Strana 27
1./KG 1, Kharkov-Voichenko, Soviet Union, January 1943
Hptm. Klaus Häberlen, CO of Stab I./KG 51, Bagerovo, Soviet Union, April 1943
I. Gruppe Kampgeschwader 1 was formed on
May 1, 1939, by renaming IV. Gruppe KG 152.
The original KG 152 was named after Paul von
Hindenburg, and the newly formed KG 1 also
took on the name Hindenburg. This unit, initially
armed with He 111 bombers, took part in battles
over Poland, France, and Great Britain. It took
part in the fighting over the Soviet Union with
new equipment, namely Ju 88A bombers.
In mid-1943, after a short rest in Germany, Stab, I.
and II. Gruppe were transferred to the southern
front. At the end of 1943, the entire Geschwader
was equipped with He 177 Greif bombers. During
their service on the Eastern Front in the winter
months, the aircraft were repainted with
washable white paint for better camouflage.
Applying it in field conditions caused it to rub off
and peel during operation. The aircraft bears the
identification marks used on the Eastern Front
in the form of a yellow stripe on the fuselage
in front of the tail surfaces and yellow-painted
undersides of the wing tips.
The future recipient of the Knight's Cross, Klaus
Häberlen, was born on April 14, 1916, in Geislingen.
His military career began on April 1, 1935, in
the Wehrmacht, and his aviation career began
with studies at the Grosse Kampffliegerschule
in Lechfeld on November 1, 1936. In August 1940,
he was appointed commander of the 2. Staffel KG
51, armed with Junkers Ju 88s. He flew with KG
51 throughout his combat career, participating
in approximately 300 combat missions, for
which he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in
Gold on March 18, 1943, and the Knight's Cross
on June 20, 1943. In October 1943, after a verbal
confrontation with Göring, he was relieved
of his command of the unit and continued to
serve in staff positions. He died on April 7, 2002,
in Konstanz. During his time as commander of
I. Gruppe KG 51, he used this Ju 88, which bore
not only the KG 51 Edelweiss emblem on its nose,
but also the emblem of his hometown, the coat
of arms of the city of Memmingen. He is the
author of the book A Luftwaffe Bomber Pilot
Remembers.
KITS 09/2025
INFO Eduard
27
September 2025