Author Topic: If you know a lot about the Luftwaffe...  (Read 448 times)

Offline Reynolds

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If you know a lot about the Luftwaffe...
« on: July 15, 2006, 04:30:47 AM »
... So, i am looking for information on the following real life Luftwaffe squadrons:

J/G 54

J/G 27

J/G 3

Offline Furball

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« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2006, 05:00:21 AM »
try the aircraft and vehicles forum
I am not ashamed to confess that I am ignorant of what I do not know.
-Cicero

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Offline Reynolds

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« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2006, 05:12:35 AM »
Really? Its not related to specific vehicles, i figured this was the place... anyway... anyone know anything?

Offline Furball

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« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2006, 05:18:18 AM »
most of the people that really know go to that forum.
I am not ashamed to confess that I am ignorant of what I do not know.
-Cicero

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Offline Shifty

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« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2006, 06:20:52 AM »
Try here.

JG-11"Black Hearts"...nur die Stolzen, nur die Starken

"Haji may have blown my legs off but I'm still a stud"~ SPC Thomas Vandeventer Delta1/5 1st CAV

Offline FUNKED1

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« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2006, 06:57:09 AM »
JG = Jagdgeschwader = Fighter Wing = ~3 Gruppen
Gruppe = Fighter Group = ~3 Staffeln
Staffel = squadron = ~ 12 fighters
So a JG is like waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay larger than a squadron and should not be confused with one.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2006, 07:00:50 AM by FUNKED1 »

Offline Debonair

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« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2006, 03:58:34 PM »
i justgot a book in the mail that was written by a JG 54 pilot, it was on sale at amazon, but i havent read it yet....

Offline Reynolds

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« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2006, 04:26:59 PM »
Im just looking for like a website with lots of information about it. Is there like a.... III/JG, whereas the III in the front narrows things down a bit? Im looking for information on the historical... unit on which that 109 G-2 in the opening screen is based. Thats my favorite scheme, and im thinking of making a squad out of that somewhere down the road.

Offline Bluedog

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« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2006, 05:23:45 PM »
http://www.ww2.dk/

Same as Shifty posted.


All you seek can be found there, look under 'air units', 'single engine fighter'.

Offline Debonair

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« Reply #9 on: July 15, 2006, 05:41:23 PM »
Luftwaffe Fighter Ace[/i] by Norbert Hannig
is teh book i was talking about...

:noid :noid :noid :cool: :cool: :furious :furious :lol

Offline Reynolds

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« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2006, 06:28:02 PM »
I wish i spoke more German, i might understand half of that website...

Offline Bruno

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« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2006, 07:23:29 PM »
What is it you want to know? No one is going type out unit histories for you, after all there has been volumes written on the Luftwaffe.

Expanding on what Funked typed out;

A Geschwader is equal to a Wing.

Jagdgeschwader = Fighter-Wing

A Jagdgeschwader is made up of Groups or Gruppen.

Gruppen are represented by Roman numerals. For example,  Jagdgeschwader 53:

first Gruppe = I./JG 53
second Gruppe = II./JG 53
third Gruppe = III./JG 53
forth Gruppe = IV./JG 53

Each Gruppen is made up of multiple Squadrons or Staffeln.

Staffel labels are as follows =

1./JG 53 = 1st Staffel
2./JG 53 = 2nd Staffel
3./JG 53 = 3rd Staffel

etc...

Depending on which period of the war you are talking about a Jagdgeschwader could be made up of up to 4 Gruppen plus STAB (STAB = command flight made up of 3 or 4 aircraft).

A Gruppe is made up of 3 or 4 Staffeln and each Gruppen would have its own stab as well.

Staffel strength varied depending on serviceable aircraft and pilots. Depending on what period we are talking about a Staffel would typical consist of 12 or 16 aircraft.

Staffeln are further broke down into elements, typically 4 ship elements referred to as Schwarm (or plural Schwärme). A Schwarm was broke again into 2 ship elements referred to as Rotte.

Early in the war a JG was made up of 3 Gruppen and each Gruppen was made up of three Staffeln.

 As such you could tell which Staffeln belong to which Gruppe just by the written Staffel label. As an example:

I./JG 53 would be comprised of:

1./JG 53 = 1st Staffel
2./JG 53 = 2nd Staffel
3./JG 53 = 3rd Staffel
Plus STAB.

Later in the war a 4th Staffel may have been added:

1./JG 53 = 1st Staffel
2./JG 53 = 2nd Staffel
3./JG 53 = 3rd Staffel
4./JG 53 - 4th Staffel
Plus STAB.

Painted on the aircraft as tactical markings would be a Gruppe symbol (I./Gruppe would be blank). Each Staffel would have its own color.

For example, Weiß 1 + | would be 4./JG 53 (early war) etc...

Jagdgeschwader is lead by the Kommodore, usually, a Major, Oberstleutnant or Oberst.

A Gruppe is lead by the Kommandeur, usually a Hauptmann or a Major.

A Staffel could be lead by the Staffelkapitän, normally an Oberleutnant or Hauptmann but varied later during the war. Of if the Staffelkapitän is not flying or if he assigns the flight lead to someone else they would be referred to as the 'Staffelführer'.

The leader of a Schwarm, 4 ship formation, would be referred to as the 'Schwarmführer'.

The leader of a Rotte, 2 ship formation, would be referred to as a 'Rottenführer'. The second ship was the 'wingman'; or 'Rottenflieger'; or 'Katchmarek' (alternate spellings: Katschmarek; or Kaczmarek).

Until you get more specific with your question I can't be bothered to type any more.

Offline Geary420

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« Reply #12 on: July 15, 2006, 07:28:11 PM »
I dont go there often, but you might try the LEMB (Luftwaffe Experten Message Board).  Don't have the link, just google it.

Offline WMLute

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« Reply #13 on: July 16, 2006, 12:39:43 AM »
"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."
— George Patton

Absurdum est ut alios regat, qui seipsum regere nescit

Offline Reynolds

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« Reply #14 on: July 16, 2006, 04:29:24 AM »
WOW. Where did you ge all of those translations? The only german i know is mostly insults...

But i was looking for more general stuff. Maybe a web link with some pictures, a home base, nothing too detailed for now, but definately a website link with information translated into english for those of us who arent lucky to have the resources to learn the language... whaaaaahhh!!!!!!:cry :cry :cry  Sorry, im just depressed i cant find any way to learn to speak german.