Zerstörergeschwader 1 ZG1

Zerstörergeschwader 1 was formed in May 1939 as a Geschwader without a Geschwaderstab. The I. Gruppe (1st group) was formed from I./ZG 141 and stationed in Damm, II. Gruppe (2nd group) in Fürstenwalde. The II. Gruppe was being equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 single engine fighters during the mobilization in World War II and renamed to Jagdgruppe 101 (101st fighter group), II gruppe re-equipping with the Messerschmitt Bf 110 in March 1940.

On the outbreak of war the unit was based with 1. Flieger Division in Central Germany. During the invasion of Poland ZG 1 was part of Luftflotte 3.

Norway 1940

By April 1940 the unit was part of X. Fliegerkorps operating over Northern Germany and Scandinavia. The Bf 110s of ZG 1 and Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76) saw considerable action during Operation Weserübung (the invasion of Denmark and Norway). The Bf 110 strafed and destroyed over two dozen Danish military aircraft on the Værløse airbase on 9 April. One Danish Fokker D.XXI did manage to get airborne but was immediately shot down. Oblt Victor Mölders, brother of Werner Mölders) took the official surrender of Aalborg after landing at the local airfield.

In Norway the Bf 110s helped secure the Oslo-Fornebu airport, escorting Junkers Ju 52s loaded with paratroops. Engaged by Gloster Gladiators and machine guns on the ground, in the ensuing battle both sides lost two aircraft. The remaining Bf 110s strafed enemy positions and enabled the ground troops take the airfield; air support provided by ZG 1 was pivotal to this phase of the ground offensive.

At this time the 'wasp' emblem associated with ZG 1 first appeared on aircraft of II gruppe.

France 1940

During the phoney war a number of French aircraft were shot down by ZG 1 Bf 110s. ZG 1 Gruppenkommandeur Hpt. Hannes Gentzen became the Luftwaffe's highest scoring fighter pilot on 2 April, when he shot down a Curtiss 'Hawk' over the Argonne. On 10 May ZG 1 claimed 26 Dutch aircraft destroyed on the ground on Haamstede airbase. After participation in the Battle of France, I. Gruppe was renamed to I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (1st night fighter wing) on 22 June 1940, and II./ZG 1 became III./ ZG 76. Thus there was no ZG 1 geschwader active from June 1940 to early 1942.

1942

The Geschwader was re-formed again on 4 January 1942 from Geschwaderstab of Schnellkampfgeschwader 210, with a third Gruppe raised, equipped with the Bf 109E-4/B.The Bf 110 gave tactical support to the advancing German Army by carrying out strike missions often in the face of heavy anti-aircraft defences. A huge number of ground kills were achieved by ZG 1 Bf 110 pilots in the east.

In August 1942 III./ZG 1 was transferred to North Africa, now equipped with the troublesome Me-210. Gradual re-equipment with the much improved Me-410 took place through 1943.

In early 1943 5./ZG 1 received several aircraft equipped with the BK 3.7 cm heavy cannon for evaluation as an anti-tank aircraft. These modified Bf 110s were formed into Pz.Jg.St./ZG 1, under the command of I./ZG 1, and flew during the Battle of Kursk. The poor results obtained meant that in autumn 43, this Staffel were transferred to 4./ZG 76. Oberst. Joachim Blechschmidt, the Kommodore of ZG 1, was shot down in a Bf 110 G-2 in combat with Soviet fighters East of Orel on 13 July 1943, becoming missing in action to this day.

Staffelkapitän of 1./ZG 1, Oberleutnant Egon Albrecht, was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 25 May 1943 for 15 aerial victories, 11 ground victories, and some 162 motor vehicles, 254 covered vehicles, 3 locomotives, 8 Flak positions, 12 anti-tank gun positions and 8 infantry positions destroyed.

After heavy losses in Russia, I and II gruppen re-united with III gruppe in the Mediterranean theatre in mid 1943. In March-April 1943 II/ZG 1 converted to the Bf 110 G-1 and G-2 at Monte Corvino. This was the Gruppe's base until August when it was withdrawn from Italy. In July 1943, 1./ZG 1 was redesignated 1./ZG 26.

In October 1943 I./ZG 1 took charge of the Ju 88C heavy fighter and with II gruppe transferred to Western France for long-range fighter operations over the Bay of Biscay with V./Kampfgeschwader 40 (KG 40).

On 8 October, Bf110's of I./ZG 1 attacked American bomber formations and their escorts. I./ZG 1 lost 5 victory 'ace' and 1. Staffelkapitän Oblt. Rüdiger Ossmann whilst claiming 6 B-17s and 1 fighter. II./ZG 1 later intercepted RAF bomber formations and lost 9 Bf 110s with 17 aircrew killed, while claiming a P-47, Spitfire, and B-25 Mitchell shot down. The Staffelkapitän of 6./ZG 1, Hptm. Karl-Heinrich Matern, (12 victories) was among those shot down and killed. Spitfires were of Nos. 453 Sqn (5 claimed destroyed), 610 Sqn (2 claimed destroyed) and 66 Sqn (3 claimed destroyed).On 9 October 1943, Hauptmann Albrecht succeeded Matern as Gruppenkommandeur, II./ZG 1.

In early 1944 II./ZG 1 flew 'Defense of the Reich' missions over the southern portion of the Reich, often in conjunction with elements of JG 27.Both units were based around Wels in Austria and flew against the US 15th Air Force heavy bombers and fighter escorts.

The Geschwader was disbanded in July 1944 with the aircrew posted to Gruppen in JG 4 and JG 76.

Geschwaderkommodoren:

• Maj Arved Crüger, 4 Jan 1942 - 2 Mar 1942
• Maj Ulrich Diesing, 3 Mar 1942 - 21 Sep 1942
• Obstlt Ralph von Rettberg (acting?), 22 Sep 1942 - 5 Oct 1942
• Obstlt Paul-Friedrich Darjes, 6 Oct 1942 - 1 Mar 1943
• Obstlt Alfred Druschel (acting?), 1 Mar 1943 - 12 Apr 1943
• Obstlt Joachim Blechschmidt, 12 Apr 1943 - 13 Jul 1943
• Obstlt Lothar von Janson, 1943 - 10 Mar 1944
• Obstlt Erich von Selle, Mar 1944 - Jul 1944

Stab:

Formed 4 Jan 1942 at Lechfeld from Stab/SKG210. Disbanded Jul 1944.

Airfields and Air Base Locations

I. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Joachim-Friederich Huth, 1 May 1939 - 13 Dec 1939
• Hptm Wolfgang Falck, 14 Dec 1939 - 22 Jun 1940
• Maj Ulrich Diesing, 1 Jan 1942 - 2 Mar 1942
• Hptm Walther von Poka (acting), 2 Mar 1942 - 7 Mar 1942
• Hptm Wolfgang Schenck, 7 Mar 1942 - 20 Aug 1942
• Maj Joachim Blechschmidt, 20 Aug 1942 - 12 Apr 1943
• Hptm Wilfried Hermann, Apr 1943 - 14 Jul 1943
• Hptm Max Franzisket, 14 Jul 1943 - 19 Jul 1943
• Hptm August-Wilhelm Bier, Oct 1943 - Apr 1944
• Maj Horst Grahl, Apr 1944 - 12 Jul 1944

Formed 1 May 1939 from I./ZG141 at Jüterbog-Damm with:
Stab I./ZG1 from Stab I./ZG141
1./ZG1 from 1./ZG141
2./ZG1 from 2./ZG141
3./ZG1 from 3./ZG141

On 22 Jun 1940 ordered to Düsseldorf and disbanded:

Stab I/ZG1 became Stab I./NJG1
1./ZG1 became 1./Erpr.Gr. 210 (at Köln-Ostheim)
2./ZG1 became 2./NJG1
3./ZG1 became 3./NJG1

Reformed 4 Jan 1942 at Lechfeld from I./SKG210 with:
Stab I./ZG1 from Stab I./SKG210
1./ZG1 from 1./SKG210
2./ZG1 from 2./SKG210
3./ZG1 from 3./SKG210

On 13 Oct 1943 renamed I./ZG26 with :

Stab I./ZG1 became Stab I./ZG26
1./ZG1 became 1./ZG26
2./ZG1 became 2./ZG26
3./ZG1 became 3./ZG26

Reformed Oct 1943 at Lorient from V./KG40 with:
Stab I./ZG1 from Stab V./KG40
1./ZG1 from 13./KG40
2./ZG1 from 14./KG40
3./ZG1 from 15./KG40

In Jan 1944 3./ZG1 and 7./ZG1 exchanged designations. On 12 Jul 1944 moved to Welzow and was renamed II./JG4 with :

Stab I./ZG1 became Stab II./JG4
1./ZG1 became 5./JG4
2./ZG1 became 6./JG4
3./ZG1 became 7./JG4

Airfields and Air Base Locations

* 3./ZG1 at Westerland

** 3./ZG1 at Bordeaux-Merignac, Nov 1943; 1./ZG1 at Salon-de-Provence, 5 May 1944 - 21 May 1944; 2./ZG1 at Vannes, Jan 1944 - 14 Jun 1944 and at Chateauroux, 15 Jun 1944 - 16 Jul 1944.

*** 2./ZG1 at Chateaudun, 18 Jun 1944 - 16 Jul 1944

II./ZG1

II. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Hellmuth Reichardt, 15 May 1939 - 5 Feb 1940
• ?
• Hptm Friedrich-Karl Dickoré, May 1940 - 26 Jun 1940
• Hptm Rolf Kaldrack 4 Jan 1942 - 3 Feb 1942
• Maj Günther Tonne, 4 Feb 1942 - 1 Feb 1943
• Hptm Gerhard Weyert(?), Feb 1943 - May 1943
• Maj Heinz Nacke, 26 May 1943 - 2 Aug 1943
• Hptm Karl-Heinrich Matern, 3 Aug 1943 - 8 Oct 1943
• Hptm Egon Albrecht, 9 Oct 1943 - Jul 1944

Formed 15 May 1939 from I./JG54 at Fürstenwalde with:
Stab II./ZG1 from Stab I./JG54
4./ZG1 from 1./JG54
5./ZG1 from 2./JG54
6./ZG1 from 3./JG54

Known as Jagdgruppe 101 between 21 Sep 1939 and 1 Mar 1940. On 26 Jun 1940 renamed III./ZG76 with :

5.ZG1

Stab II./ZG1 became Stab III./ZG76
4./ZG1 became 7./ZG76
5./ZG1 became 8./ZG76
6./ZG1 became 9./ZG76

Reformed 4 Jan 1942 at Bryansk from II./SKG210 with:
Stab II./ZG1 from Stab II./SKG210
4./ZG1 from 4./SKG210
5./ZG1 from 5./SKG210
6./ZG1 from 6./SKG210

In July 1944 renamed III./JG76 with :

Stab II./ZG1 became Stab III./JG76
4./ZG1 became 9./JG76
5./ZG1 became 10./JG76
6./ZG1 became 11./JG76

Airfields and Air Base Locations

** one staffel at Westerland/Sylt, 1 Oct 1939 - Feb 1940

* detachment at Mamaia (Romania), 13 Apr 1944 - 15 May 1944

III.ZG1

III. Gruppe:

Gruppenkommandeure:

• Maj Roland Bohrt, Jan 1942 - 9 Sep 1942
• Hptm Fritz Hobein, Sep 1942 - Feb 1943
• Hptm Reinhard Hubel, 16 Feb 1943 - Mar 1943
• Hptm Heinz Roeber, Mar 1943 - Mar 1943
• Hptm Drescher, Mar 1943 - ?
• Maj Wilhelm Berlin, ? - 10 Oct 1943
• ?
• Hptm Hans Moor, 7 Mar 1944 - Jul 1944

Formed Jan 1942 at Lechfeld with:
Stab III./ZG1 new
7./ZG1 new
8./ZG1 new
9./ZG1 new

On 11 Oct 1943 renamed II./ZG26 with :

Stab III./ZG1 became Stab II./ZG26
7./ZG1 became 4./ZG26
8./ZG1 became 5./ZG26
9./ZG1 became 6./ZG26

Reformed Oct 1943 at Bordeaux-Merignac with:
Stab III./ZG1 new
7./ZG1 from 10./KG40
8./ZG1 from 1./SAGr.128
9./ZG1 from 16./KG40

In Jan 1944 7./ZG1 and 3./ZG1 exchanged designations. On 5 Aug 1944 moved to Alteno and was renamed III./JG4 with :

Stab III./ZG1 became Stab III./JG4
7./ZG1 became 9./JG4
8./ZG1 became 10./JG4
9./ZG1 became 11./JG4

Airfields and Air Base Locations

* 7./ZG1 at Lorient, Nov 1943; 8./ZG1 at Brest-Hourtin, Feb 1944

** 8./ZG1 at Salon-de-Provence, 23 May 1944 - 10 Jun 1944. (possibly the entire Gruppe)

*** Only 9./ZG1 is known to have been there. The rest of the Gruppe also?

Ergänzungsstaffel:

Staffelkapitäne:

• Olt Franz Jilg, 4 Jan 1942 - 18 Apr 1942
• Hptm Johannes Kaufmann, 6 Apr 1944 - Aug 1944

Formed 4 Jan 1942 in Merville from Erg.Staffel/SKG210.

On 18 Apr 1942 redesignated 1./Ergänzungs-Zerstörergruppe.

Reformed 6 Apr 1944 in Illesheim from 3./Ergänzungszerstörergruppe. On 19 Aug 1944 redesignated 9./JG4.

Airfields and Air Base Locations

IV./ZG1:

10./ZG1 was formed Oct 1942, and in Aug 1943 became NNJSch/Luftflotte 4.

Known bases:

Bagerowo, Feb 1943 - Aug 1943

11./ZG1 was formed Oct 1942 from 16./KG6, and in Dec 1942 became Erprobungsstaffel 410.

Known bases:

Chinisia, Dec 1942

12./ZG1 was formed Oct 1942 and in May 1943 became NNJSch/Lw.Kdo.Ost.

Known bases:

Brjansk, Feb 1943 - Apr 1943

Panzerjägerstaffel/ZG1:

Formed Jun 1943 in Seschtschinskaja.

Disbanded Aug 1943.

Known bases:

Seschtschinskaja-Ost, Jun 1943
Ledna-Ost, Jun 1943 - Jul 1943
Brjansk, Aug 1943

ZG1 'Kills'

Asisbiz database list of 471 aerial victories for ZG1