KITS 02/2023
4./ZG 76, 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.
Lt. Herbert Kutscha, 5./ZG 1, Soviet Union, 1942
Herbert Kutscha 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
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INFO Eduard
bombing. The Bf 110 was able to move faster over the
enemy territory than other bombers. Here it 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.
February 2023