4./NJG 1, St. Trond, Belgium, February 1942

NJG 1 was the oldest night fighter Luftwaffe unit and was founded by the legendary Oberst Wolfgang Falck. At the beginning of 1942, the unit’s II. Gruppe was led by Major Walter Ehle, who kept the commanding position for over next three years. In 1942, the well-known night fighter Wilhelm Herget, for example, also served within the ranks of 4. Staffel II./NJG 1. This “G9+JM” is interesting not only for the shark mouth marking, but also for the temporary application of a “naval” RLM 72 green on the upper surfaces, as this plane took part in patrol flights for Operation Donnerkeil. A quick identification mark came in the form of a yellow fuselage band. During the operation, the Germans managed to navigate the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau as well as the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen through the English Channel from Brest (Bretagne, France) to northern Germany. The Luftwaffe, between February 11 and 13, 1942, ensured uninterrupted patrols over the formation. II./NJG 1 and II./NJG 3 were tasked with cover duty during twilight and overnight hours. On the second day of operations, elements of both night fighter units relocated to Lister airbase in Norway, from which the last segment of the fleet’s cruise was covered. The unit’s detachment stayed in Norway through to the end of February. All air to air victories during Operation Donnerkeil were achieved by day fighters of the Luftwaffe.

Lt. Herbert Kutscha, 5./ZG 1, Soviet Union, 1942

Herbert Kutscha ((*1917 †2003) served with II./JG 77 at the beginning of the war, but he was soon transferred to 5./ZG 1 equipped with Messerschmitts Bf 110. During the Battle of France, he shot down a number of aircraft, including a Bf 109 of the air force of neutral Switzerland. Later, he also gained much success on the Eastern Front as a ground attack pilot, partially due to II./ZG 1 transformation into II./SKG 210. Kutscha’s II.Gruppe, under the command of Hptm. Rolf Kaldrack, was specialized in ground attack operations, especially in low level bombing. The Bf 110 was able to move faster over the enemy territory than other bombers. Here is where the term “fast bombardment wing” (SKG; Schnellkampfgeschwader) was coined. Kutscha was awarded the Knight’s Cross after his 22nd victory. At that time there were 41 aircraft destroyed on the ground, 41 tanks, 15 locomotives, 11 anti-aircraft guns and 157 transport vehicles added to his tally. In June 1943 he took command of 15. Staffel JG 3 “Udet”, utilizing single engine fighters. In the summer of 1944, he took control of II./JG 3 in Normandy and by the end of the year he changed the unit to lead II./JG 27. From February 1945 he commanded III./JG 1 on the Eastern Front. All in all, he flew over 900 sorties and achieved 47 kills, six of which were four engine heavy bombers and 22 of his kills he achieved behind controls of Bf 110. German Geschwader was much bigger unit than RAF or USAAF Squadron. In fact, it was corresponding to USAAF Wing, while Gruppe was equal to USAAF Group and Staffel was similar unit as the USAAF squadron.

Lt. Felix-Maria Brandis, 1.(Z)/JG 77, Malmi, Finland, 1942

One of the aircraft of 1.(Z)/JG 77 commander Lt. Felix-Maria Brandis while stationed on the Eastern Front. His credit count tallied 14 victories of which five victims were British (including a pair of Fairey Albacores) and nine Soviet aircraft. Lt. Brandis died on February 2, 1942, when flying Bf 110E-2 (WNr. 2546) LN+AR at Olang. He crashed on the return leg of a combat sortie in bad weather conditions. By that time, his unit had been re-designated 6.(Z)/JG 5 (January 25, 1942). The designation of the unit progressively changed from 1.(Z)/JG 77 to 6.(Z)/JG 5, 10.(Z)/JG 5 and 13.(Z)/JG 5. On the nose of the aircraft, there was the emblem of a dachshund with a Rata (Polikarpov I-16) in its mouth. It was a typical marking of this unit, as a number of these dogs were mascots of the “Dackelstaffel” through its existence, irrespective of the unit designation carried at any particular time. Some sources even say each crew had their own dog. The wiener dogs even occasionally flew on combat missions with the crew. The unit opposed British aircraft as well as Soviet ones in northern Europe. This aircraft, flown by Lt. Harry Kripphal, fell a victim of anti-aircraft fire 30 km west of Murmansk on June 18, 1942.

WNr. 4035, Sonderkommando Junck, Mosul Air Base, Iraq, May 1941

After the outbreak of the Anglo-Iraqi War, which lasted from April 18 to May 30, 1941, the Italians and Germans gave their military support to the Iraqis. The Luftwaffe opposed the RAF with the unit named Sonderkommando Junck, which had Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighters, Heinkel He 111 bombers, and Junkers Ju 52 transport planes in its inventory. The unit was commanded by Oberst Werner Junck, who, during the course of the First World War with Jasta 8, gained five aerial victories. Between the wars, he was a well-known sport pilot. The Messerschmitts Bf 110 carried Iraqi national insignia but were manned by German crews. In fact, the aircraft in question came from ZG 76 and ZG 26. The only unit’s victory during this episode was achieved on May 20, 1941 by Lt. Martin Drewes (a future night fighter ace) of II./ZG 76, when he shot down a Gloster Gladiator flown by Sgt. Smith of A Squadron of Habbaniya Strike Force over Fallujah. Messerschmitt Bf 110E WNr. 4035 was found by the British after a forced landing. It was repaired in September 1941 and christened “Belle of Berlin”. Later it was flown to Egypt to No. 267 Squadron. The aircraft was written off after a forced landing enroute to South Africa.

6./ZG 1, Russia, Summer 1942

The wasp emblem (Wespe) was designed in the autumn of 1939 by Lt. Richard Malchfelder, a technical officer of one of the Zerstörergruppe (II./ZG 1). It was originally composed of three small wasps, and was utilized by the same Gruppe of heavy fighters that went through several designation changes (including II./SKG 210) and, finally, in early 1942, ended up as II./ZG 1. Soon, other Gruppe of Zerstörergeschwader 1 came to use the wasp emblem and their Geschwader carried the operational name of “Wespen”. This aircraft sported the RLM 74/75/76 camouflage pattern.