Does anybody knows what planes does the Richthofen squadron opperated. Also since they honour Baron Von Richthofen do they also hounour some of the other “Topguns” of Luftwaffe as Bolka and Voss. What about flyers from ww2 … like pilot (i forgot name)known to soviets as “Black Devil” who shoot down 250 USSR planes??
I mean the fact that he was flying for Reich, and wrong goals.. certenly does not dennie his skill as pilot???
By: Old Git - 21st February 2006 at 18:35
Niall/Jan – many thanks for your help.
OG
By: Jan - 21st February 2006 at 15:19
This URL may be of some use as well: http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/org.htm
Regards,
Jan
By: NiallC - 21st February 2006 at 14:44
To keep it brief as requested – and inevitably introduce some generalisations:-
First I think we have to be careful about using words like Wing or Group as translations of Luftwaffe units. These words have distinct meanings in an RAF or USAAC/F context which they do not necessarily have in a Luftwaffe one.
The nearest equivalent to an RAF-size squadron in the Luftwaffe was the Staffel. Initially 9 aircraft but rising to 15 or more. Theoretically there would be 3 Staffeln in a Gruppe (although some had 4) and 3 Gruppen in a Geschwader. Again many Geschwader added a 4th Gruppe either an operational one or an Erganzungsgruppe which acted as a kind of in-unit OTU. The norm is to refer to Staffeln with Arabic numbers and Gruppen with Roman ones e.g 3/JG2 is the 3rd Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 “Richthoven” and III/JG2 is the 3rd Gruppe of the same unit.
Note that a Geschwader might well have one of more of its Gruppen fighting on, the Western front, while another of its Gruppen could be thousands of miles away in the Med or Russian theatre. A very different concept from a RAF Wing or Group.
The above applies to mainstream bomber and fighter units, but, as always, there are exceptions.
NiallC
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February 19, 2001 at 3:58 am