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