Jagdgeschwader 53

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Jagdgeschwader 53


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dates=1939-1945
country=Germany
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branch=Air Force
type=Fighter Aircraft
role=Air superiority
size=Air Force Wing
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colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname="Pik As"
patron=
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identification_symbol=
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battles=
notable_commanders=
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Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) "Pik-As" was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated in Western Europe and in the Mediterranean. Jagdgeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" "(Ace of Spades)" Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to 1937. JG53 flew the various models of Bf-109 throughout the second world war.

World War II

Campaign in the West

The Geschwader commenced its wartime operations with a high proportion of its personnel experienced ex Condor Legion pilots. Including Oblt. Werner Mölders ; "Staffelkapitän" of 1./JG 53 based at Wiesbaden. On 14 May 1940 JG 53 claimed some 43 on that one day. The Battle of France thus saw the Geschwader score heavily during May and June 1940, with some 275 claims against Armee de l'Air and Royal Air Force forces, Mölders claiming 25 kills thus far, and Lt. Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller with 8 kills. Geschwaderkommodore of JG 53 during the spring and summer of 1940 was Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel.

While JG 53 was making a reputation for itself during the Battle of Britain, according to RAF Air Ministry intelligence summary no 60, Reichsmarshall Hermann Göring was informed that Major Jurgen von Cramon-Taubadel's wife was Jewish. Göring then ordered the whole of Stab/JG 53See Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II] to remove the "Pik As" emblem from their planes, and replace it with a red stripe around the engine cowling as punishment. All of Stab./JG 53's planes immediately were stripped of their "Pik As" insignia, and soon after the whole of the Stab./JG 53 had also stripped the swastikas off the tails of their planes, possibly in protest. ["Jagdwaffe The Battle of Britain Phase One" by E Mombeek, D Wadman & EJ Creek.] During this phase of the Battle of Britain, Stab.JG 53's planes were easily recognizable because of the red band and the absence of a swastika on the tail of their Bf-109's. On 30 September Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn became "Kommodore" and the Stab.JG53 was allowed to paint the "Pik As" back on their Bf-109's, removing the red band from their cowlings.

The Geschwader was one of the most effective during the Battle, claiming 258 kills for 51 pilots killed or POW, with Hpt. Hans Karl Meyer the top scorer with 21 kills, Hpt. Bretnutz 18 and Lt Schmidt 17 claims.

Campaign in the East and South

In April 1941 the Geschwader then transferred to the Russian Front for Operation Barbarossa. Under the control of "Luftflotte 2" commanded by Feldmarschall Albert Kesselring, The Geschwader, now equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109F, flew operations from Warsaw-Bielany. On 31 July 1941 JG 53 shot down its 1,000 aircraft. In the period 22 June 1941 – 5 December 1941 JG 53 destroyed 762 Soviet aircraft, losing 35 in aerial combat, and two on the ground [Bergström 2007, p.116.] .Later in the year JG 53 moved to bases in Sicily for operations against Malta (though elements also served in the Netherlands from July to November 1941).

The III. Gruppe was transferred to North Africa for a short time in December 1941 while the rest of JG 53 was eventually moved to Comiso in Sicily for operations against Malta, which ended in May 1942. Almost 200 kills are recorded by JG 53 during those five months, the majority of victims Hurricanes and Spitfires.

plitting up

In May 1942 after the termination of the German air offensive against the British island fortress of Malta the "Pik As" Geschwader was split up, with its three Gruppen scattered over three theatres of operation. III./JG 53 again saw service in North Africa supporting Rommel's planned advance on Cairo. Stab and II./JG 53 which were left behind on Sicily after the end of the "Malta Blitz" in May for service over the central Mediterranean, and I./JG 53 was moved to the Eastern front, where it was to take part in the German summer offensive in the southern sector aimed at Stalingrad and the Caucasus.

In August, I gruppe's Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl "Tutti" Müller claimed 25 Soviet Air Force victories, and between 1 September 1942 – 19 September 1942, claimed another 35 victories. On 19 September, he claimed his 100th and 101st victories resulting in the award of the "Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes". He was awarded the Eichenlaub on 23 September. Ofw. Wilhelm Crinius recorded the 1,000th victory for I./JG 53 on 27 August. Flying with Wolfgang Tonne and "Tutti" Müller in I./JG 53, Crinius was particularly successful during this period, recording 40 victories in August and 46 victories in September, including his 100th victory on 22 September. He was awarded the "Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub" on 23 September and promoted to Leutnant.

On 1 November 1942, Hauptmann Müller was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 53 and led the unit to Tunisia. When I./JG 53 arrived in Tunisia, the "Staffelkapitän" of 3. JG 53, Oberleutnant Wolfgang Tonne, had just been credited with his 100th kill on the Stalingrad front.

Reunited on the African front

By November 1942 the entire Geschwader was again concentrated on Sicily for a belated offensive against Malta, in this case an abortive and short-lived blitz foiled by the much-strengthened defenders. During its 1942 operations over North Africa, Sicily and Malta JG 53 had claimed a total of at least 388 aircraft shot down. Hauptmann Gerhard Michalski claimed 25 over Malta (the Luftwaffe's top scorer) Major Günther von Maltzhan claimed 13, while Oblt Franz Schieß claimed 10. With the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November, the Geschwader again found its components separated.

The Tunisian theatre saw several Luftwaffe fighter units thrown into battle ; II./JG 2, III./ZG 2, I./JG 53, II./JG 51 and JG 77 with the Regia Aeronautica’s 155° Gruppo C.T . The Wehrmacht launched its offensive on Kasserine on 14 February 1943, and although the Luftwaffe did its utmost and scored heavily against the Allied fighter cover, lack of resources doomed the Afrika Korps to defeat. The Bf 109-Gs of JG 53 and JG 77 were left alone to defend Tunisia.

III./JG 53 returned from North Africa to Sicily in November, having claimed another 113 air kills, to add to the 61 claimed over Malta earlier in the year. Losses, however, had been heavy, with 14 pilots killed, 3 POW and 7 more badly injured. Obfw. Walter Stumpf (47 kills) was the unit's top scorer, though he was killed by flak on 13 October 1942.

With Allied navies dominating the sea lanes, a vast air supply route was organized between Tunisia and Sicily, I./JG 53 being one of the units organizing escort for the slow transport Junkers Ju-52 aircraft. Here Lt. Crinius quickly recorded another 14 victories, until 13 January 1943, when in combat with RAF Spitfires Crinius’ aircraft was hit and, wounded in the thigh, he ditched his Bf 109 G-2 and was rescued by French sailors, becoming a prisoner of war. Oblt Franz Schieß also claimed 20 kills over Tunisia. The second half of 1943 saw German forces retreating north through Italy. During these months JG 53 saw continuous action over Italy with losses mounting alarmingly to an unprecedented level coupled with diminishing success. Oblt Franz Schieß, now "Staffelkaptän" of 8./JG 53 and with 67 claims, was killed in action versus P-38's on 2 September 1943.

Defense of the Reich

II./JG 53 was withdrawn from Italy in October 1943, and was the first Gruppe of the Geschwader to be employed on "Reichsverteidigung" (Defense of the Reich) operations, stationed near Vienna from October 1943 to March 1944, before moving to south Western Germany. The winter of 1943/44 saw bitter fighting over Italy, where the Geschwaderstab, I. and III./JG 53 facing overwhelming odds in their struggle over both the front lines at Cassino and Anzio bridge head, and Northern Italy.

II./JG 53 was the sole ‘Pik As’ gruppe to see action against the Allied invasion forces on 6 June 1944. The Luftwaffe fighter units in France suffered catstrophic losses, and II./JG 53 was no exception. In just one month of operations, the Gruppe reported 42 aircraft lost through enemy action , 18 in accidents, 20 abandoned and a further 20 through other causes; approximately 200% of its operational strength.

III./JG 53 also returned from Italy in June 1944 and after a short period refitting was active in the Defence of the Reich. When the Allies launched Operation Market Garden both II. and III.JG53 were called into action. Autumn 1944 also saw the addition of a new IV. Gruppe to the Geschwader with Stab, II., III, IV./JG 53 based along the south western sector of the Western Front.

I./JG53 was later moved to Romania to protect the vital oilfields of Ploesti and also saw further action in Hungary, where it was to take part in the fierce fighting on the South Eastern part of the Russian Front in late 1944 and early 1945, eventually retreating into Czechoslovakia and Austria before it was finally disbanded in April 1945 - its remnants amalgamated into II./JG 52.

For the remainder of the war the Geschwader (minus I. Gruppe) stayed in the southwest where it fought until the end, retreating into Southern Germany and finally disbanded days before VE Day.

Commanding Officers

Geschwaderkommodore

*Obst. Bruno Löerzer, 3.37 - 3.38
*Obslt. Werner Junck, 4.38 - 9.39
*Maj. Hans Klein, 10.39 - 12.39
*Maj. Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Taubadel, 1.40 - 9.40
*Obst. Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, 10.40 - 10.43
*Maj. Friedrich-Karl Müller (acting) 10.43 - 10.43
*Maj. Kurt Ubben (acting) 10.43 - 11.43
*Obslt. Helmut Bennemann, 11.43 - 4.45

Gruppenkommandeure

I./JG 53

*Hauptmann Lothar von Janson, 1 May 1939
*Hauptmann Albert Blumensaat, 1 July 1940
*Hauptmann Hans-Karl Mayer, 1 September 1940
*Hauptmann Hans-Heinrich Brustellin, October 1940
*Oberleutnant Wilfried Balfanz, 1 June 1941
*Hauptmann Franz von Werra, July 1941
*Hauptmann Ignaz Prestele (acting), August 1941
*Major Herbert Kaminski, 1 November 1941
*Hauptmann Walter Spies, August 1942
*Hauptmann Friedrich-Karl Müller, November 1942
*Major Jürgen Harder, 15 February 1944
*Hauptmann Wolfgang Ernst (acting), January 1945
*Hauptmann Erich Hartmann (acting), February 1945
*Hauptmann Helmut Lipfert, 15 February 1945 - 17 April 1945

II./JG 53

*Major Hubert Merhart von Bernegg, 1 May 1939
*Major Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn, 19 August 1939
*Hauptmann Heinz Bretnütz, 9 October 1940
*Hauptmann Walter Spies, June 1941
*Hauptmann Gerhard Michalski, July 1942
*Hauptmann Hans-Jürgen Westphal (acting), 19 June 1943
*Major Karl-Heinz Schnell (acting), July 1943
*Major Julius Meimberg, 24 April 1944

III./JG 53

*Hauptmann Werner Mölders, 1 November 1939
*Hauptmann Rolf Pingel (acting), June 1940
*Hauptmann Harro Harder, July 1940
*Hauptmann Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke, 13 August 1940
*Major Erich Gerlitz, May 1942
*Hauptmann Franz Götz, October 1942
*Hauptmann Siegfried Luckenbach, 18 January 1945
*Hauptmann Wolfgang Ernst (acting), April 1945

IV./JG 53

*Hauptmann Hans Morr, 25. Oktober 1944
*Hauptmann Friedrich Müer, Oktober 1944
*Hauptmann Alfred Hammer, 9. Januar 1945

Ergänzungsgruppe

*Hauptmann Hubert Kroeck, November 1940

ee also

Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II

References

* Williamson Murray , "Luftwaffe" (Grafton Books 1985)
* Jochen Prien, 'Jagdgeschwader 53- A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader' (Volume 1,2 3)
* Bergström, Christer (2007). Barbarossa - The Air Battle: July-December 1941. London: Chervron/Ian Allen. ISBN 978-1-85780-270-2.

External links

*http://www.feldgrau.com/JG53.htm A list of commanders and the organisation of JG 53