms with Germany, precipitated Adolf Hitler's order for
Stab./KG 3 was moved to
The initial German air raids against shipping became known as the
On 13 August, the Germans initiated
On 15 August 88 Do 17s from KG 3, led by von Chamier-Glisczinski were ordered to destroy
On 20 August III./KG 3 struck at Eastchurch again.[13] 27 Do 17s escorted by 30 Bf 109s from I./JG 51 flew up the Thames Estuary. No. 615 Squadron RAF accounted for the lost 9./KG 3 machine reported missing on the raid.[39] On 21 August II./KG 3 carried out attacks on RAF Horsham St Faith.[32] The weather was poor, but keen to keep the pressure on Fighter Command, Kesselring sent out small raids of three aircraft. The 6./KG 3 Dorniers flew over Norfolk were detected and No. 611 Squadron RAF destroyed all three aircraft. Another 4./KG 3 was lost in action with No. 242 Squadron RAF.[40]
Five days later 80 Do 17s—40 from KG 3 and 40 from
On 28 August I./KG 3 bombed Eastchurch and II./KG 3 attacked Rochford airfield. KG 3 carried out a joint operation with I. and III./
On 2 September one Gruppe carried out an attack covered by 50 Bf 110s from
The Blitz
On 7 September 1940 the battle over the airfields receded and the Luftwaffe turned to London, beginning the Blitz. All three groups were involved in the daylight attack on London which began the nine-month aerial bombardment of British cities.[13] I./KG 3 had 29 aircraft (25 operational); II./KG 3 27 aircraft (23 operational); III./KG 3 could muster 28 (19 operational), on 7 September.
KG 3 lost two bombers.
On the night of 14/15 November, a large force hit Coventry. "Pathfinders" from 12
KG 3 was used sparingly in comparison to other German bomber units. It did take part in the
Balkan Campaign
In mid-March 1941 III./KG 3 staged down through France to Münchendorf, Austria and carried out training exercises from 27 to 29 March 1941. The group had 28 Dorniers, with 26 combat ready and three Junkers Ju 88s. It placed under the command of Luftflotte 4 under the command of Alexander Löhr until 5 April. The group supported the invasion of Yugoslavia, and was involved the bombing of Belgrade on 6 April. 102 Do 17s, carrying 18 SC 50 kg (110 lb) fragmentation bombs, and 2 AB 36 cluster bombs attacked the capital. Some 82 Do 17s remained operational after the first day, with only one reported loss, a KG 3 machine.[65] Another sources states two; both from 8. Staffel. The campaign terminated on 18 April, with a swift Axis victory.[66]
German forces also invaded
Eastern Front
On 22 June 1941 Operation Barbarossa began the war on the Eastern Front. Stab. and I./KG 3 was based at Dęblin–Podlokowka with three and 41 aircraft respectively. Stab./KG 3 had two Ju 88s and a single Do 17 and I./KG 3 had 32 of its 41 Ju 88s operational. Both were under II Fliegerkorps, Luftflotte 2, supporting Army Group Centre.
Dęblin–Ulez was home to II./KG 3, which fielded 32 operational Do 17s to of the 38 available. III./KG 3 moved to Suwałki, but owing to operations in the Balkans, only 18 of the 44 Do 17s were operational. Third group was placed under the command of Fliegerkorps VIII, Luftflotte 2.
On 22 June I./KG 3 attacked
II./KG 3 carried out bombing operation in the
III./KG 3 was transferred to northward to support
By 9 September 1941, KG 3 had been credited with the destruction of 450 aircraft on the ground, 21 in aerial combat, 30 tanks, 488 vehicles, 349 rail cars, seven armoured trains, 27 artillery guns and 14 bridges from 22 June.[1] The Do 17 elements disrupted flew 290 sorties against troop concentrations, barracks, supply depots and interrupted rail traffic on 332 occasions.[73]
In October 1941 KG 3 supported Operation Typhoon, the Battle of Moscow. In the initial attacks, KG 3, with KG 53, focused on bombing Soviet airfields.[74] III./KG 3 operated from Vitebsk on 1 October and when the offensive began the following day, the 3rd Panzer Army and the 9th Army toward Moscow. I./KG 3 was involved in the advance in the southeast, completing operations at Tambov on 25 November before withdrawing to Germany. It bombed Moscow twice during the offensive, on 20 October and 6 November. II./KG 3 bombed Kirov on the opening day, Moscow on the 27 October and 9 November, as well as Kaluga on 21 December, weeks after the Soviet counteroffensive. II./KG 3 lingered on the front until 22 February, and between then and April 1942 left for Germany to refit and rest. III./KG 3 remained in combat with the Kalinin Front and in action over the Vyazma sector until 6 December when it too left the front to convert to the Ju 88. It handed the remaining Do 17s to the Croatian Air Force.[2] I./KG 3 ended the year with the loss of its commander Oberstleutnant Fridtjof Pasquay who was posted missing in action on 25 November.[10]
Northern, Central and Southern sector of the Eastern Front
Information for the period January 1942 – December 1943 is extremely sparse since much fewer of KG 3's records survive in comparison to other bomber wings.
From 7–23 July it supported the Second Panzer Army in the Orel sector. The group was on the move during this time and it recorded at Kursk on 16 July. I./KG 3 supported German forces for at least 24 hours in the Battle of Voronezh. By 20 September 1942 it had 24 Ju 88s but only 15 were combat ready. The group was moved to Münster and then Gütersloh by 26 June 1943. A specialist training busting unit—2 staffel—was possibly left at Poltava.[10]
II./KG 3 continued to support Army Group Centre and formed part of VIII Fliegerkorps. It probably operated from
III./KG 3 held on to their Do 17s until May 1942 when they became the last bomber group to convert to the Ju 88 at Gütersloh. It fought near Orel and Toropets and operated in the former area from 18 to 25 May. It was involved in the Rzhev battles against the Soviet 39th Army and XI Cavalry Corps. KG 3 succeed in assisting the encirclement and destruction of the Soviet forces.[2]
The battles cost KG 3 their Geschwaderkommodore Jobst-Heinrich von Heydebreck who was posted missing on 3 January 1943—he had only served as wing commander for two months after taking over from Heinrich Conrady on 1 November 1942.
Through 1943 KG 3 struck at the vital enemy rail system. By December 1942 three dedicated railway (Eisenbahn) Staffeln (squadrons) had been established and produced several expert train-busting pilots. Leutnant Udo Cordes of 9.(Eis)/KG 3, claimed 41 locomotives and 19 complete trains in three weeks while Hauptmann Ernst Fach claimed 216 locomotives on lone sorties hunting lightly defended rail lines deep into the Soviet rear. The claim count is likely to include wagons and not just locomotives. Fach's prolific run ended on 14 May 1943 when he was killed in action.[75] Aside from one loss on 13 April in a Soviet air raid and two Ju 88s lost on 5 July 1943, little else is known about the unit.[14]
All three groups supported
Operations against Britain
III./KG 3 remained the sole surviving group in late 1944. It was assigned to the 30th Jagddivision from 26 September 1943 to January 1944. It was reshaped as an illumination (pathfinder) group for single engine, none radar-equipped, night fighters engaged in the Defence of the Reich. It was renamed I.(Bel)./NJG 7 (Night Fighter Wing 7) in January 1944 and transferred from Luftflotte 6 to Luftflotte Reich.
III./KG 3 was reformed on 6 February 1944 near Lublin, Poland. It was trained to use the Heinkel He 111H-22 in night operations, as a weapon platform, for the V-1 flying bomb (FZG 76). It began this operations in late June 1944 under Fliegrkorps IX from Venlo and Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands with nine He 111s.
On 7 and 9 July it launched V-1s at Southampton and London respectively. From 18 to 20 July it launched approximately 50 V-1s. It may have flown a last sortie on 5 October 1944, but may have been in the process of disbanding. It was subordinated to Gefechtsverband Hallensleben. It had lost four aircraft by 20 October to RAF night fighters. The groups ranks had swelled to 25 He 111s by 16 October. According to sources, from 7 July—20 October 1944 it launched around 1,100 V-1s but 40 percent failed. There is no further mention of III./KG 3 activity.[76]
Commanding officers
- Oberst Wolfgang von Chamier-Glisczinski, 1 May 1939 – 1 September 1941
- Oberst Heinrich Conrady, 1 September 1941 – 31 October 1942
- Oberst Erich Rathmann (acting), 1942
- Major Jobst-Heinrich von Heydebreck, 1 November 1942 – 3 January 1943 (MIA)
- Oberstlt Walter Lehweß-Litzmann, January 1943 – 7 September 1943 (MIA, Oberst promotion was posthumous)
- Major Fritz Auffhammer, 24 September 1943 – 18 August 1944
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 36.
- ^ a b c d de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 43.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 38, 42.
- ^ a b c d e de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 37.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 36, 37, 38, 42.
- ^ Hooton 1994, p. 175.
- ^ Hooton 2007a, p. 94.
- ^ Hooton 2007a, p. 85.
- ^ Hooton 1994, p. 179.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 38.
- ^ Hooton 1994, pp. 184–185.
- ^ Hooton 1994, p. 188.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 42.
- ^ a b c de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 44.
- ^ a b c de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 41.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 36–48.
- ^ a b Hooton 1994, p. 243.
- ^ Jackson 1974, p. 71.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 21–22.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, p. 23.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, p. 87.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, p. 88.
- ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, p. 97.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 36, 42.
- ^ Hooton 2007b, pp. 72–73.
- ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 66.
- ^ Jackson 1974, p. 80.
- ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 89.
- ^ Hooton 1997, p. 17.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, pp. 40, 42.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 136.
- ^ a b de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 40.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 151, 159, 187, 212.
- ^ Baker 1996, p. 113.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 242.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 238.
- ^ Bergström 2015, p. 122.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 257, 261.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 288–289.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 289–290.
- ^ a b Mason 1969, pp. 306–307, 310.
- ^ Bowyer 2010, p. 239.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 306–307.
- ^ "Dornier Do 17Z Werke nr. 1160". Royal Air Force Museum, 6 December 2012. Retrieved: 5 May 2013.
- ^ "Dornier 17 Conservation: Identification". Royal Air Force Museum, 6 December 2012. Retrieved: 5 May 2013.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 310.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 313–315.
- ^ Bowyer 2010, pp. 246–247.
- ^ Bergström 2015, p. 162.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 330.
- ^ Bergström 2015, p. 173.
- ^ Bergström 2015, p. 181.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 339.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 341.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 367.
- ^ Price 1990, pp. 81–83, 74–75.
- ^ Bungay 2000, p. 329.
- ^ Mason 1969, p. 393.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 410, 424.
- ^ Mason 1969, pp. 434, 462–463.
- ^ a b Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 57.
- ^ Hooton 1997, p. 35.
- ^ Goss 2010, p. 218.
- ^ Goss 2010, pp. 223–248.
- ^ Ciglić & Savić 2007, p. 53.
- ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 200.
- ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 280.
- ^ Shores, Cull & Malizia 1987, p. 325.
- ^ Brookes 2003, p. 25.
- ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 46.
- ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 48.
- ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 50.
- ^ Brookes 2003, p. 54.
- ^ Brookes 2003, p. 57.
- ^ Hooton 1997, p. 188.
- ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 45.
Bibliography
- Baker, David (1996). Adolf Galland: The Authorised Biography. London: Windrow & Green. ISBN 978-1-85915-017-7.
- ISBN 978-1-85780-270-2.
- ISBN 978-1612-00347-4.
- Bowyer, Michael (2010). Battle of Britain: The Fight for Survival in 1940. Crecy Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85979-147-2.
- Brookes, Andrew (2003). Air War Over Russia. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7110-2890-6.
- ISBN 978-1-85410-721-3.
- Ciglić, Boris; Savić, Dragan (2007). Dornier Do 17 – The Yugoslav Story: Operational Record 1937–1947. Belgrade: Jeroplan Books. ISBN 978-86-909727-0-8.
- Cull, Brian; Lander, Bruce; Weiss, Heinrich (1999). Twelve Days in May. London: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-1-90230-412-0.
- de Zeng, H.L.; Stankey, D.G.; Creek, E.J. (2007). Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933–1945; A Reference Source, Volume 1. 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.
- Hooton, E.R. (1994). Phoenix Triumphant; The Rise and Rise of the Luftwaffe. London: Arms & Armour Press. ISBN 978-1-85409-181-9.
- Hooton, E. R. (1997). Eagle in Flames: The Fall of the Luftwaffe. ISBN 978-1-86019-995-0.
- Hooton, E.R. (2007a). Luftwaffe at War; Gathering Storm 1933–39: Volume 1. London: Chevron/Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-903223-71-0.
- Hooton, E.R. (2007b). Luftwaffe at War; Blitzkrieg in the West: Volume 2. London: Chevron/Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-85780-272-6.
- Jackson, Robert (1974). Air War Over France, 1939–1940. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-7110-0510-5.
- Mason, Francis (1969). Battle Over Britain. London: McWhirter Twins Ltd. ISBN 978-0-901928-00-9.
- ISBN 978-1-85367-375-7.
- Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian; Malizia, Nicola (1987). Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece, and Crete, 1940–41. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-07-6.
Further reading
- Air Power History, Volumes 44–45, 1997.
- Bergström, Christer (2007b). Stalingrad – The Air Battle: 1942 through January 1943. Midland Puplishing, Hinkley. ISBN 978-1-85780-276-4
- Bergström, Christer (2015). The Battle of Britain: An Epic Conflict Revisited. Casemate: Oxford. ISBN 978-1612-00347-4.
- 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.
- Hayward, Joel S (1998). A. Stopped At Stalingrad. Univ. of Kansas; Lawrence. ISBN 978-0-7006-1146-1
- James, T.C.G and ISBN 978-0-7146-8149-8
- ISBN 1-877853-13-5
- 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
- Wakefield, Ken (1999). Pfadfinder: Luftwaffe Pathfinder Operations Over Britain. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-75241-692-2