Luftwaffe_Order_of_Battle_August_1940

Luftwaffe order of battle August 1940

Luftwaffe order of battle August 1940

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Further information: Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II
Main article: Battle of Britain

For its Battle of Britain campaign against Great Britain during World War II, the German Luftwaffe had the following order of battle in the West. Luftflotte 2 was responsible for the bombing of southeast England and the London area and based in the Pas-de-Calais area in France. Luftflotte 3 targeted the West Country, Midlands, and northwest England, from bases a bit further north in France. Luftflotte 5 targeted the north of England and Scotland, from bases in Norway. Luftflotte 1 and Luftflotte 4 were based in Germany, but most of their bomber formations had been reassigned to the three Luftflotten engaged in the Battle of Britain. Some fighters were retained to provide air cover over Germany, however.[1]

Luftflotte 2

Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring, OOB from 13 August 1940.

Wettererkundungstaffel 26 (Weather reconnaissance unit under direct control of Luftflotte 2 )Brussels–GrimbergenIndependent StaffelDornier Do 17, Heinkel He 111, Messerschmitt Bf 110Brussels-GrimbergenRegierungsrat Krug
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Luftflotte 3

Headquarters in Paris, France, under Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle. OOB from 13 August 1940.

Wettererkundungstaffel 51 (Weather reconnaissance unit under direct control of Luftflotte 3 )Versailles–BucIndependent StaffelDornier Do 17, Heinkel He 111,Versailles-BucRegierungsrat Dr. Felber
More information Parent unit, Geshwader Base ...

Luftflotte 5

Headquarters in Stavanger, Norway, led by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff. OOB from 13 August 1940.

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Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe

Headquarters in Berlin, Germany, led by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring. OOB from 13 August 1940.

More information Parent unit, Geshwader Base ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Note: de Zeng, Stanket and Creek provide much of the information presented in this article. Some of the information is sourced from Bungay, 2000, pp. 408-418. In turn Bungay cites Balke, Ulf. Der Luftkrieg in Europa - Die Operativen Einsätze des Kampgeshwaders 2 im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Germany: Bernard and Graefe, 1989. ISBN 3-7637-5882-8 and the records of Luftflotte 3 (RL7/89 and 90), although much of this has been superseded by the research of de Zeng et al..
  2. [2]
    de Zeng et al. 2007, Vol 1, p. 14.
  3. [3]
    de Zeng et al. 2007, Vol 1, p. 28.
  4. [4]
    de Zeng et al. Vol 1, 2007, p. 188.
  5. [5]
    de Zeng et al. Vol 1, 2007, p. 194.
  6. [6]
    Note: Vollbracht scored two victories each in World War I and World War II
  7. [7]
    de Zeng et al. Vol 1 2007, p. 122.
  8. [8]
    Note: Detached from rest of ZG 76 based in France, Luftflotte 2.
  9. [9]
    Note: On 15 August the Bf 110 of Hptm. Restemeyer and crewmember Hptm. Hartwich was shot down over the North Sea during Luftflotte 5's attempted attack on North East England.

Bibliography

  • Balke, Ulf. Der Luftkrieg in Europa - Die Operativen Einsätze des Kampfgeschwaders 2 im Zweiten Weltkrieg. Germany: Bernard and Graefe, 1989. ISBN 3-7637-5882-8
  • Bungay, Stephen. The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain. London: Aurum Press 2000. ISBN 1-85410-721-6(hardcover), ISBN 1-85410-801-8(paperback 2002).
  • de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 1. Ian Allan Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-279-5
  • de Zeng, H.L; Stanket, D.G; Creek, E.J. Bomber Units of the Luftwaffe 1933-1945; A Reference Source, Volume 2. Ian Allan Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-1-903223-87-1
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