Kampfgeschwader 51

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Kampfgeschwader 51
Active 1939-1945
Country Germany
Allegiance Flag of Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Type Bomber Squadron
Role Tactical and Direct Ground Support.
Size Air Force Wing
Nickname Edelweiss

Kampfgeschwader 51 "Edelweiss" (KG 51) (Battle Wing 51) was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during World War II. The unit began forming in December 1939. The unit operated the Dornier Do 17, Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 88 light and medium bombers. The wing was named after Edelweiss flower, found in Austria.

Contents

[edit] History

Stab/KG 51 and I./KG 51 were formed on 1 May 1939 at Landsberg am Lech, and the formation was completed on 20 August 1939. The units were initially designated KG 255. the units were initially equipped with the Do 17Ps, but later reequipped with He 111Hs in August 1939. The unit spent most of the summer training and recruiting personnel from the flight schools, and the Geschwader did not see much action during the Polish Campaign.

[edit] Commanding officers

[edit] Geschwaderkommodore

  • Oberst Dr. Johann-Volkmar Fisser, 1 May 1939 – 26 March 1940
  • Oberst Josef Kammhuber, 26 March 1940 – 3 June 1940
  • Oberst Dr. Johann-Volkmar Fisser, 3 June 1940 – 12 August 1940
  • Major Hans Bruno Schulz-Heyn, 12 August 1940 – 1 September 1941
  • Oberst Paul Koester, 1 September 1941 – 4 July 1942
  • Major Wilhelm von Friedeburg, 4 July 1942 – 1 December 1942
  • Oberst Heinrich Conrady, 1 December 1942 – 8 January 1943
  • Major Egbert von Frankenberg und Proschlitz, 8 January 1943 – 9 May 1943
  • Major Hanns Heise, 9 May 1943 – 25 February 1944
  • Oberstleutnant Wolf Dietrich Meister, 25 February 1944 – 5 December 1944
  • Major Wolfgang Schenck, 5 December 1944 – 1 February 1945
  • Oberstleutnant Rudolf Hallensleben, 1 February 1945 – 19 April 1945
  • Oberstleutnant Siegfried Barth, 19 April 1945

[edit] War Time Service

[edit] Phoney War

Throughout the Phoney War, the two active Gruppen, I./KG 51 and II./KG51, remained on standby in western Germany. I./KG 51 was based at Memmingen.[1] The Stab./KG 51 remained at Landsberg am Lech, but sttod ready to move in case of a Allied attack. During this period II./KG 51 was formed between 1 December 1939 and 15 April 1940. This Gruppen was equipped with the Ju 88. III./KG 51 was also formed during this time. Formation began on 1 September 1939 and was completed in May 1940, although the unit flew missions over Marseille and bordeaux on 17 November 1939, without suffering any losses. It is recorded between this time it was equipped with He 111Hs, and had 36 on strength, with 33 serviceable when it entered operation over France.[2]

[edit] France and the Low Countries

The Strength of Stab./KG 51 with nine He 111s, all were serviceable. However this was soon reduced to a Stabskette. On the day of the western offensive the unit had just a single He 111 and Ju 88. The strength of I./K 51 on the 10 May 1940 stood at 36 He 111s of which 34 were serviceable. [3] II./KG had 38 Ju 88s on hand, of which just 15 were serviceable.[4]. The third Gruppen, III.KG 51, was equipped with 39 He 111s, of which 29 were air worthy on 10 May.[5]

I./KG 51 was heavily engaged and supporting the breakthrough at Sedan. It reported losses on 18, 24 of May and 9 June. The groups first Ju 88 loss occurred on 5 June. After the French surrender, the unit relocated to Paris. II.KG 51 supported German forces during the Battle of Dunkirk and flew missions along the Franco-Swiss border. It relocated to Paris on 20 June 1940. III./KG 51 also engaged in combat during the campaign. Elements of of this unit accidentally bombed Freiburg, killing 57 people and injuring 101, including 22 children. The pilot, Leutnant Paul Seidel was distraught over the error, until he was shot down and killed over Portsmouth on 12 August 1940.[6]

[edit] Battle of Britain

[edit] Russia

[edit] Organisation

Stab. Gruppe


[edit] Reference

[edit] Notes and References

  1. ^ de Zeng et al 2007, p. 146.
  2. ^ de Zeng et al 2007, p. 155.
  3. ^ de Zeng et al 2007, p. 146.
  4. ^ de Zeng et al 2007, p. 151.
  5. ^ de Zeng et al 2007, p. 155.
  6. ^ Hooton 207, p. 62-63.
  • de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 1. Ian Allen Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5
  • Hooton, E.R (2007). Luftwaffe at War; Blitzkrieg in the West: Volume 2. London: Chervron/Ian Allen. ISBN 978-1-85780-272-6.