Schlachtgeschwader 10

Schlachtgeschwader 10
Active	1943 – 1945
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Luftwaffe
Type	Dive bomber
Role	Close air support
Size	Air Force Wing
Aircraft flown
Attack	Fw 190

Schlachtgeschwader 10 (SG 10) was a Luftwaffe Close air support–wing of World War II. The Geschwader was formed on 18 October 1943 in Berdychiv from the Stab of Schnellkampfgeschwader 10. SG 10 was formed in October 1943 with I. Gruppe (I./SG 10) formed from I./Schnellkampfgeschwader 2, II. Gruppe (II./SG 10) from IV./Schnellkampfgeschwader 10 and III. Gruppe (III./SG 10) from II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77.

SG 10 was posted in December 1943 to Southern Russia for ground attack operations with Luftflotte 4, based at Belaya Tserkov and with III Gruppe at Lisiatycze. In March 1944 Stab, I. and II. Gruppen moved to Rsuchowka, and in April to Tiraspol. In May 1944 Stab and II. Gruppe returned to Leipzig for re-equipment, while III. Gruppe relocated to Markersdorf.

In June 1944 SG 10 flew operations over Central Russia under the command of Luftflotte 6, with Stab and III. Group based at Dokudowo derving 4. Fliegerdivision, and I. Group at Bobruisk with 1. Fliegerdivision. II./SG 10 were based at Culm in southern Russia assigned to I. Fliegerkorps.

By July 1944 III. Group were at Lezanie, I. Group Sudauen, II. Group at Radon with 1. Fliegerdivision.

In August 1944 III. Group was relocated to Focşani.

In September 1944 Stab and II. Group were switched to Bielice under 1. Fliegerdivision, I. Group to Insterburg with 1. Fliegerdivision and III. Group to Görgényoroszfalu, Hungary

During 1944, besides intensive ground attack operations, the unit also claimed over 140 Soviet aircraft shot down, Obfw. Bernhard Johannes claiming at least 11 of a personal total of 17 before his death in July 1944, while Oblt. Manfred Goetze claimed 12 during the year for a total of 16 ( in over 800 sorties), before being killed by Soviet AA fire on 4 January 1945. Oblt. Norbert Schmidt claimed 12 kills (of 30) before being posted missing on 26 March 1945 during air combat.

Until 1945 missions continued to be flown from southeast Hungary with Luftflotte 4. In February 1945 Stab, I. Group and II. Group was based at Totvascony, and III. Gruppe at Papa.

Commanding officers

Geschwaderkommodore

• Major Heinz Schumann, 18 October 1943 – 8 November 1943
• Oberstleutnant Helmut Viedebantt, December 1943 – July 1944
• Oberstleutnant Ewald Janssen, 20 July 1944 – January 1945
• Oberstleutnant Georg Jakob, 30 January 1945 – 8 May 1945

Gruppenkommandeure

I./SG 10

• Major Egon Thiem, 1 December 1943 – 8 May 1945

II./SG 10

• Oberstleutnant Helmut Viedebantt, 18 December 1943 – 16 December 1943
• Major Götz Baumann, 16 December 1943 – 8 May 1945

III./SG 10

• Major Helmut Leicht, 18 October 1943 – 2 July 1944
• Major Horst Steinhardt, 2 July 1944 – 8 May 1945

See also

Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II

References

Sturzkampf/Schlachtgeschwader of the Wehrmacht Luftwaffe Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 2 3 5 51 76 77 101 102 151 160 162 163 165 167 168 Schlachtgeschwader 1 2 3 4 5 9 10 77 101 102 103 104 111 151 152

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of Schlachtgeschwader 10 Erich Axthammer Josef Enzensberger Manfred Goetze Paul Günther Günter Honnefeller Georg Jakob1 (Oak Leaves) Bernhard Johannes Ernst Orzegowski Herbert Piske Klaus Riebicke Norbert Schmitt Ignatz Schweizer Heinrich Starke Karl-Heinrich Welzel Leopold Wenger 1 Knight's Cross with Sturzkampfgeschwader 77.