Messerschmitt Bf 110F Zerstörer NJG armourers 01-02

Photo's 01-02: The work of Luftwaffe ground crews, known as 'Black Men' because of the usual color of their overalls, was essential in ensuring aircraft remained operational. Here, a night fighter Gruppe's armourers are seen checking and servicing the four 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns in the nose of a Bf 110F-4. Clearly visible in both photographs is the crest of the Nachtjagd.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer NJG1. (G9+ ) 1942 01

Photo 01: Prior to the installation of airborne radar, the German defence system relied on ground controllers directing night fighters to within visual range of their targets, hence the lack of any antennae on this Bf 110 of NJG1, seen in Holland in 1942, with the then standard night fighter finish of overall black with code letters in grey.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer NJG1 Stkz KD+TB W.Nr 2132 01

Photo 01: Bf 110C2, KD+TB, W Nr. 2132, that has previously been deployed to towing duties. Seen here with NJG Schule 1, it carries the number '10' on the rear fuselage and an unidentified emblem on the nose. The towing features, of rear view mirrors ahead of the pilots' windscreen, enlarged radiators (required due to the low speed involving in towing huge transport aircraft) and shortened rear fuselage housing the pulley system. This Bf 110 retained its early-war style solid upper surface camouflage.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-6 1./NJG1 G9+EH based in Venlo Air Base Netherlands February 1942
Artwork Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstorer 1./NJG1 (G9+EH) Venlo Air Base Holland Feb 1942 0A

Photo 01: Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-6 1./NJG1 G9+EH based in Venlo Air Base Netherlands February 1942

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Artwork Bf 110G Zerstorer 7./NJG6 (2Z+FR) Wilhem Johnen Neubiberg 1945 0D

I.Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 - I./NJG1

Messerschmitt Bf 110F Zerstörer I./NJG1 1943 01

Photo 01: An unusually camouflaged Bf 110F of I./NJG1, probably in the spring of 1943, showing the aerials for the Lichtenstein airborne radar. Note also the dark upper surface coloring which extended down the fuselage side to terminate in an undulating demarcation line. Also of interest is the outer undersurface of the starboard wing which appears to have been painted white, the finish paint accentuating the grime which has accumulated on the white of the Balkenkreuz.

II.Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 - II./NJG1

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer II./NJG1 Deelen-Arnhem 01

Photo 01: Luftwaffe technical ground staff refueling a Bf 110 of II./NJG1 at Deelen-Arnhem in the autumn of 1940. The aircraft is camouflaged black overall and the machine's individual aircraft letter has been applied to the nose. Note also the Roman II adjacent to the Englandblitz emblem.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstörer II./NJG1 pilot Adolf Breves 01

Photo 01: The tail of Hptm. Adolf Breves' Bf 110G night fighter showing his victory tally in June 1944.This pilot flew with Stab IV/NJG1 and, on the night of 21/22 June, shot down three RAF Lancaster bombers which raised his tally to ten victories. Note the meticulous book-keeping, each victory being represented by a white victory bar, within which is a silhouette of a four-engined bomber together with a note of the type destroyed and the date of the victory. Hptm. Breves later flew with II./NJG1, and although records exist showing he was finally credited with 17 victories, it is possible he may have destroyed another in the final months of the war which was not confirmed.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer Stab II./NJG1 (G9+CC) Dusseldorf 1945

Additional Information Eduard plastic models - http://www.eduard.com/ Bf 110G-4 1/72 - flown by Hptm. A. Breves, Ofhr. W. Telsnig, Uffz. A. Ofers, Stab II./NJG1, D�sseldorf AB, Germany, December 1944

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Zerstorer Stab II./NJG1 (G9+DC) Leo Baro Bad Langensalza May 1945

Additional Information Eduard plastic models - http://www.eduard.com/ This aircraft was equipped with FuG 220 SN-2c with vertical dipoles. The camouflage scheme consisted of irregular fields of RLM 74 and 75 on upper surfaces, and RLM 76 on lower, similar to the scheme carried by day fighters. The colors by this time already had less contrasting tones, but the scheme still consisted of three colors. Later, the use of RLM 74 on the upper surfaces was discontinued, and the aircraft began to acquire a simplified scheme of one color on the upper surfaces. G9+DC carried, besides the codes on the fuselage, also a single chevron, indicating rank within the unit. The pilot is recorded as Lt. Dr. Leo Baro

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 4 Staffel II./NJG1 pilot Paul Gildner 01

Photo 01: Although possibly accentuated by the bright light which enabled this night photograph to be taken, this view of a Bf-110 shows the uneven finish sometimes seen on Luftwaffe night fighters. Such an appearance could result from an overspray in varying densities on the aircraft's original camouflage colors, although normal weathering would also be an additional factor. The pilot seen here entering the cockpit of his machine is believed to be Ofw. Paul Gildner of NJG1.

Luftwaffe ace II./NJG1 pilot Paul Gildner 01

Photo 01: Ofw. Paul Gildner of 3./NJG1 shot down a Hampden bomber on the night of 2/3 September 1940 and achieved one of the first recorded night victories of the war. He was one of the early innovators in the organisation and his loss on 24 February 1943 was keenly felt.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 4./NJG 1 (G9+HM) Werk. no. 4384 previously flown by Paul Gildner Febr-Mar 1941

Photo 01: Bf 110 from 4./NJG 1 (G9+HM) Werk. no. 4384, that got problems at landing at Herdla 20th February 1942. This photo may also have been taken at Westerland-Sylt. This A/C was a part of the cover for Prinz Eugen and Admiral Scheer under operation Donnerkeil

Claims Blenheim MkIV RAF 105Sqn GB-X T1895 shot down by Paul Gildner Mar 1st 1941 [2 KIA 1 POW]

Photo 01: Blenheim MkIV RAF 105Sqn GB-X T1895 was on a mission to Wilhelmshaven. It took-off from Swanton Morley Feb 28th 1941 at 2325 and was later shot down by Paul Gildner around 0258 and crashed Oosterhogebrug (Groningen, 5km East of Groningen Holland. Crew Sgt J S H Heape POW, Sgt S Jones and Sgt J Bimson both KIA

Claims Blenheim MkIV RAF 110Sqn R2278 shot down by Paul Gildner Mar 13th 1941 [3 KIA]

Photo 01: Blenheim MkIV RAF 110Sqn VE- R2278 was on a mission to Hamburg. It took-off from Wattisham Mar 13th 1941 at 2027 and was later shot down by Paul Gildner around 2248 and crashed Tolbert (Groningen, 14km SW of Groningen Holland. All crew are buried in the General Cemetery at Esserveld Groningen. F/L J Dickinson DFC, Sgt C W Fry, Sgt R Mower all KIA

Claims Wellington MkIC RAF 214Sqn BU-M N2746 shot down by Paul Gildner Mar 13th 1941 [5 KIA 1 POW]

Photo 01: Wellington MkIC RAF 214Sqn BU-M N2746 was on a mission to Hamburg. It took-off from Stradishall Mar 13th 1941 at 2000 and was later shot down by Paul Gildner around 2248 and crashed Groningen Holland. 5 KIA 1 POW. Killed were Sgt A G Elder, Sgt V L Bagley, Sgt S Glazer RNZAF, Sgt J B Tomkinson, Sgt G C Daniel all are buried in the General Cemetery at Esserveld Groningen except for Sgt D W Waters POW.

Claims Whitley MkV RAF 58Sqn GE-P T4145 shot down by Paul Gildner crashed Waterhuizen Apr 8th 1941 [4 KIA 1 POW]

Photo 01: Whitley V RAF 58Sqn GE-P T4145 was on a mission to Keil. It took-off from Linton-on-Ouse Apr 7th 1941 at 2055 and was later shot down by Paul Gildner around 0027 Apr 8th 1941 and crashed Waterhuizen Groningen, 7 km SW of Groningen, Holland. 4 KIA 1 POW. Killed were P/O R McC Carrapiett, Sgt A J White, P/O C F Jones, Sgt A R Mason POW, Sgt A C Wroath all are buried in the General Cemetery at Esserveld Groningen except for Sgt A R Mason POW.

Claims Wellington MkIA RAF 115 Sqn KO-P X9873 W/O W B Snowden force landed Schiermonnikoog 31st Oct 1941 [6 POW]

Photo 02: Vickers Wellington Mk.IA RAF 115 Squadron KO-P X9873 flown by W/O W B Snowden force landed Schiermonnikoog Holland 31st Oct 1941. The aircraft took off from Marham 1750 for a raid on Bremen. However it was shot down 2130 by Ofw Paul Gildner from 4./NJG1 with his radio operator Rudi Muller based at Leeuwarden Bf 110 with fuselage code G9+HM) and crashlanded Schiermonnikoog which is an island, a municipality, and a national park in the northern Netherlands. Schiermonnikoog is one of the West Frisian Islands, and is part of the province of Friesland. W/O W B Snowden was a very senior NCO. The crew all became POW's W/O W B Snowden, Sgt H E Woolley RCAF, Sgt A E Robinson, Sgt P V Brazier RCAF, Sgt A W Clarke RCAF, F/S P J C Darvill

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 4./NJG1 (G9+JM) Operation Donnerkeil Belgium 1942 01

Photo 01: This aircraft belonged to 4./NJG1 and is reported to have taken part in Operation Donnerkeil, for which purpose the uppersurfaces were re-camouflaged in a green finish more appropriate for operations over the sea. Note again the white rear fuselage band, possibly applied for the operation to identify the aircraft as friendly to the German warships.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 5./NJG1 (G9+IN) 1941 01

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 'Dackelbauch' 5.NJG1 (G9+JN) Deelen Holland 1941

NJG 1 used several aircraft equipped for long range flights with the large, under-fuselage tank housing 1050 lit rs of fuel and 106 lit rs of oil, known as 'Dackelbauch'. Aircraft equipped in this manner were intended for use in day operations over water, but combat experience showed that, due to performance penalties and vulnerabilities, this arrangement was disappointing. As a result, it was decided to use the units on aircraft used for night ops. Abig disadvantage of the tank was that it could not be jettisoned in the event of an emergency, and so were replaced by aircraft with wing racks. This aircraft, with a single color night scheme, carried the emblem of NJG 1. From published photos, it is not clear if this specific plane carried the Roman numeral 'II' behind the emblem, designating it as a machine of II. Gruppe. Some carried it, others did not.

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Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 5./NJG1 (G9+LN) Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer Belgium 1940-41

Photo 01: These aircraft belonged to 5./NJG1.

Email received from Fed Hill Sep 14th 2012

Oblt Schnaufer's Kill number 36 should be DV329 (KM-W) of 44 Sqn Dunholm Lodge pilot Flt.Lt Charles Ellison Hill. There is a general error on most web sites showing the 36th kill as Lancaster III (JB537) "PH-N" of 12 Sqn, RAF, 6 killed, 1 POW. JB537 (PH-N) was lost at 22:00hrs by Flak and crashed at Vrees Killing all on board - no survivors. Schnaufer shot down DV329 (KM-W) at 19:00 at Lorup and the plane crashed near Rastdorf only the Mid Upper Gunner (KIRWAN) survived the crash. Please see the attached MACR report which shows Cockade N (JB537 PH-N) was lost by flak not Schnaufer. The book Nachtjagd War Diaries vol 1 (page 303) has the correct aircraft. DV329 was my great uncles aircraft. Thanks to Fred Hill

6. Staffel II. Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1

Messerschmitt Bf 110D Zerstörer 6./NJG1 Deelen Holland 01

Photo 01: The Bf 110D-0 was developed as a specialised long-range heavy fighter in the spring of 1940. It featured a 1,050 litre auxiliary fuel tank in a large plywood and fabric fairing under the forward fuselage which resulted in the nickname 'Dackelbauch', or 'Dachshund's Belly' and required the two MG FF cannon in the lower forward fuselage to be removed. The type first saw service with the Zerstorer units but was not popular due to the explosive fumes which remained in the tank when empty. Nevertheless, and despite the reduced forward firing armament, II./NJG1 operated the Bf 110D-0, D-1, Do-2 and D-3 sub-types throughout 1942 until it largely disappeared from the Gruppe's inventory at the end of the year. This particular example, which is believed to have flown with 6./NJG1 at Deelen in 1941 or 1942, is camouflaged in a black night finish although the fuselage fuel tank is clearly still blue 65.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E2 6./NGJ1 (G9+AP) Birkenstock 3737 crash Feb 24 1942 01

Photo shows the crash of Bf 110E2 6./NGJ1 (G9+AP) WNr. 3737 crashed Feb 24 1942 Pilot Lt Hans-Jorg Birkenstock and crew Johann Weiker and Ofw Gerhard Lange had engine trouble after take-off and crashed three miles from base. Miraculously all crew survied the crash. However Lt Hans-Jorg Birkenstock would be killed after accumulating 7 victories on the night of May 20 1944.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 6./NJG1 (G9+CP)

Photo 01: An overall black Bf 110 of 6./NJG1 with the fuselage markings G9+CP. Note, however, that the Staffelletter 'P' has been repeated on the upper wingtip instead of the individual aircraft letter 'C'.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 6./NJG1 (G9+GP) pilot Helmut Niklas WNr 2654 May 1942 01

Photo 01: This Bf 110E-1of 6./NJG1 is the aircraft which the wounded Lt. Helmut Niklas crash-landed after shooting down two Wellington bombers on the night of 30/31 May 1942. As the Wellingtons were the pilot's fIrst two victories, the existence of a single white victory bar on the vertical tail unit of this machine would therefore suggest that G9+GP was not his regular aircraft. The fuselage code letters are grey 77 and the aircraft's individual letter 'G' has been narrowly edged in yellow, the Staffel color. Note that the abrasive action of the grass has worn away the black finish on the nose to reveal the 65 or 76 of the original factory finish.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstorer 6./NJG1 (G9+GP) pilot Helmut Niklas

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstörer 6./NJG1 (G9+JP) pilot Gustav Sarzio Kaiserswerth-D�sseldorf Oct 1944

Photo 01: This Bf 110G-4 of 6./NJG1 was photographed at Kaiserswerth-Düsseldorf in October 1944. Pictured with the aircraft is the pilot, Uffz. Gustav Sarzio, and hisWrr operator, Heinz Conrands.Their machine was coded G9+JP and was lost in the evening of 4 November 1944 when it was shot down over M6nchengladbach, possibly by an RAF Mosquito. Sarzio, who then had five victories, was wounded, but Conrands was killed.

Bordfunkers 4./NJG1 Johannes Richter

Photo 01: One of the most successful Bordfunkers in the Nachtjagd was Ofw. Johannes Richter, who participated in 67 kills and was decorated with the Knight's Cross on 30 September 1944. Richter joined 4./NJG1 in the spring of 1941 and was crewed with Rudolf Schonert, with whom he flew for the remainder of the war.

Bordfunker III./NJG1 Erich Handke

"After a long burst of f1re it went down in flames from 5,500 metres with all of its bombs on board"

UNTEROFFIZIER ERICH HANDKE, III./NJG 1

Erich Handke was trained as a Bordfunker during 1941/42 and was posted to 12./NJG1 in October 1942. Handke first flew with Fw. George Kraft and they participated in 14 victories together. On 17/18August 1943, they were attacked and shot down by an RAF Beaufighter, flown by the British night fighter ace, Wing Commander 'Bob' Braham. Kraft was killed during the attack, but Handke was able to parachute to safety. He then went on to fly briefly with Heinz Schnaufer and Karl-Heinz Scherfling, before being transferred to III./NJG1 where he crewed with Martin Drewes for the remainder of the war. On 27 July 1944, he and Drewes each received the Knight's Cross, Handke thus becoming one of the very few Bordfunkers to receive this decoration. When hostilities ceased in May 1945, he had participated in 59 victories, three of which were claimed during the day.

During the raid on Nuremberg on 30 March 1944, incoming bombers were reported and we took off for the radio beacon 'Ida' near Aachen. We didn't think we had reached the bomber stream when 'Schorsch' Petz [the gunner] saw a bomber flying above us. As we were turning onto an easterly heading, I switched on the SN-2 and immediately three targets appeared. I gave directions for the nearest one. Then Drewes saw it at 600 metres. The weather was excellent: a starlit sky, a half moon, small clouds and no mist. It was simply ideal, almost too bright.

It was a Lancaster, flying beautifully straight ahead, so that we were easily able to position ourselves beneath it. From about 50 metres Drewes fired with our 'Schrage Musik'and its port wing immediately caught fire. Five minutes later the Lancaster came down with a huge explosion in the middle of an area where the attack was just beginning, probably Aachen.

We continued our flight on a heading of 100 degrees until, after ten minutes, we picked up another single target far above us on a similar heading. Until then we had been flying at an altitude of 5,500 metres, but now we had to climb a long time until we reached the Lancaster, which was flying at 7,000 metres. Once again we positioned ourselves 50 metres below our target, but our cannon jammed after only two rounds and we were tillable to clear it. However, the Lancaster must have been hit, because all at once it lost height. We had not dived away, so it probably saw us, because it then suddenly curved steeply away.

We immediately went down beneath it whilst it was flying very slowly at a height of 5,500 metres. Now we had to climb to attack in the old way, from astern, where one is exposed to the rear gunner's fire. We were now accustomed to the new 'Schrage Musik' attack method, as it was a far safer technique. This time we wanted to fire directly into the wing, because the fuselage, with its many bombs, was too dangerous.

At last, Drewes climbed to the correct height and from 50 metres fired into the starboard wing, which immediately began to burn. Although we did not break away immediately, the Lancaster crew apparently had no time for defensive action because it went into a dive and exploded into many pieces. Below there lay a field scattered with many incendiary bombs. We were somewhere in the Vogelsberg area.

Around us, there were still bombers going down like flies. After some time we picked up yet another target and followed it. Drewes saw the target, a Lancaster, at a distance of 700 metres. In the meanwhile, we had been able to reload one of the upward-firing cannon, so once more we positioned ourselves 50 metres beneath it. After a long burst it went down in flames from 5,500 metres with all of its bombs on board. Two men were able to bale out before it crashed about 20 kilometres to the north of Bamberg. As we had run out of contacts we flew back and landed at Hanau-Langendiebach, where a further 40 crews joined us.

7. Staffel III. Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 - 7./NJG1

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 7./NJG1 (G9+BR) Hptm. Wolfgang Thimmig who was Gruppenkommandeur for III./NJG1

Photos: 01-02: Two views of G9+BR, also with its individual aircraft letter outlined in white and with white spinner tips.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 7./NJG1 (G9+ER)

Photo 01: A Bf 110E of 7./NJG1 coded G9+ER. Note the entire spinners appear to be white, which corresponds to the Staffel color, whereas G9+DR has only the spinner tips painted white. The individual aircraft letter on both machines has also been outlined white.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 7./NJG1 (G9+ER)

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 7./NJG1 (G9+DR) 01

Photo 01: A Bf 110E of 7./NJG1 coded G9+ER. Note the entire spinners appear to be white, which corresponds to the Staffel color, whereas G9+DR has only the spinner tips painted white. The individual aircraft letter on both machines has also been outlined white.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 7./NJG1 (G9+MR)

Photo 01: Similarly anomalous are the yellow wingtip and fuselage band on G9+MR of 7./NJG1. These cannot be easily explained but were certainly intended as some form of recognition aid as opposed to a theatre marking. It is, however, interesting to note that while some units were taking all precautions to eliminate any bright areas on their machines, even to the extent of overpainting the thin white outline to the swastikas on the tails of their aircraft, others not only retained the white of the national insignia but added large areas of white or yellow.

8. Staffel III. Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 - 8./NJG1

Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer 8./NJG1 (G9+BS) Operation Donnerkeil 01

Photo 01: A number of photographs depicting night fighters belonging to units known only to have been based in the West show the application of theatre markings normally associated with the Eastern Front or the Mediterranean. The white band around the rear fuselage and the white under the wingtips of G9+BS, a Bf 110C of 8./NJG1, are therefore unusual but may have been applied as a recognition aid during Operation 'Donnerkeil' when the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen sailed from France to Germany via the English Channel.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstörer 8./NJG1 (G9+CS)

Photo 01: A detailed view of the flame dampers on a Bf 110G night fighter. Whereas the starboard inner flame dampers directed the exhaust gases under the wing, the other three dampers led over the wings and often resulted in heavy black deposits, as shown on G9+CS of 8./NJG1.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstörer 8./NJG1 (G9+VS) W.Nr 110509 Bad Langensalza 1945

Photo's 01-02: This abandoned Bf 110G-4 was found by US forces at Bad Langensalza in April or May 1945. This particular machine, W.Nr 110509, flown by 8./NJG1, was coded G9+VS and lacked any radar aerials when photographed. On the starboard side, just visible protruding from the underside of the nose in the photograph is the small plate which ensured that spent cartridge cases were deflected away from the propeller.

Profile 0A: Revi Magazine 77

9. Staffel III. Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 - NJG1

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstörer 9./NJG1 (G9+AT) 01

Photo 01: This Bf 110G, G9+AT, had 76 mottling clearly applied over 75 on all uppersurfaces, while G9+HT, WNr. 160128, was finished in 76 overall with a mottle of 75 over the uppersurfaces.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 9./NJG1 (G9+BT) Schleswig 1941

Photo 01: Bf 110 night fighters of 9./NJG1, apparently at Schleswig in early 1941. Note the unusual presentation of the fuselage Balkenkreuz on G9+BT in the foreground and also on G9+HT and G9+ET behind it.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 9./NJG1 (G9+ET) Schleswig 1941

Photo 01: Bf 110 night fighters of 9./NJG1, apparently at Schleswig in early 1941. Note the unusual presentation of the fuselage Balkenkreuz on G9+BT in the foreground and also on G9+HT and G9+ET behind it.

Messerschmitt Bf 110E Zerstörer 9./NJG1 (G9+HT) Schleswig 1941 01

Photo 01: Bf 110 night fighters of 9./NJG1, apparently at Schleswig in early 1941. Note the unusual presentation of the fuselage Balkenkreuz on G9+BT in the foreground and also on G9+HT behind it.

Messerschmitt Bf 110G Zerstorer NJG6 (G9+HT) W.Nr 160128 Fritzler Germany, April 1945

Photo 01: Me-110G-4/R3, unknown pilot of 9./NJG 1, Fritzler/Germany, April 1945.

V. Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 - V./NJG1

Messerschmitt Bf 110G 12./NJG1 Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer WNr 720260

Photo 01: Oblt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer of 12./NJG1 photographed at St. Trond in February 1944 with the tail of his Bf 110G, WNr. 720260, which was then marked with 47 victory bars. The last of these victories were all claimed on the night of 15/16 February when, between 22.58 and 23.33 hrs, Schnaufer shot down three Lancasters. Schnaufer ended the war with the rank of Major and a total of 121 night victories claimed in only 164 sorties. He was awarded the Ritterkreuz in December 1943, the Oak Leaves in June 1944, the Swords a month later and the Diamonds on 16 October 1944 when he reached 100 victories. Post-war, Schnaufer was seriously injured in a road accident in France on 13 July 1950 and died two days later.

NJG 1 was the oldest night fighter unit in the Luftwaffe, and was founded by the legendary Oberst Wolfgang Falck. At the beginning of 1942, the unit's II.Gruppe was led by Major Walter Ehle, within which he served over three years. In 1942, the well known night fighter Wilhelm Herget, as an example, also served within the ranks of 4. Staffel II./NJG 1. This "G9+JM" is interesting not only for the sharkmouth marking, but also for the temporary application of a "naval" RLM 72 green on the upper surfaces, consistent with the fact that this plane took part in patrol flights for Operation Donnerkeil. A quick identification mark came in the form of a yellow fuselage band. During the operation, the Germans managed to navigate the battle cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, and the cruiser Prinz Eugen, through the English Channel from Brest (Bretagne, France) to northern Germany. The Luftwaffe, between the 11th and 13th of February, 1942, ensured uninterrupted patrols over the formation. II./NJG 1 and II./NJG 3 were tasked with cover duty in twilight and overnight hours. On the second day of operations, elements of both night fighter units relocated to Lister airbase in Norway, from which the last segment of the fleet's cruise was covered. The unit's detachment lasted in Norway through to the end of February. All air to air victories during Operation Donnerkeil were achieved by day fighters of the Luftwaffe.

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