Kampfgeschwader 30

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Kampfgeschwader 30
wing
Nickname(s)Adler (eagle)
EngagementsWorld War II
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Geschwaderkennung of 4D

Kampfgeschwader 30 (KG 30) was a

wing during World War II
.

Service history

Formed on 15 November 1939 in

]

II./KG 30 operated under X. Fliegerkorps for Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway. The unit Ju 88s engaged Allied shipping as its main target. On 9 April 1940, in cooperation with high-level bombing Heinkel He 111s of KG 26, Ju 88s of II./KG 30 dive-bombed and damaged the battleship HMS Rodney and sank the destroyer HMS Gurkha. The unit lost four Ju 88s in the action, the highest single loss of KG 30 throughout the campaign.

On 9 June 1940 Kampfgeschwader 30 took over

KG 4
.

In September 1942 KG 30 was active against Arctic convoy PQ 18. Attacking PQ 18, the group carried out a massed torpedo attack known as the Golden Comb, developed as an anti-convoy measure. This was initially successful, sinking several ships, though the group suffered heavy losses. On 23 November 1944 Kampfgeschwader 30 was redesignated as Kampfgeschwader(J)30, converting to a fighter unit. The unit was disbanded 18 April 1945.

Commanding officers

  • Oberstleutnant Walter Loebel, 15 November 1939 – 16 August 1940
  • Oberst Herbert Rieckhoff, 17 August 1940 – 20 October 1940
  • Oberstleutnant Erich Bloedorn, October 1940 – May 1943
  • Oberstleutnant Wilhelm Kern, 18 May 1943 – 10 September 1943
  • Oberstleutnant
    Sigmund-Ulrich Freiherr von Gravenreuth
    , September 1943 – 16 October 1944
  • Oberst Bernhard Jope, October 1944 – February 1945
  • Oberst Hanns Heise, February 1945 – May 1945

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links