KITS 06/2022

Fw. Adalbert Koch, 6./JG 300, Löbnitz, Germany, fall 1944

JG 300 was initially tasked with nighttime interception of Allied bombers headed to targets in occupied

Europe as was the case with her sister unit JG 301

as well. However, at the beginning of 1944, attention shifted to daylight operations. The II. Gruppe

of the unit was formed in July 1943 and equipped

with heavily armed and armored Fw 190A-8/R2s or

R8s in the summer of 1944. It was also designated

as a Sturmgruppe. One of the unit’s pilots was Fw.

Adalbert Koch, who in the fall of 1944 flew an aircraft

with the “yellow 15” code. The armor plating on the

sides of the fuselage carried the inscription “Titi Wau

Wau”. The Defense of the Reich marking for JG 300

consisted of a red fuselage band. By this time, very

few of these aircraft retained their armored glass on

the sliding portion of the canopy. The pilots generally

had these removed because of condensation, which

formed between the glass surfaces at high altitude,

compromising visibility of the pilot.

WNr. 682989, 5./JG 301, Germany, May 1945

The order for the formation of Jagdgeschwader 301

was issued on September 26, 1943, and the unit was

to be equipped with single-engined fighters tasked

with night fighting duties. In March 1944, this role

was changed to day-fighting within the framework

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INFO Eduard

of the Defense of the Reich. The unit was initially

equipped with Bf 109G-6 fighters, but over time, re-equipped with the Fw 190A-8s and A-9s, followed

by Fw 190D-9s. JG 301 went on to become the first

unit to be given the Ta 152s at the beginning of March

1945. This Sturmbock was found by Allied troops in

May 1945. The yellow-red fuselage band identified JG

301 aircraft within the Defense of the Reich network.

June 2022