Jagdflieger

The fighter units of the Luftwaffe can roughly be divided into three distinct categories: Tagjagdgeschwader, Nachtjagdgeschwader and Zerstörergeschwader.

Tagjagdgeschwader

Bluntly spoken, the Tagjagdgeschwader – or just Jagdgeschwader (JG) – is what almost everyone understands if the topic comes to discussing fighter wings. They are – with no disrespect intended – the “regular” fighter wings. The typical planes of these units have been the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Focke Wulf Fw 190 or Messerschmitt Me 262.

  • Jagdgeschwader 1 “Oesau”
  • Jagdgeschwader 2 “Richthofen”
  • Jagdgeschwader 3 “Udet”
  • Jagdgeschwader 4
  • Jagdgeschwader 5 “Eismeer”
  • Jagdgeschwader 6 “Horst Wessel”
  • Jagdgeschwader 7
  • Jagdgeschwader 10
  • Jagdgeschwader 11
  • Jagdgeschwader 25
  • Jagdgeschwader 26 “Schlageter”
  • Jagdgeschwader 27
  • Jagdverband 44
  • Jagdgeschwader 50
  • Jagdgeschwader 51 “Mölders”
  • Jagdgeschwader 52
  • Jagdgeschwader 53 “Pik As”
  • Jagdgeschwader 54 “Grünherz”
  • Jagdgeschwader 76
  • Jagdgeschwader 77 “Herz As”
  • Jagdgeschwader 200
  • Jagdgeschwader 300, 301, 302 “Wilde Sau”
  • Jagdgeschwader 400

Nachtjagdgeschwader

The Nachtjagdgeschwader (NJG) have been the night fighter wings of the Luftwaffe– specialized in night-time operations against the allied bomber force.

  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 1
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 4
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 5
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 6
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 7
  • Nachtjagdgruppe 10
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 11
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 100
  • Nachtjagdgeschwader 200

Zerstörergeschwader

The Zerstörergeschwader (ZG) – which literally translates into “Destroyer wing” – have been the heavy fighter wings of the Luftwaffe. These units (usually) have been flying planes that have been designed to carry heavier weapons and heavier armor and/or operate on long-distance missions. In the Luftwaffe, the Zerstörergeschwader usually operated aircrafts such as the Messerschmitt Bf 110, Me 210 and Me 410.

  • Zerstörergeschwader 1
  • Zerstörergeschwader 2
  • Zerstörergeschwader 26
  • Zerstörergeschwader 76

Sources

[1]: Wolfgang Dierich: “Die Verbände der Luftwaffe 1935 – 1945” (ISBN: 3-87943-437-9)