Jagdgeschwader 54
JG 54 Grünherz
Active	1939-1945
Country	Germany
Branch	Air Force
Type	Fighter Aircraft
Role	Air superiority
Size	Air Force Wing
Nickname	Grünherz
Engagements	Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa
Commanders
Notable commanders	Hannes Trautloft (25. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A fighter aircraft is a Military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other Aircraft, as opposed to a Bomber, which is designed Air superiority is the dominance in the Air power of one side's air forces over the other side's during a Military campaign. In World War II, the Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II Johannes "Hannes" Trautloft ( 3 March 1912 - 11 January 1995) was a German World War II Fighter ace 08. 40-6. 7. 43)
Insignia
Identification symbol	The Green Heart of Thüringen

Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) Grünherz (Green Hearts) was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during the Second World War. ( German 'luftvafe is a generic German term for an Air force. Wing is a term used by different Air forces for a unit of command World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including It was known as the Green Hearts Wing, and it was the second highest scoring wing of all time, JG 52 being the highest. Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52 (52nd Fighter Wing was the most successful Luftwaffe fighter - wing of World War II, with a claim total of more than JG 54 flew on the Eastern Front, racking up over 9,600 kills, with aces such as Walter Nowotny, Otto Kittel, and Hannes Trautloft being the most famous experten. The Eastern Front of World War II (die Ostfront 1941-1945, der Rußlandfeldzug 1941-1945 (Russian campaign or der Ostfeldzug 1941-1945 (Eastern Campaign Major Walter "Nowi" Nowotny ( December 7, 1920 &ndash November 8, 1944) was an Austrian -born German Otto Kittel ( February 21, 1917 - February 14, 1945) was a highly-decorated World War II German pilot, the fourth highest Johannes "Hannes" Trautloft ( 3 March 1912 - 11 January 1995) was a German World War II Fighter ace

Having enjoyed initial success over the Channel and South-east England during the summer of 1940, the unit was transferred to the Eastern Front in the spring of 1941 for Operation Barbarossa - the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II JG 54 would remain a Jagdwaffe stalwart in the east, flying firstly Bf 109Fs and then the Fw 190.

JG 54 was known for its non-standard camouflage schemes. For example, Bf-109F-4's on the Leningrad front 1941-2 were painted in black-green/dark-green splinter finish with yellow under cowling and under the wing tips.

Contents 1 Formation 2 Wartime History 2.1 Polish Campaign 2.2 Campaign in the West 2.3 The Battle of Britain 2.4 Aftermath of Britain and The Balkans 2.5 The Eastern Front 2.6 Partial regrouping to the Western Front 3 Commanding Officers of JG 54 3.1 Geschwaderkommodore 3.2 Gruppenkommandeure 3.2.1 I./JG 54 3.2.2 II./JG 54 3.2.3 III./JG 54 3.2.4 IV./JG 54 4 Pilots attached to JG 54 5 Knight's Cross recipients of JG 54 6 Notes 7 Sources 8 See also

Formation

I. /JG 54^[1] was initially formed as I. /JG 70 near Nürnberg in July 1939. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. As was to become tradition within the "Grunherzgeschwader", the Gruppe took the Nürnberg coat-of-arms (a vertically divided shield with a black heraldic bird on the left, and red and white diagonal stripes on the right) to represent the region the unit came from. On September 15, 1939, I. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. /JG 70 was redesignated I. /JG 54.

The initial unit designation for II. /JG 54 was I. /JG 138. This unit was raised in 1938 after the Austrian annexation. Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The ( German: "link-up" also known as the, was the 1938 Annexation of Austria into Greater Germany by the Nazi Thus many Austrian nationals were recruited when I. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich /JG 138 was formed. I. /JG 138 was briefly designated I. /JG 76 before finally becoming II. /JG 54 on April 6, 1940. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

III. /JG 54 has its roots in Prussia. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state Initially raised as I. /JG 21, the members were drawn from the Jesau region in Prussia. On July 15 1939, I. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final /JG 21 was redesignated III. /JG 54. However, the bureaucratic nature of the young Luftwaffe was such that it was over a year before records would reflect the new designation. Thus III. /JG 54 fought in Poland and France as I. /JG 21.

Wartime History

Polish Campaign

JG 54 first saw combat in the fall of 1939 in the offensive against Poland. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. II/JG 54 and III/JG 54 saw combat, while I/JG 54 remained stationed in Herzogenaurach. Herzogenaurach is a town in the district of Erlangen-Höchstadt, in Bavaria, Germany. Equipped with BF 109Ds their operations consisted of ground attack, air superiority and escorting Stukas. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka (from Stu rz' ka' mpfflugzeug, " Dive bomber " was a two-seat (pilot and rear gunner Several pilots of JG 54 were awarded decorations during this campaign.

Campaign in the West

After the success in Poland JG 54 was transferred back, on October 9, 1939, to Germany, occupying airfields in the west and south. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Before the invasion of France, during a period known as Sitzkrieg, they operated mainly in an air defence role. The Phoney War, also called the Twilight War by Winston Churchill, der Sitzkrieg in German ("the sitting war" a Flying routine sweeps up to the French border, contact was limited to small skirmishes with French or British reconnaissance planes. The Geschwader began to field BF 109Es at this time as well. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

The Battle of France broke out on May 10, 1940. In World War II, the Battle of France, also known as the Fall of France, was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Luftwaffe operated by advancing in front of the German army to destroy French airfields and industrial complexes. JG 54's role was to escort the bombers (Stukas and Heinkel He 111s mostly)) and to conduct fighter sweeps in French airspace in order to maintain air superiority. The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka (from Stu rz' ka' mpfflugzeug, " Dive bomber " was a two-seat (pilot and rear gunner WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout These roles were maintained throughout the operations at Dunkirk against the evacuating British Expeditionary Force. The British Expeditionary Force ( BEF) was the British army sent to the Western Front in France and Belgium on the outbreak of During the period May 10 to June 21 (until their transfer to Holland and the capitulation of France) JG 54 claimed 17 aircraft, according to JG 54 documentation. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce.

Before the Battle of Britain the Geschwader were again transferred, this time to Holland. The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and The principal reasons for the transfer were the reequipping of the unit and giving the pilots a chance to rest before air defence operations continued against British bombers. In a particularly devastating raid on the Soesterberg airfield, III/JG 54 suffered heavy ground crew and equipment losses. Soesterberg ( is a town in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of Soest, and lies about 5 km northeast of Zeist, While in Holland they claimed another 21 aircraft (20 Blenheim Bombers and 1 Supermarine Spitfire)

The Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain began in late July/ early August, with the goal of destroying the RAF a prerequsite before a land invasion of Britain. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The Battle of Britain (German ''Luftschlacht um England'' is the name given to the sustained strategic effort by the German Luftwaffe during the summer and The three JG 54 Gruppen were transferred to airfields near Calais on August 6, 1940. Calais (kaˈlɛ in English often kæˈleɪ traditional English pronunciation /ˈkælɨs/ Kales is a town in northern France. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Over the next months JG 54 would experience the most hostile fighting environment they had yet encountered. Dissatisfied with the fighter arm's performance, Göring's subsequent purge of the older peace-time Jagdgeschwader commanders in mid 1940 resulted in Major Hannes Trautloft being placed in command of JG 54, replacing Major Mettig. Johannes "Hannes" Trautloft ( 3 March 1912 - 11 January 1995) was a German World War II Fighter ace Serving in that capacity until July 1943, Trautloft was a natural leader and left an indelible mark on JG 54 and was regarded as a leader who cared for his men. Trautloft also devised the 'Green Heart' emblem of JG 54, adopting the regional emblem of his birth place in Thüringen ('The green heart of Germany')

The Battle of Britain would prove to be costly for both the Luftwaffe and JG 54. The Geschwader lost 43 pilots; 40 percent of the pilots they entered the battle with. The 3 staffel itself went from 12 pilots to 2 by the end of the Battle. JG 54 however claimed some 238 enemy aircraft destroyed. The first Knight's Cross or Ritterkreuz were awarded to JG 54 during the battle as well, a total of 3 being presented. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ( German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, often simply Ritterkreuz) was a grade of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross was given upon achieving 20 victories, and was first awarded to Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak, Kommandeur II/JG 54, on October 21. Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak (born 19 December 1914 in Groß-Deuben Leipzig, died 15 September 1995 in Pfaffenhofen Events 1512 - Martin Luther joins the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg.

Aftermath of Britain and The Balkans

After the Luftwaffe's defeat, the three gruppen were all assigned to separate locations once again. I/JG 54 was assigned as a subordinate of JG 1 from [September 27], 1940 until May of 1941; II/JG 54 was given winter's rest from December 3, 1940, until January 23, 1941 at Delmenhorst airfield; III/JG 54 was put on a similar rest after a short lived air defense role in Holland. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1800 - War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden, French Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. II/JG54 and III/JG 54 served briefly in France at Le Mans and Cherbourg. They provided air protection over Normandy, but due to quiet conditions much of the unit's time was devoted to training. On March 29, 1941 Stab, II, and III/JG 54 were relocated to the Balkans. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Conducting mostly ground attack operations on locomotives and rolling stock, they also encountered Yugoslavian BF 109Ds that had been purchased from Germany prior to hostilities. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout After the defeat of Yugoslavia, JG 54 traded in their Emil(109-E) model 109s for the more modern Franz(109-F) models. Reunited with I/JG 54 the unit was transferred into Prussia to begin training and preparations for Operation Barbarossa. Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II

The Eastern Front

Claiming 45 kills on the first day, JG 54 served on the Northern Front during the invasion of Soviet Russia on 22 June 1941 as part of the Luftwaffe's Luftflotte 1, and would remain on that part of the Eastern Front for most of its existence. Army Group North ( Heeresgruppe Nord) was a strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War Operation Barbarossa ( Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the Codename for Nazi Germany 's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Finnish, Baltic & Leningrad Fronts were far more static in nature than other Eastern Front theatres, leading to a more stable existence for JG 54 operations, although the severe cold during the winters of 1941-44 would constantly hamper fighter operations. JG 54's operations for 1941-43 had essentially a twofold objective; to keep pressure upon the beleaguered Leningrad sector, and to reduce Soviet pressure on the Lake Ilmen area at the German flank. Ilmen (Ильмень is a historically important Lake in the Novgorod Oblast of Russia, formerly a vital part of the Trade route from the Varangians

By 18 July the Geschwader had chalked up its 500th Soviet air claim, and on 1 August became the third Geschwader to claim 1,000 air kills. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman In the period 22 June - 5 December 1941 the unit destroyed 1,078 Soviet aircraft in return for 46 losses in aerial combat and a single fighter on the ground^[2]. Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Trautloft instituted the successful tactic of intercepting Soviet nuisance raiders on moonlit nights, and JG 54 claimed 56 kills in January-July 1942 while suffering no losses on these interceptions. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In February 1942 alone JG 54 claimed 201 kills for 18 pilots killed. The 2,000 kill came on 4 April 1942 by Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Klemm. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

JG 54 received its first Focke Wulf Fw 190's in February 1943, and on February 23, 1943, JG 54 claimed its 4,000 kill. Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On 7 March 1943 the unit claimed 59 aircraft shot down in one day. Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. During 1943 a schwarm of 1. /JG 54^[1] became the most successful formation of its type in the Luftwaffe; Hpt. Walter Nowotny (257 kills), Uzz Karl Schnörrer (46), Lt Anton Döbele (94) and Lt Rudolf Rademacher(126) amassed 500 air victories between them in 1943-1944. Major Walter "Nowi" Nowotny ( December 7, 1920 &ndash November 8, 1944) was an Austrian -born German Lieutenant Karl "Quax" Schnörrer ( March 3, 1919 - September 25, 1979) was a famous " ace " of the German Rudolf "Rudi" Rademacher (born 19 June 1913 in Lüneburg, killed in flying accident 13 June 1953 in Lüneburg

Trautloft left JG 54 in July 1943 when General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland asked him to join his staff as Inspizient Ost. Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland ( 19 March 1912 9 February 1996) was a World War II German fighter (He ended the war with 57 victories and the Knight's Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ( German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, often simply Ritterkreuz) was a grade of the Iron Cross ) After his departure JG 54 continued operating on the Northern Front, and their victory tally rose continuously. The 7,000 JG 54 claim was made on 23 March 1944, with the 8,000 mark passed on 15 August. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed

I. ,II. and IV. / JG 54 ended the war fighting around the Baltic region, supporting the troops of Army Group North through Latvia and Estonia, and into the Courland Pocket of East Prussia. Army Group North ( Heeresgruppe Nord) was a strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War Latvia ( Latvija officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republika is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region. Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region The Courland Pocket referred to the Red Army 's blockade or encirclement of Axis forces on the Courland peninsula during the closing months of World War II JG 54 could never hope to regain air superiority against the mounting number of Russian aircraft. The Russians never defeated Army Group North, which held out until the last day of the war, surrendering 210,000 Germans to the Soviets in Courland.

The remaining serviceable FW-190's were ordered fly to Flensburg on the Danish border, with the German Navy evacuating as many of the ground personnel as possible by ship. Flensburg ( Danish: Flensborg, Low Saxon: Flensborg, North Frisian: Flansborj) is an independent town in The JG 54 pilots, led by Oberst Dietrich Hrabak, ripped out all unnecessary equipment from the fighters, allowing room to take two men, one man crouching behind the seat and the other fitting into the fuselage. Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak (born 19 December 1914 in Groß-Deuben Leipzig, died 15 September 1995 in Pfaffenhofen In this way at least 90 JG 54 personnel escaped Russian capture.

Partial regrouping to the Western Front

In February 1943 III. /JG 54 was transferred back to the west for operations against the RAF and USAAF. The United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF) was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. At first they were to operate as stand alone BF 109 unit, but later were attached to JG 26. Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter - wing of World War II. Intensive training in the more rigorous techniques of fighting on the Western Front were only partly successful, and Oberst Josef Priller, Geschwaderkommodore of JG 26 and charged with III gruppe's training, refused to declare the gruppe operational. Josef "Pips" Priller ( 27 July 1915 &ndash 20 May 1961) was a Luftwaffe World War II Fighter ace. Geschwaderkommodore is a Luftwaffe position (not rank that is the equivalent of a Royal Air Force Group Commander or USAF Wing Commander III Gruppe transferred to North Germany as a result, supporting Jagdgeschwader 1. The gruppe would take several losses before acclimatising to the new theatre; two experienced III gruppe experten - Hpt Gunther Fink and Lt. Friedrich Rupp - would be killed in action on 15 May alone. III. /JG 54 would remain in the west for the rest of the war.

During the autumn of 1944, III. /JG 54 was the first Luftwaffe unit to be supplied with the new Fw 190 D-9 "Dora". WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The D-9s were used in base defence missions for the Me 262 jets of Kommando Nowotny, and later over North-West Europe. Kommando Nowotny was a Luftwaffe fighter Gruppe formed during the last months of World War II for testing and establishing tactics for the 68 operational aircraft were available early in December, but such were the heavy losses sustained that the gruppe was disbanded soon after. Hpt. 'Bazi' Weiß,(121 kills), the Gruppenkommandeur, and 12 other pilots were killed by RAF fighters on 29 December 1944 alone. Robert "Bazi" Weiß ( 21 April 1920 &ndash 29 December 1944) was a German World War II Fighter ace Gruppenkommandeur is a Luftwaffe ( German air force position that is the equivalent of a commander of a group or wing in other air Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

At the end of 1944 Zerstorer Geschwader ZG 76 was disbanded and its pilots formed the nucleus of a new III. /JG 54. Operating from Muncheberg, near Berlin, the unit's Fw 190s saw intensive action against Russian ground targets such as road and rail supply columns, flak positions, armour and the bridges across the River Oder. For the WWII Luftwaffe Ace please see Joachim Müncheberg. Müncheberg is a small Town in Märkisch-Oderland, Germany approximately half-way Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. A few weeks before the war ended, the depleted III. /JG 54 was disbanded, being absorbed into JG 26.

Although Luftwaffe documentation were destroyed at the end of the war surviving records indicate JG 54 lost 501 pilots killed in action and 242 pilots missing, with 40 aircrew POW. Total losses in aircraft were approximately 1071 Bf 109 and 746 FW 190.

Commanding Officers of JG 54

Geschwaderkommodore

• Major Martin Mettig; 2 Feb 40 to 25 Aug 40
• Oberst Hannes Trautloft; 25 Aug 40 to 5 Jul 43
• Major Hubertus von Bonin; 6 Jul 43 to 15 Dec 43
• Oberstleutnant Anton Mader; 28 Jan 44 to Sep 44
• Oberst Dietrich Hrabak; 1 Oct 44 to 8 May 45

Gruppenkommandeure

I. Johannes "Hannes" Trautloft ( 3 March 1912 - 11 January 1995) was a German World War II Fighter ace Hubertus von Bonin (born 3 August 1911 in Potsdam, killed in action 15 December 1943 near Gorodok) was a German Oberstleutnant Anton Mader (born 7 January 1913 in Castelnuovo - Dalmatia – died 19 February 1984 in Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak (born 19 December 1914 in Groß-Deuben Leipzig, died 15 September 1995 in Pfaffenhofen /JG 54

• Major Hans-Jürgen von Cramon-Traubadel, 15 September 1939
• Hauptmann Hubertus von Bonin, 28 December 1939
• Hauptmann Erich von Selle, 2 July 1941
• Hauptmann Franz Eckerle, 20 December 1941
• Hauptmann Hans Philipp, 17 February 1942
• Major Reinhard Seiler, 15 April 1943
• Major Gerhard Homuth, 1 August 1943
• Hauptmann Walter Nowotny, 10 August 1943
• Hauptmann Horst Ademeit, 4 February 1944
• Hauptmann Franz Eisenach, 9 August 1944

II. Hubertus von Bonin (born 3 August 1911 in Potsdam, killed in action 15 December 1943 near Gorodok) was a German Erich von Selle ( 13 August 1908 in Königsberg – 27 February 1976 in Hamburg) was a German Luftwaffe WW2 Career Colonel Hans Philipp (born 13 March 1917 in Meißen, Saxony, Killed in action 8 October Major Reinhard Seiler ( August 30, 1909 &ndash October 6, 1989) was German Spanish Civil War and World Major Gerhard Homuth ( 20 September, 1914 &ndash 2 August, 1943) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Major Walter "Nowi" Nowotny ( December 7, 1920 &ndash November 8, 1944) was an Austrian -born German Horst Ademeit (* 8 February 1912 in Breslau, † 7 August 1944 near Dünaburg ( Missing in action, most /JG 54

• Hauptmann Wilfried Müller-Rienzburg, 1 April 1938 - 9 January 1940
• Major Albert Blumensaat, 10 January 1940 - 5 February 1940
• Major Richard Kraut, 5 February 1940 - 10 July 1940
• Hauptmann Winterer, 11 July 1940 - 14 August 1940
• Hauptmann Dietrich Hrabak, 26 August 1940 - 27 October 1942
• Major Hans "Assi" Hahn, 19 November 1942 - 21 February 1943
• Hauptmann Heinrich Jung, 21 February 1943 - 30 July 1943
• Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer, 1 August 1943 - February 1945
• Hauptmann Herbert Findeisen, February 1945 - 8 May 1945

III. Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak (born 19 December 1914 in Groß-Deuben Leipzig, died 15 September 1995 in Pfaffenhofen Major Hans "Assi" Hahn (born 14 April, 1914 in Gotha – 18 December, 1982 in Munich) was Major Erich Rudorffer (born 1 November 1917) is a German former Luftwaffe Fighter ace, one of a handful who served with /JG 54

• Major Martin Mettig, 15 July 1939 - 2 February 1940
• Hauptmann Fritz Ultsch, 3 February - 5 September 1940
• Oberleutnant Günther Scholz (acting), 6 September 1940 - 4 November 1940
• Hauptmann Arnold Lignitz, 4 November 1940 - 30 September 1941
• Hauptmann Reinhard Seiler, 1 October 1941
• Hauptmann Siegfried Schnell, May 1943
• Oberleutnant Rudolf Patzak (acting), February 1944
• Hauptmann Rudolf Klemm (acting), February 1944
• Hauptmann Rudolf Sinner, March 1944
• Major Reinhard Schroer, 14. Major Reinhard Seiler ( August 30, 1909 &ndash October 6, 1989) was German Spanish Civil War and World Major Siegfried Schnell (born 23 January, 1916 in Zielenzig – Killed in action 25 February, 1944 near March 1944
• Hauptmann Robert Weiß, 21. Robert "Bazi" Weiß ( 21 April 1920 &ndash 29 December 1944) was a German World War II Fighter ace July 1944
• Oberleutnant Hans Dortenmann (acting), January 1945
• Oberleutnant Wilhelm Heilmann (acting), January 1945
• Major Rudolf Klemm, February 1945

IV. /JG 54

• Hauptmann Erich Rudorffer, July 1943 - 30 July 1943
• Hauptmann Rudolf Sinner, August 1943 - 11 February 1944
• Hauptmann Siegfried Schnell, 11 February 1944 - 25 February 1944
• Hauptmann Gerhard Koall (acting), February 1944 - May 1944
• Major Wolfgang Späte, May 1944 - 30 September 1944
• Hauptmann Rudolf Klemm, 1 October 1944 - 12 February 1945
• Hauptmann Fritz-Karl Schloßstein, March 1945 - April 1945

Pilots attached to JG 54

• Gordon Gollob
• Walter Nowotny
• Otto Kittel
• Hannes Trautloft
• Hans Ekkehard Bob
• Franz Eckerle
• Emil "Bully" Lang
• Max Stotz
• Hans Beißwenger
• Gerhard Karl Loos

Knight's Cross recipients of JG 54

      This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously. Major Erich Rudorffer (born 1 November 1917) is a German former Luftwaffe Fighter ace, one of a handful who served with Major Siegfried Schnell (born 23 January, 1916 in Zielenzig – Killed in action 25 February, 1944 near Gordon M Gollob ( 16 June 1912 &ndash 8 September 1987) was an Austrian fighter pilot and Flying ace Major Walter "Nowi" Nowotny ( December 7, 1920 &ndash November 8, 1944) was an Austrian -born German Otto Kittel ( February 21, 1917 - February 14, 1945) was a highly-decorated World War II German pilot, the fourth highest Johannes "Hannes" Trautloft ( 3 March 1912 - 11 January 1995) was a German World War II Fighter ace Hans Ekkehard Bob ( 24 January, 1917) was a German Fighter pilot, serving with the Luftwaffe. Emil "Bully" Lang ( 14 January, 1909 - 3 September, 1944) was one of the most respected Luftwaffe Experten during Max Stotz (born 13 February 1912 in Mannswörth, Lower Austria, MIA 19 August 1943 near Vitebsk Hans Beißwenger (born 8 November 1916 in Mittelfischach Schwäbisch Hall, Killed in action on 7 August 1944 south A posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has died usually in honor of an action associated with their death

Name	Knight's Cross	Oak Leaves	Swords	Diamonds
Hrabak, Dietrich	01940-10-21 21 October 1940	01943-11-25 25 November 1943[3]
Philipp, Hans	01940-10-22 22 October 1940	01941-08-24 24 August 1941	01942-03-12 12 March 1942
Lignitz, Arnold	01940-11-05 5 November 1940
Bob, Hans-Ekkehard	01941-03-07 7 March 1941
Rudorffer, Erich	01941-05-01 1 May 1941[4]	01944-04-11 11 April 1944	01945-01-26 26 January 1945
Trautloft, Hannes	01941-07-27 27 July 1941
Mütherich, Hubert	01941-08-06 6 August 1941
Pöhs, Josef	01941-08-06 6 August 1941
Ostermann, Max-Hellmuth	01941-09-04 4 September 1941	01942-03-12 12 March 1942	01942-05-17 17 May 1942
Eckerle, Franz	01941-09-18 18 September 1941	01942-03-12 12 March 1942*
Späte, Wolfgang	01941-10-05 5 October 1941	01942-04-23 23 April 1942
Seiler, Reinhard	01941-12-20 20 December 1941	01944-03-02 2 March 1944
Kempf, Karl	01942-02-04 4 February 1942
Beißwenger, Hans	01942-05-09 9 May 1942	01942-10-03 3 October 1942
Hannig, Horst	01942-05-09 9 May 1942	01944-01-03 3 January 1944*[5]
Stotz, Max	01942-06-19 19 June 1942	01942-10-30 30 October 1942
Wandel, Joachim	01942-08-21 21 August 1942
Nowotny, Walter	01942-09-04 4 September 1942	01943-09-05 5 September 1943	01943-09-22 22 September 1943	01943-10-19 19 October 1943
Sattig, Carl	01942-09-19 19 September 1942*
Schilling, Wilhelm	01942-10-10 10 October 1942
Siegler, Peter	01942-11-03 3 November 1942*
Heyer, Hans-Joachim	01942-11-25 25 November 1942*
Götz, Hans	01942-12-23 23 December 1942
Zweigart, Eugen-Ludwig	01943-01-22 22 January 1943
Rupp, Friedrich	01943-01-24 24 January 1943
Broennle, Herbert	01943-03-14 14 March 1943
Fink, Günter	01943-03-14 14 March 1943
Ademeit, Horst	01943-05-01 1 May 1943	01944-03-02 2 March 1944
Kittel, Otto	01943-10-29 29 October 1943	01944-04-11 11 April 1944	01944-11-25 25 November 1944
Jung, Heinrich	01943-11-12 12 November 1943*
Lang, Emil	01943-11-22 22 November 1943	01944-04-11 11 April 1944
Wolf, Albin	01943-11-22 22 November 1943	01944-04-27 27 April 1944*
Sterr, Heinrich	01943-12-05 5 December 1943
Scheel, Günther	01943-12-05 5 December 1943*
Loos, Gerhard	01944-02-05 5 February 1944
Döbele, Anton	01944-03-26 26 March 1944*
Philipp, Wilhelm	01944-03-26 26 March 1944
Weiß, Robert	01944-03-26 26 March 1944	01945-03-12 12 March 1945*
Tegtmeier, Fritz	01944-03-28 28 March 1944
Teumer, Alfred	01944-08-19 19 August 1944
Brandt, Paul	01944-09-05 5 September 1944
Rademacher, Rudolf	01944-09-30 30 September 1944
Wernicke, Heinz	01944-09-30 30 September 1944
Grollmus, Helmut	01944-10-06 6 October 1944*
Eisenach, Franz	01944-10-10 10 October 1944
Koall, Gerhard	01944-10-10 10 October 1944
Mißner, Helmut	01944-10-10 10 October 1944*
Wernitz, Ulrich	01944-10-29 29 October 1944
Klemm, Rudolf	01944-11-18 18 November 1944
Thyben, Gerhard	01944-12-06 6 December 1944	01945-04-08 8 April 1945
Wöhnert, Ulrich	01944-12-06 6 December 1944
Hoffmann, Reinhold	01945-01-28 28 January 1945*
Schleinhege, Hermann	01945-01-28 28 January 1945
Broch, Hugo	01945-03-12 12 March 1945
Kroschinski, Hans-Joachim	01945-04-17 17 April 1945

Notes

Sources

• Bergström, Christer (2007). Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52 (52nd Fighter Wing was the most successful Luftwaffe fighter - wing of World War II, with a claim total of more than Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2 Richthofen was a World War II Luftwaffe wing. Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2 Richthofen was a World War II Luftwaffe wing. Barbarossa - The Air Battle: July-December 1941. London: Chervron/Ian Allen. ISBN 978-1-85780-270-2.
• Don Caldwell- 'JG 26 Top Guns of the Luftwaffe' (Orion books 1991)
• Hans Ekkehard Bob- 'Memoirs of a Luftwaffe Fighter Ace' (Cerberus 2003)
• Walter Musciano - 'Messerschmidt Aces' (Arco Books 1982)
• Heinz Nowarra - 'The Focke Wulf 190' ( Harleyford 1972)
• Hannes Trautloft- 'War Diaries of Hannes Trautloft' (Cerberus 2005)
• Weal, John (2003a). Bf109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-084-6
• Weal, John (2001). Jagdgeschwader 54 'Grünherz' . Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1 84176 286 5.

See also

Luftwaffe Organization

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