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Johannes Steinhoff |
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Name : Johannes Steinhoff Died : 21st February 1994 Air Victories : 176.00 Awards : Knights Cross Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross Swords to the Knights Cross |
By early 1940 Macky Steinhoff was leading 4 / JG-52 during the Battle of Britain. He was then transferred to the eastern front where his success continued. In the final stages of the defence of the Reich he joined JV-44 flying the ME 262 in which he scored 6 victories before being seriously burned in a crash. He flew 939 missions scored 178 victories and was awarded the Knights Cross with Oak leaves and swords. |
Artwork signed by this Pilot or Aircrew |
  Open Assault by Robert Taylor. (C) |   Valiant Response by Robert Taylor. (AP) |   Combat Over London by Robert Taylor |
  Russian Roulette by Robert Taylor. |   Steinhoff Tribute by Robert Taylor. |   Jet Legend by Gerald Coulson. (B) |
  Eagles High by Robert Taylor. |   Eagles out of the Sun by Robert Taylor. |   JG52 by Robert Taylor. |
  JV44 by Robert Taylor. |   Knights on the Eastern Front by Robert Taylor. |
Artwork featuring the mounted signature of this Pilot or Aircrew |
  JG52 - Summer 1940 by Ivan Berryman. (P) |   Gunther Rall by Ivan Berryman. (B) |   JG2 - Gunther Rall and his Wingman by Ivan Berryman. (P) |
  Gunther Rall - 274th Victory by Ivan Berryman. (B) |   The Last Patrol by David Pentland. (E) |   Tribute to Johannes Steinhoff by Graeme Lothian. (APC) |
  Dawn Eagles Rising by Robert Taylor. (AP) |   The Eagles Divide by Robert Taylor. (E) |   Squadron Leader Schuck, Germany, Spring 1945 by David Pentland. (P) |
Artwork with companion print(s) featuring the mounted signature of this Pilot or Aircrew |
  Running the Gauntlet by Robert Taylor. (E) |   Evening Reflection by Richard Taylor. (B) |   Horrido! by Robert Taylor. (B) |
  Jet Hunters by Robert Taylor. (D) |
I-18
I-18
I-17
I-17
I-17
I-18
I-18
I-18
I-18
I-18
BB-22
BB-22
BB-22
I-180
I-180
I-180
LaGG
LaGG
I-180
I-180
I-180
I-180
LaGG
LaGG
LaGG
LaGG
LaGG
LaGG
LaGG
LaGG
LaGG
Martlet
Known Victory Claims : | |||||||
Date | Rank | Squadron | Claimed | Location | Time | Aircraft Flown | Notes |
18/12/1939 | Oblt. | 30km SSW Helgoland | 14.3 | ||||
18/12/1939 | Oblt. | 30km SSW Helgoland | 14.35 | ||||
10/05/1940 | Oblt. | Den Haag | - | ||||
10/05/1940 | Oblt. | Düsseldorf | - | ||||
30/09/1940 | Oblt. | Dorking | 13.45 | ||||
14/02/1941 | Oblt. | 30km N. Dungeness | 13 | ||||
19/05/1941 | Oblt. | N. Dover | 12.4 | ||||
19/05/1941 | Oblt. | N. Dover | 12.45 | ||||
22/06/1941 | Oblt. | Varena | 10 | ||||
26/06/1941 | Oblt. | S. Varena | 9.32 | ||||
01/07/1941 | Oblt. | N. Borissow | 18.26 | ||||
02/07/1941 | Oblt. | Borissow | 17.22 | ||||
02/07/1941 | Oblt. | S. Borissow | - | ||||
02/07/1941 | Oblt. | S. Smolewicze | 17.34 | ||||
03/07/1941 | Oblt. | NE Borissow | 18.19 | ||||
03/07/1941 | Oblt. | NE Borissow | 18.3 | ||||
04/07/1941 | Oblt. | W. Witebsk | 12.02 | ||||
05/07/1941 | Oblt. | N. Ulla | 6.28 | ||||
06/07/1941 | Oblt. | N. Dzisna | 12.4 | ||||
07/07/1941 | Oblt. | W. Polozk | 12.15 | ||||
09/07/1941 | Oblt. | NW Beschenkowitschi | - | ||||
22/07/1941 | Oblt. | S. Wyssokaja | 11.05 | ||||
26/07/1941 | Oblt. | NE Jarzewo | 5.12 | ||||
27/07/1941 | Oblt. | I-18 | N. Wjasma | 18.05 | |||
28/07/1941 | Oblt. | I-18 | 6km E. Gorki | 17.35 | |||
29/07/1941 | Oblt. | N. Tschutsche-See | 17.28 | ||||
29/07/1941 | Oblt. | SW Tschernaja | 17.34 | ||||
10/08/1941 | Oblt. | 8km N. Schimsk | 13.35 | ||||
25/08/1941 | Oblt. | 10km NW Tossno | 12.1 | ||||
26/08/1941 | Oblt. | I-17 | 10km SW Ljuban | 8.5 | |||
26/08/1941 | Oblt. | I-17 | Mal. Bronitza | 8.55 | |||
26/08/1941 | Oblt. | I-17 | 15km SE Ljuban | 8.58 | |||
27/08/1941 | Oblt. | 6km NE Ljesja | 15.38 | ||||
27/08/1941 | Oblt. | 3km NE Ljesja | 15.39 | ||||
29/08/1941 | Oblt. | SE Kolpino | 15.1 | ||||
01/09/1941 | Oblt. | 30km NE Ljuban | 15.15 | ||||
06/09/1941 | Oblt. | I-18 | 1km NW Bahnhof Mga | 11.55 | |||
06/09/1941 | Oblt. | I-18 | Bahnhof Makowo | 16.47 | |||
26/09/1941 | Oblt. | I-18 | 10km W. Wolchowstroj | 7.55 | |||
03/10/1941 | Oblt. | 10km NE Cholm | 14.17 | ||||
05/10/1941 | Oblt. | I-18 | 30km NW Wjasma | 7.1 | |||
06/10/1941 | Oblt. | 10km SE Cholm | 6.25 | ||||
18/10/1941 | Oblt. | N. Kalinin | 15.17 | ||||
18/10/1941 | Oblt. | Kalinin | 15.18 | ||||
24/10/1941 | Oblt. | SW Kalinin | 15.55 | ||||
14/11/1941 | Oblt. | I-18 | 5km S. Wjasma | 14.55 | |||
26/11/1941 | Oblt. | 10km S. Stolnetschnog. | 13.2 | ||||
28/11/1941 | Oblt. | 10km E. Istra | 9.2 | ||||
28/11/1941 | Oblt. | BB-22 | 10km SW Stolnetschnog. | 14.5 | |||
02/12/1941 | Oblt. | BB-22 | Belji-Rast | 8.25 | |||
02/12/1941 | Oblt. | BB-22 | 10km W. Moskau | 14.3 | |||
17/05/1942 | Hptm. | Boroditschnoyé: 2500m | 9.37 | ||||
26/05/1942 | Hptm. | 1km E. Taranovka | 17.24 | ||||
22/06/1942 | Hptm. | 5km NW Kupjansk: 2000m | 17.55 | ||||
21/08/1942 | Hptm. | I-180 | 49 411: 1000m | 16 | |||
22/08/1942 | Hptm. | 49 475: Bodennähe | 10.11 | ||||
22/08/1942 | Hptm. | 49 411: 1000m | 10.2 | ||||
23/08/1942 | Hptm. | 59 334: 50m | 5.5 | ||||
23/08/1942 | Hptm. | 49 124: Bodennähe | 12.2 | ||||
23/08/1942 | Hptm. | I-180 | 49 413 | 15.1 | |||
23/08/1942 | Hptm. | 49 411: 4000m | 17.25 | ||||
23/08/1942 | Hptm. | 59 353: 300m | 5.4 | ||||
24/08/1942 | Hptm. | I-180 | 59 323: 350m | 6.2 | |||
25/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 49 243: 800m | 11.05 | |||
25/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 49 253: 500m | 11.07 | |||
25/08/1942 | Hptm. | I-180 | 59 311: Bodennähe | 14.45 | |||
25/08/1942 | Hptm. | I-180 | 49 412: 2300m | 17.37 | |||
27/08/1942 | Hptm. | I-180 | 49 431: Bodennähe | 5.55 | |||
27/08/1942 | Hptm. | I-180 | 49 413: Bodennähne | 11.34 | |||
28/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 49 223: 200m | 14.5 | |||
28/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 50 773: Bodennähe | 14.57 | |||
30/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 49 161: 500m | 13.1 | |||
30/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 40 792: 1000m | 13.12 | |||
30/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 49 362: 2000m | 17 | |||
30/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 49 522: 100m | 17.1 | |||
30/08/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 49 522: 200m | 17.12 | |||
31/08/1942 | Hptm. | 49 461: 3000m | 5.2 | ||||
31/08/1942 | Hptm. | 49 474: 4000m | 17.05 | ||||
08/09/1942 | Hptm. | 44 481: 2500m | 14.4 | ||||
08/09/1942 | Hptm. | 44 622: 2000m | 14.42 | ||||
10/09/1942 | Hptm. | 44 424: - 0m | 14.17 | ||||
16/09/1942 | Hptm. | 54 371: 1500m | 16.2 | ||||
17/09/1942 | Hptm. | 54 322: 2000m | 14.4 | ||||
17/09/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 54 381: 800m | 16.4 | |||
20/09/1942 | Hptm. | 85 371: 2000m | 9.4 | ||||
26/09/1942 | Hptm. | 85 342: 3000m | 15.39 | ||||
26/09/1942 | Hptm. | 85 342: 1000m | 15.4 | ||||
11/11/1942 | Hptm. | 94 161: 100m | 8.1 | ||||
11/11/1942 | Hptm. | 95 793: tiefflug | 14.18 | ||||
28/11/1942 | Hptm. | 49 284: tiefflug | 7.5 | ||||
28/11/1942 | Hptm. | 49 184: 2000m | 10.4 | ||||
30/11/1942 | Hptm. | 19 482: tiefflug | 7.45 | ||||
30/11/1942 | Hptm. | 19 482: tiefflug | 7.46 | ||||
30/11/1942 | Hptm. | 39 424: 2000m | 10.15 | ||||
30/11/1942 | Hptm. | 40 754: 1200m | 10.38 | ||||
01/12/1942 | Hptm. | 40 793: Bodennähe | 8.2 | ||||
02/12/1942 | Hptm. | 49 353: 1000m | 12.15 | ||||
07/12/1942 | Hptm. | 39 652: Bodennähe | 13.23 | ||||
08/12/1942 | Hptm. | 29 253: 1000m | 9.1 | ||||
08/12/1942 | Hptm. | 29 243: 1000m | 12.32 | ||||
08/12/1942 | Hptm. | 29 333: 500m | 12.4 | ||||
08/12/1942 | Hptm. | 29 333: 500m | 12.5 | ||||
10/12/1942 | Hptm. | LaGG | 49 173: 4500m | 11.4 | |||
11/12/1942 | Hptm. | 29 49-16: 3000m | 9.26 | ||||
11/12/1942 | Hptm. | 29 633: 3500m | 9.23 | ||||
12/12/1942 | Hptm. | 38 342: 6000m | 12.22 | ||||
13/12/1942 | Hptm. | 38 261: Bodennähe | 12.16 | ||||
13/12/1942 | Hptm. | 38 252: 2000m | 12.15 | ||||
17/12/1942 | Hptm. | 39 883: Bodennähe | 13.15 | ||||
17/12/1942 | Hptm. | 38 212: 1000m | 7.1 | ||||
18/12/1942 | Hptm. | 39 823: 3000m | 10.33 | ||||
20/12/1942 | Hptm. | 39 854: 100m | 10.53 | ||||
25/12/1942 | Hptm. | 38 241: 1000m | 13 | ||||
25/12/1942 | Hptm. | 38 334: 6000m | 13.3 | ||||
28/12/1942 | Hptm. | 38 351: 3000m | 10.27 | ||||
28/12/1942 | Hptm. | 38 353: 1500m | 12.55 | ||||
09/01/1943 | Hptm. | 28 782: 2000m | 12.43 | ||||
09/01/1943 | Hptm. | 28 872: 3000m | 12.5 | ||||
14/01/1943 | Hptm. | 17 263: 2000m | 14.32 | ||||
14/01/1943 | Hptm. | 17 263: 2000m | 14.33 | ||||
14/01/1943 | Hptm. | 17 143: 3000m | 14.33 | ||||
25/01/1943 | Hptm. | 08 65: 4000m | 11.5 | ||||
26/01/1943 | Hptm. | 08 521: 5000m | 10.15 | ||||
31/01/1943 | Hptm. | 99 871: 3000m | 13 | ||||
01/02/1943 | Hptm. | 99 62: 2500m | 14.25 | ||||
02/02/1943 | Hptm. | 99 62: 3000m | 9.25 | ||||
02/02/1943 | Hptm. | 99 622 | 9.28 | ||||
12/02/1943 | Hptm. | 86 590: 100m | 12.02 | ||||
23/02/1943 | Hptm. | 76 664: Bodennähne | 9.02 | ||||
23/02/1943 | Hptm. | 86 560: 2000m | 12.45 | ||||
23/02/1943 | Hptm. | 86 560: 2000m | 12.47 | ||||
25/02/1943 | Hptm. | 75 230: 2000m | 8.4 | ||||
04/04/1943 | Major | - | - | ||||
04/04/1943 | Major | - | - | ||||
25/06/1943 | Major | 19154: | 13.25 | ||||
07/07/1943 | Obstlt. | Martlet | 20km SW Marsala | 17.25 | |||
08/07/1943 | Major | - | - | ||||
25/08/1943 | Major | 52 354: 20m | 10 | ||||
25/08/1943 | Major | 52 361: 20m | 9.59 | ||||
25/08/1943 | Major | 52 361: 20m | 9.58 | ||||
25/08/1943 | Major | - | 10.01 | ||||
01/12/1943 | Obstlt. | S. Varzi: 9.500m [Lombardy] | 10.59 | ||||
25/02/1944 | Obstltn. | - | - | ||||
10/05/1944 | Obstltn. | 60km SE Agram: 1000m [Zagreb] | 12.5 | ||||
09/06/1944 | Obstlt. | TH 1: 6000m [80km N. Ancona] | 11.45 | ||||
14/07/1944 | Obstlt. | - | - | ||||
28/02/1945 | Oberstltn. | JV 44 | - | - | |||
27/03/1945 | Oberst | JV 44 | Raum Oder | - | |||
03/04/1945 | Oberst | JV 44 | - | - | |||
05/04/1945 | Oberst | JV 44 | - | - | |||
05/04/1945 | Oberst | JV 44 | - | - | |||
08/04/1945 | Oberst | JV 44 | Raum Stuttgart | - | |||
17/04/1945 | Oberst | JV 44 | München | - | |||
| Aircraft for : Johannes Steinhoff | ||
| A list of all aircraft associated with Johannes Steinhoff. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | ||
| Aircraft | Info | |
Me109 
Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Production Began : 1937 Retired : 1945 Number Built : 33984 | Me109 Willy Messerschmitt designed the BF109 during the early 1930s. The Bf109 was one of the first all metal monocoque construction fighters with a closed canopy and retractable undercarriage. The engine of the Me109 was a V12 aero engine which was liquid-cooled. The Bf109 first saw operational service during the Spanish Civil War and flew to the end of World War II, during which time it was the backbone of the Luftwaffe fighter squadrons. During the Battle of Britian the Bf109 was used in the role of an escort fighter, a role for which it was not designed for, and it was also used as a fighter bomber. During the last days of May 1940 Robert Stanford-Tuck, the RAF ace, got the chance to fly an Me109 which they had rebuilt after it had crash landed. Stanford-Tuck found out that the Me109 was a wonderful little plane, it was slightly faster than the Spitfire, but lacked the Spitfire manoeuvrability. By testing the Me109, Tuck could put himself inside the Me109 when fighting them, knowing its weak and strong points. With the introduction of the improved Bf109F in the spring of 1941, the type again proved to be an effective fighter during the invasion of Yugoslavia and during the Battle of Crete and the invasion of Russia and it was used during the Siege of the Mediteranean island of Malta. The Bf109 was the main fighter for the Luftwaffe until 1942 when the Fw190 entered service and shared this position, and was partially replaced in Western Europe, but the Me109 continued to serve on the Eastern Front and during the defence of the Reich against the allied bombers. It was also used to good effect in the Mediterranean and North Africa in support of The Africa Korps. The Me109 was also supplied to several German allies, including Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia. The Bf109 scored more kills than any other fighter of any country during the war and was built in greater numbers with a total of over 31,000 aircraft being built. The Bf109 was flown by the three top German aces of the war war. Erich Hartmann with 352 victories, Gerhard Barkhorn with 301 victories and Gunther Rall with 275 kills. Bf109 pilots were credited with the destruction of 100 or more enemy aircraft. Thirteen Luftwaffe Aces scored more than 200 kills. Altogether this group of pilots were credited with a total of nearly 15,000 kills, of which the Messerschmitt Bf109 was credited with over 10,000 of these victories. The Bf109 was the most produced warplane during World War II, with 30,573 examples built during the war, and the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 units produced up to April 1945. Bf109s remained in foreign service for many years after World War II. The Swiss used their Bf109Gs well into the 1950s. The Finnish Air Force did not retire their Bf109Gs until March 1954. Romania used its Bf109s until 1955. The Spanish Hispanos flew even longer. Some were still in service in the late 1960s. | |
Me262 
Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Number Built : 1400 | Me262 The Messerschmitt Me-262 Swallow, a masterpiece of engineering, was the first operational mass-produced jet to see service. Prototype testing of the airframe commenced in 1941 utilizing a piston engine. General Adolf Galland, who was in charge of the German Fighter Forces at that time, pressured both Goring and Hitler to accelerate the Me-262, and stress its use as a fighter to defend Germany from Allied bombers. Hitler, however, envisioned the 262 as the aircraft which might allow him to inflict punishment on Britain. About 1400 Swallows were produced, but fortunately for the Allies, only about 300 saw combat duty. While the original plans for the 262 presumed the use of BMW jet engines, production Swallows were ultimately equipped with Jumo 004B turbojet engines. The wing design of the 262 necessitated the unique triangular hull section of the fuselage, giving the aircraft a shark-like appearance. With an 18 degree swept wing, the 262 was capable of Mach .86. The 262 was totally ineffective in a turning duel with Allied fighters, and was also vulnerable to attack during take off and landings. The landing gear was also suspect, and many 262s were destroyed or damaged due to landing gear failure. Despite its sleek jet-age appearance, the 262 was roughly manufactured, because Germany had lost access to its normal aircraft assembly plants. In spite of these drawbacks the 262 was effective. For example, on April 7, 1945 a force of sixty 262s took on a large force of Allied bombers with escort fighters. Armed with their four nose-mounted cannons, and underwing rockets the Swallows succeeded in downing or damaging 25 Allied B-17s on that single mission. While it is unlikely that the outcome of the War could have been altered by an earlier introduction or greater production totals for this aircraft, it is clear to many historians that the duration of the War might have been drastically lengthened if the Me-262 had not been too little too late. | |
| Squadrons for : Johannes Steinhoff | ||
| A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Johannes Steinhoff. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
JG2 Country : Germany Founded : 1st May 1939 Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG2 | JG2 Jagdgeschwader 2 was formed from parts of Jagdgeschwader 131 Richthofen on 1 May 1939 in Döberitz and its first commander was Oberst Robert Ritter von Greim. At the outbreak of the war JG 2 was tasked with defence of the Reich and based in the Berlin area under Luftgaukommando III. Stab and II. Gruppe were equipped with the Bf 109E and were located at Döberitz with 10.(N) staffel flying the Bf 109D in Straussberg. 10.(N) Staffel was one of the first night fighter units formed in the Luftwaffe. Later this staffel was expanded into IV.(N) Gruppe. This Gruppe gained the Luftwaffe’s first night kill over the RAF Bomber Command on the night of 25/26 on April 1940 when Ofw Förster shot down a Handley Page Hampden. The unit saw little combat until the Western offensive against France and the Low Countries from 10 May 1940 onwards. During the campaign against France, JG 2 was tasked with escorting raids and defending German airspace to the south of Heinz Guderian's Panzer forces which were encircling the French and the British Expeditionary Force further north. Leutnant Helmut Wick, who later became part of a trio of outstanding aces (including Adolf Galland from Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) and Werner Mölders from Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51)) in the Battle of Britain, attained his first and the Geschwader's second kill on 22 November 1939, a French Curtiss Hawk Model 75. The first victory for the JG 2 was scored by Oberfeldwebel Kley (3. Staffel) at the same day. JG 2 took part in the Battle of Britain, operating Bf 109Es over the South Coast of England and the English Channel from bases in Cherbourg and Normandy. Major Helmut Wick emerged as one of the Battle’s top Luftwaffe aces, claiming 31 kills for a personal total of 56, before being killed (MIA) in action versus Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron in November 1940. Wick was seen to bail out successfully but was not found by German Air/Sea Rescue attempts. The Spitfire who dispatched him was immediately shot down by Oberleutnant Rudolf Pflanz. Ofw. Schnell, Ofw. Machold and Olt. Hans Assi Hahn also claimed heavily during this period, with 16 kills each. Some 42 JG 2 pilots were killed or made POW during the battle. | |
JG26 Country : Germany Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG26 | JG26 Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France and the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and executed by the French for sabotage in 1923. Commanders of II. Gruppe JG 26 Hptm. Werner Palm, 1 May 1939 – 27 June 1939 Hptm Herwig Knüppel, 28 June 1939 – 19 May 1940 Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 20 May 1940 – 31 May 1940 Hptm. Erich Noack, 1 June 1940 – 24 July 1940 Hptm Karl Ebbighausen, 25 July 1940 – 16 August 1940 Hptm Erich Bode, 17 August 1940 – 3.10.40 Hptm Walter Adolph, 4 October 1940 – 18 September 1941 Hptm Joachim Müncheberg, 19 September 1941 – 21 July 1942 Hptm Conny Meyer, 22 July 1942 – 2 January 1943 Maj Wilhelm-Ferdinand Galland, 3 January 43 – 17 August 1943 Hptm Hans Naumann, 18 August 1943 – 8 September 1943 ObLt Johannes Seifert, 9 September 1943 – 25 November 1943 Maj Wilhelm Gäth, 26 November 1943 – 1 March 1944 Hptm Hans Naumann, 2 March 1944 – 28 June 1944 Hptm Emil Lang, 29 June 1944 – 3 September 1944 Hptm Georg-Peter Eder, 4 September 1944 – 8 October 1944 Maj Anton Hackl, 9 October 1944 – 29 January 45 ObLt Waldemar Radener, 30 January 1945 – 22 February 1945 Hptm Paul Schauder, 23 February 1945 – 1 May 1945 | |
JG52 Country : Germany Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG52 | JG52 The most successful Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II, with a claim total of more than 10,000 victories over enemy aircraft. It was home to the top three scoring Experten of the Luftwaffe, Erich Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn and Günther Rall. The unit flew the various marks of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 exclusively through the war. | |
JG77 Country : Germany Founded : May 1939 'Ace of Hearts' Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG77 | JG77 Herz As (Ace of Hearts) was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during World War II. It served in all the German theaters of war, from Western Europe to the Eastern Front, and from the high north in Norway to the Mediterranean. JG 77 was formed in May 1939 with I. and II. Gruppe. III./JG 77 was formed on 5 July 1940 in Trondheim from the II(J)./JG 186. I./ JG 77 was reorganized on 21 November 1940 into IV./JG 51 and a new I./JG 77 was established. In January 1942 I./JG 77 was transferred to I./JG 5 and a new I./JG 77 was created. In April 1942 1. Staffel was transferred to Romania and designated the defence unit for the Ploie?ti oil fields at Mizil. (This staffel was redesignated 1./JG 4 in August 1942.) | |
JV44 Country : Germany 'Ace of Hearts' Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JV44 | JV44 A special fighter unit of top German fighter ace pilots in the Luftwaffe during the last months of World War II. The main aircraft used by the unit was the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. They were known by various nicknames, including Der Galland-Zirkus (The Galland Circus). The commander of JV 44 was General Adolf Galland (103 victories) the former General der Jagdflieger who had recently been sacked from his command by Hermann Göring for attacking the operational policies and tactics used by the Luftwaffe High Command. It was hoped by Galland's superiors that a front line command would result in his death in action, thereby removing the problem of Galland's criticism. This unit was composed of highly experienced pilots who were from Galland's former staff or were otherwise co-opted by Galland from units which had been disbanded or were being re-equipped. It had relatively few operational planes available for any single sortie and was repeatedly forced to relocate due to the approach of Allied ground forces. At war's end the unit was disbanded and its brief history came to an end. | |
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