Zerstörergeschwader 2

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Zerstörergeschwader 2
Me 210

Zerstörergeschwader 2 (ZG 2—2nd Destroyer Wing) (lit. destroyer wing) was a

wing of World War II
.

Formation

Zerstörergeschwader 2 (ZG 2—2nd Destroyer Wing) was formed with one Gruppe (group) before the war. Initially, no Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit), II. Gruppe (2nd group) nor III. Gruppe (3rd group) was formed. I. Gruppe (1st group) was formed by renaming I(l). Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 137 (JG 137—137th Fighter Wing) to I. Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 231 (ZG 231—231st Destroyer Wing) on 1 November 1938 flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109D-1 single engine fighter. On 1 May 1939, I. Gruppe of ZG 231 became I. Gruppe of ZG 2. During this entire time, the Gruppe was commanded by Hauptmann Johannes Gentzen. This unit was initially based at Bernburg until it was moved to Groß Stein, present-day Kamień Śląski in south-western Poland, on 6 August 1939.[1]

World War II

Invasion of Poland and Phoney War

On 1 September 1939 I./ZG 2 was informally named as Jagdgruppe 102 (JGr 102—102nd Fighter Group) and flew the Bf 109D. Production at Messerschmitt plants had not reached expectations and the Bf 110 was not delivered to ZG 2 until 1940. Bf 109s equipped seven of the ten Zerstörer groups. I. and II. Gruppe of

Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen's Fliegerführer zbV which became the Fliegerkorps VIII. Richthofen's forces operated under the command of Luftflotte 4.[4] According to German plans, Richthofen's forces were to strike into Lesser Poland, toward Kraków, Łódź and Radom in support of the 10th and 14th Armies.[5] JGr 102 [I./ZG 2], had 46 Bf 109Ds combat ready.[6]

The

JG 76 were unleashed on combat patrols.[11]

Bf 109D in pre-war, peacetime markings

During the

strafe the airfield, knocking out five Polish bombers and then firing at a row of haystacks which masked more fighter aircraft. JGr 102 based itself at Kraków airfield during the northward advance.[9] Gentzen proved to be the sole Bf 109 flying ace over Poland.[14][15] The action occurred at Widzew, east of Lodz. The Polish 161 Eskadra lost five fighters.[16] The group continued to fly three to four sorties per day.[9] Based at Debrica on 13 September, a German reconnaissance aircraft delivered a message notifying the unit that an airfield at Brody was full of aircraft. For one Bf 109D, they claimed seven PZL.37 Łoś while Gentzen claimed four two-seater aircraft which were flying nearby, apparently without gunners. Over Brody, in 48 hours, the group claimed 26 Polish aircraft destroyed.[17] The Soviet invasion of Poland occurred on 17 September 1939, and Polish resistance to the aggressor nations ended on 6 October. Luftflotte 4 operations were restricted until the Polish capitulation.[18]

JGr 102 relocated to Lachen–Speyerdorf for the duration of the

constant-speed propeller kept up maximum engine performance/efficiency whereas the Bf 109D pilot had to adjust pitch manually, which caused distractions in a dogfight. Instead of using the Bf 109-perferred tactic of dive-and-zoom, the German pilots stayed to turn and fight. Over-confidence, the experience of Poland, and the spectre of the World War I dogfighting traditions, while speculative, may have led to the JGr 102's defeat.[24] After this encounter, operations were suspended for three months due to inclement weather conditions.[25]

JGr 102 was placed under the command of I Fliegerkorps, based at Bonn-Hangelar on 15 December 1939.[26] In March 1940 JGr 102 began to equip with the Bf 110, shedding its status and becoming I./ZG 2. Ernst Udet increased production by introducing a 10-hour working day. The efforts led to the creation of 30 Kampfstaffeln (bomber squadrons) and 16 Jagdstaffeln (fighter squadrons). Five Zerstörergruppen posing as Jagdgruppen (JGr 101, 102, 126, 152 and 176) finally received Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters in the spring.[27] On 10 May, now ZG 2, Stab and I. Gruppe were assigned to Jagdfliegerführer 3 at Darmstadt-Griesheim. The small fighter command was subordinated to Luftflotte 3.[28] ZG 2 was appointed a Geschwaderkommodore, Oberstleutnant Friedrich Vollbracht, a World War I fighter pilot who finished his military career with six aerial victories [two in the Great War and four in World War II].[29]

Battle of Low Countries and France

The

Fall Gelb. The goal of the operation was to lure the powerful French Army and supporting British Army into the Low Countries and then attack in the centre, north of the Maginot Line, and south of the mobile Allied forces through to the English Channel, thereby encircling the latter against the sea. Luftflotte 3 began Offensive counter air
operations in the first days of the offensive.

On 11 May I./ZG 2 flew escort for

Panzer Divisions reached the English Channel and completed the encirclement, I./ZG 2 escorted Dornier Do 17s from I./KG 3 as they attacked targets near Abbeville.[34] One 3./KG 3 was damaged, but Staffelkäpitan Fritz Lüders and his gunner from the Stabstaffel were killed.[35]

The Zerstörergeschwader wings followed the advance across France. I Gruppe was transferred to Bruno Loerzer's air corps and was ordered to escort KG 53 in bombing rail and road traffic between the Seine and Aisne. ZG 2 operated in the western reaches of this air space.[36] I./ZG 2 were based at a forward airfield at Neufchâteau, Liège by 26 May as the Battle of Dunkirk began. The area experienced nuisance raids by RAF Bomber Command. Gentzen, commading I./ZG 2, angered by the persistent attacks, took off to chase a formation of Bristol Blenheims only to crash and die on 26 May 1940.[37] Major Ernst Ott took command of I./ZG 2. Loerzer's II Fliegerkorps had rendered aerial interdiction support to the 2nd army and 12th army through to 23 May [operations suspended due to bad weather]. With Robert Ritter von Greim's V Fliegerkorps, they struck at rail targets 54 times and "localities" 47 times from 20 to 23 May. On 25 May Loerzer's airmen flew 254 bombing raids to support the advance to Amiens. I./ZG 2 was ordered specifically to escort KG 53 through this period.[38]

Battle of Britain

In June and July 1940, I./ZG 2 moved into

air superiority over Britain for a supposed invasion, Operation Sea Lion. Hauptmann Harry Carl commanded II Gruppe. The Luftwaffe order of battle August 1940 indicated it was once again assigned to Jagdfliegerführer 3 (Oberst Werner Junck). The small fighter leader command was placed under Luftflotte 3. The first phase of the Battle of Britain was the Kanalkampf (Channel Struggle). The Luftwaffe tried to lure RAF Fighter Command
into battle by attacking Allied Channel convoys bringing in supplies from abroad and moving materials around the British coast. On 8 August 1940 ZG 2 fought over the Convoy Peewit. 82 Ju 87s from III./
JG 53 were brought in to assist. The Germans headed to the Isle of Wight and split up. The Bf 110s circled to attract fighters while the Ju 88 began the bomb run on Portsmouth docks. 11 Group engaged ZG 2 and shot down four and damaged three others. Among the dead was one Staffelkapitan. No. 257 Squadron RAF were known to have fought and accounted for some of the ZG 2 casualties.[44]

The second phase of the battle began on 13 August 1940, known as "

RAF Croydon were cancelled.[50] I./KG 54 struck at the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) base at Gosport.[51] ZG 2 was supposed to provide escort during one these attacks, and in a breakdown of communications, arrived over the target without their Ju 88s, which had been ordered to stand down. One Bf 110 was shot down by No. 238 Squadron RAF and two more damaged.[52]

The 15 August 1940 was another day of intense air fighting. When it was over, it became known as "

Flight Lieutenant James Nicholson noticed a Bf 110 circling him suspiciously as he hung in his parachute, he played dead and his act worked.[55]

ZG 2 did not operate in the

No. 310 Squadron RAF and one No. 46 Squadron RAF. ZG 2 suffered heavy losses as 80 of them protected 54 Do 17s from KG 3. The ZG 2 pilots succeeded in inflicting high casualties on RAF fighters in this action with ZG 26, which reported two losses and two damaged. 310 Squadron lost one fighter and 46 Squadron three and one pilot killed. 257 Squadron lost three fighters destroyed and one damaged. The fourth day ended with one Bf 110 destroyed against No. 234 Squadron RAF; one British fighter sustained damaged.[61]

On 7 September 1940, Göring ordered the bombing of the

NJG 3. The decision to do so was not because of losses. ZG 2 performed just as well as the average German fighter unit.[64] In July and August 1940, I. and II./ZG 2 suffered 21 and 19 losses respectively. III./JG 26 lost 22 in the same period. I. and II./JG 27 lost 22 and 19 Bf 109s. ZG 2 had claimed approximately 300 enemy aircraft destroyed for 52 losses since September 1939. Leutnant Hans Schmid on II./ZG 2 was credited with 15; 8 in the Battle of Britain.[64]

Eastern Front

Stab/ZG 2 was reformed at Landsberg in April 1942. I/ZG 2 reformed from I/ZG 26's three staffeln. II/ZG 2 was activated with three new staffeln, 4, 5 and 6. III/ZG 2 was formed from three new staffeln also; 7, 8 and 9.[citation needed]

ZG 2 was transferred to

4th Air Army.[65]

On 24 June, I/ZG 2, escorted by I/

ZG 1.[67]

North African Front, disbandment

Stab/ZG 2 remained in existence and was ordered to

SKG 10
on 20 December 1942, leaving Stab/ZG 2 which remained the geschwader command unit. It is believed the Geschwaderstab disbanded the same month.

Stab and III/ZG 2 located to

Bizerta in Italy and North Africa in November 1942 under Luftflotte 2 and then II Fliegerkorps
and then Fliegerfuhrer Tunis.

Commanding officers

Stab/ZG 2
I/ZG 2
  • Major Johannes Gentzen
  • Major Ernst Ott
  • Hauptmann Hans-Peter Külbel
  • Hauptmann Christians
  • Hauptmann Eberhard Heinlein
II/ZG 2
  • Hauptmann Harry Carl
  • Hauptmann Eberhard Heinlein
  • Major Karl-Heinz Lessmann
  • Major Gerhard Weyer
III/ZG 2
  • Hauptmann Wilhelm Hachfeld
  • Hauptmann Hans-Jobst Hauenschil

References

Citations

  1. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 327.
  2. ^ Hooton 1994, p. 176.
  3. ^ Hooton 2007a, p. 84.
  4. ^ a b Hooton 2007a, p. 94.
  5. ^ Hooton 2007a, p. 85.
  6. ^ Forczyk 2019, p. 367.
  7. ^ Hooton 2007a, p. 86.
  8. ^ Weal 1996, p. 17.
  9. ^ a b c Weal 1996, p. 16.
  10. ^ Shores 1983, p. 60.
  11. ^ Forczyk 2019, p. 158.
  12. ^ Hooton 2007a, p. 87.
  13. ^ Hooton 2007a, pp. 90–92.
  14. ^ Weal 1996, p. 14.
  15. ^ Shores, Foreman & Ehrengardt 1992, p. 15.
  16. ^ Forczyk 2019, p. 159.
  17. ^ Weal 1996, pp. 16–17.
  18. ^ Hooton 1994, p. 187.
  19. ^ a b c Weal 1996.
  20. ^ Jackson 1974, p. 24.
  21. ^ a b c Jackson 1974, p. 32.
  22. ^ Weal 1996, p. 30.
  23. ^ Shores, Foreman & Ehrengardt 1992, p. 130.
  24. ^ Spick 2011, p. 37.
  25. ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 15.
  26. ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 19.
  27. ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 23.
  28. ^ Hooton 2007b, pp. 46–47.
  29. ^ Hooton 1999, p. 16.
  30. ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 64–66, 79.
  31. ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 87–88.
  32. ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 88–89, 97.
  33. ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, pp. 144, 155.
  34. ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, p. 281.
  35. ^ Cull, Lander & Weiss 1999, p. 282.
  36. ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 67.
  37. ^ Weal 2000, pp. 30–31.
  38. ^ Hooton 2007b, p. 70.
  39. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 217–218.
  40. ^ Saunders 2010, pp. 100–112.
  41. ^ Bergström 2015, p. 95.
  42. ^ Bergström 2015, pp. 95–96.
  43. ^ a b Bergström 2015, p. 96.
  44. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 213, 234–235.
  45. ^ Murray 1983, p. 47.
  46. ^ Bungay 2000, pp. 68–69, 203.
  47. ^ Parker 2000, p. 311.
  48. ^ Mackay 2000, p. 31.
  49. ^ Bungay 2000, p. 208.
  50. ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 184.
  51. ^ de Zeng, Stankey & Creek 2007, p. 179.
  52. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 238–239.
  53. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 258, 263.
  54. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 272–273.
  55. ^ Bergström 2015, pp. 133–134.
  56. ^ Bergström 2015, pp. 299, 302–303.
  57. ^ Mason 1969, p. 304.
  58. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 306, 310.
  59. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 323, 325.
  60. ^ Mason 1969, p. 338.
  61. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 341, 343, 345, 346, 350.
  62. ^ Mason 1969, pp. 364, 368.
  63. ^ Mason 1969.
  64. ^ a b Bergström 2015, p. 229.
  65. ^ a b Bergström 2007a, p. 51.
  66. ^ a b Bergström 2007a, p. 53.
  67. ^ Bergström 2007a, p. 57.

Bibliography
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zerstörergeschwader_2&oldid=1211394345"