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LG1

Name : LG1 Founded : July 1936 Re - disbanded : 22nd April 1945 Country : Germany Fate : was ordered to disband on 22 April 1945, but was overrun by Canadian Forces at Varel 26–28 April

Lehrgeschwader 1 (LG 1) (Demonstration Wing 1) formerly Lehrgeschwader Greifswald was a Luftwaffe multi-purpose unit during World War II, operating fighter, bomber and dive-bomber Gruppen. The unit was formed in July 1936 and operated the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Messerschmitt Bf 110, Dornier Do 17, Heinkel He 111, Junkers Ju 88 and Junkers Ju 87. On 25/26 August 1939 the unit mobilised. Assigned to Luftflotte 2, the Geschwader suffered light losses. I.(Zerstörer)/LG 1 lost only three Bf 110s in September.[1] II./LG also took part. Operating He 111s the Gruppe began operations with 39 He 111s (34 operational), and struck at targets in and around Warsaw. The unit also undertook naval strike missions against Royal Navy vessels off the Norwegian coast on 6 October III./LG 1 also took part, committing 39 He 111s to the battle.[3] Exact losses are unknown, but light. IV.(Stuka) unit, also began its military operations over Poland. Equipped with the Ju 87 Stuka, the Gruppe supported the XI.Armee until withdrawn from operations on 29 September During the campaign, the unit was transferred to Luftflotte 1 I.(K)/LG 1 undertook some armed reconnaissance missions along the Norwegian coast in late April 1940, without suffering casualties. The unit reported three losses. Whether these losses were inflicted as a result of enemy action is unknown.[5] II./LG 1 undertook missions against Allied shipping. On 1 May 1940 the Norwegian hospital ship Dronning Maud was sunk by this unit. The Geschwader lost 55 aircraft in the battle for France, 50 of them in combat. LG 1 records reveal the unit claimed seven Allied ships sunk and 23 damaged, along with 19 Allied aircraft shot down in aerial combat. I.(K)/LG 1 began the campaign with 30 He 111s, of which 22 were combat ready. The Gruppe took part in the Battle of Dunkirk, and spent the majority of its time heavily engaged with Allied Naval forces. II./LG 1, operating under Luftflotte 2, was tasked with direct ground support, Air interdiction, and logistical strikes against the enemy. Operating with 18 of its 26 He 111s at the start of the campaign, it hit the French airfields at Lille on 10 May. On 12 May a raid against Vlissingen harbour cost II. Gruppe two Heinkels. The Gruppe also took part in the Battle of Hannut, attacking Allied positions in Belgium, losing one He 111. The unit were withdrawn from the front-line for five days to convert to the Ju 88. During further operations against Allied rail targets, a further loss, a single Ju 88, was sustained on 20 May in the Amiens area. II. Gruppe was tasked the missions against Naval forces until the end of the Dunkirk evacuation. Several missions against Ostend and Dunkirk's harbours were flown from 25–31 May. This particular unit also took part in Unternehmen Paula, a 1,000 aircraft assault on French airfields in and around Paris on 2 June 1940, without loss. Missions over the Loire Valley continued until 22 June 1940. III. Gruppe also participated . Committing 12 He 111s and 37 Ju 88s it supported II. Gruppe and its operations. IV.(Stuka)/LG 1 undertook ground attack operations with 37 Ju 87 Bs, without being involved in any notable actions. V.(Zerstorer)/LG 1's responsibility was escort duties. Equipped with 33 Bf 110 Ds, the unit lost 8 Bf 110s from 10 May to 16 June 1940, when it was withdrawn for rest and refitting. During the battle of Britain the squadron attacked on 15 August with 12 Ju 88As of I//LG 1 against RAF Middle Wallop destroyed several Spitfires, but the unit lost five aircraft to defending fighters. The Geschwader suffered a cripplingly high loss rate during the battle. From 8 July 1940 to December 1940, LG 1 lost 94 aircraft, and a further 13 were destroyed after returning with damage. LG 1 lost 119 crews and pilots killed, 102 missing and 36 captured. V. (Zerstörer)/LG 1 sustained particularly high losses, losing 25 Bf 110Cs between 4 July and 16 September. It was reduced to just 10 Bf 110s, but on 7 September 1940 it lost a further seven 110s, as a result the unit was withdrawn from operations. It was designated I.NJG 3 on 29 September. .(K)/LG 1 took part in the Balkan campaign. It sank the Allied transport vessels Ellenis on 20 April, in Piraeus harbour, and Pennland (16,000 grt) on 24 April. It continued anti-shipping missions throughout the remainder of the conflict. On 21 May 1941 the gruppe damaged the Royal Navy Leander-class HMS Ajax. During 22–27 May 1941, HMS Barham and HMS Warspite were damaged by LG 1s attacks. Notable actions of the Geschwader during the two-year stint in North Africa included I.(K)/LG 1s sinking of three large transport vessels Clan Campbell, Clan Chattan and Rowallan Castle from the convoy MW 9, during attacks on 13–14 February 1941. III./LG 1 also damaged the Australian destroyer Waterhen on 9 July 1941, and sinking it on 11 July. The Geschwader supported the Afrikakorps until 1942. Bombing raids were made the Suez Canal, Cairo during this time. On 11/12 May I.(K)/LG 1 led by Hauptmann Joachim Helbig were responsible for sinking HMS Kipling, HMS Jackal and HMS Lively in the Gulf of Sollum. The Geschwader also took part in the Siege of Malta during October 1942. IV.(Erg)/LG 1 and III./LG 1 (disbanded and reformed in May 1943) were based in Greece and Italy for the remainder of the war, striking at Allied Shipping. The units were bombed continually. Hangars and workshops that held vital spare parts were destroyed. The fuel crisis in July 1944 forced most of the two units to withdraw to Austria. On the Eastern Front Only III. Gruppe and IV.(Stuka)/LG 1 were the only Gruppen of the LG 1 to operate in the Soviet Union. III./LG 1 moved to Nikolayez in the Ukraine from 23–24 March 1942. The units took part in the Battle of Sevastopol and the Battle of Stalingrad. It also conducted anti-shipping missions against the Soviet Navy and Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea. IV. Gruppe operated the Ju 87 from northern Norway and Finland at the start of Operation Barbarossa. It flew a variety of ground attack missions, and anti-shipping missions around Murmansk. According to its records, the Gruppe lost 26 Stukas, 21 crews killed, seven missing, 6 wounded and three captured between 3 September 1940 and 27 January 1942. Later, just prior to the Battle of Berlin, the Geschwader took part in Operation Eisenhammer, striking at the Oder bridges to prevent their use by the Red Army. The Geschwader attempted to support the German Army in France. However, due to Allied air superiority it was restricted to flying at night. From 1 July 1944 to 31 August 1944 I.(K)/LG 1 lost 19 aircraft in the failed Normandy Campaign. The Gruppe also supported German forces during the Battle of the Bulge offensive. Operating at night to avoid Allied fighters, the unit attacked troop concentrations and marshalling yards in Belgium and France. On the night of 16/27 December 1944, the unit lost five Ju 88S-3s out of nine in a raid against Namur, Belgium.[18] The Gruppe was ordered to disband on 22 April 1945, but was overrun by Canadian Forces at Varel 26–28 April. II./LG 1 also lost 19 aircraft in these operations (Ref Wikipedia)

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
Walter Erich Fenske		unknown	unknown	01st September 1939			01 Sep 1939 shot down a Polish PZL P-24 at 17:10± over Warschau
Peter Laufs		unknown	unknown	01st September 1939	Me110		01 Sep 1939 I.(Z)LG1 Peter Laufs shot down a POlish PZL P-24 at a height of 2000m at 17:10± over Warschau
Helmuth Muller	Oblt	unknown	unknown	01st September 1939	Me110		Oblt. Helmut Müller scored the first-ever aerial victory of a Bf 110, shooting down the PZL P-11c flown by Airman Boleslaw Olewinski of 114. Fighter Squadron.
Fritz Schleiff		unknown	unknown	01st September 1939	Me110		possibly shot down upto three PZL P-24 over Warschau at 17.10. possible duplication due to the times stating the same
Herbert Schob	Ofw	unknown	13th December 1940	01st September 1939	Me110		01/09/1939 Ofw. Herbert Schob 1.(Z) LG 1 PZL P-24 Zegrze: 4500m 09.00± Western Front
Alfred Sturm	Uffz	unknown	unknown	01st September 1939	Me110		C 2.(Z)/LG 1 at 17.10 over Warschau shot down a PZL P-24 Pologne

Pilots and Aircrew for : LG1
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Fenske, Walter Erich Click the name above to see a profile of Fenske, Walter Erich    Died : 28 / 3 / 1944	Fenske, Walter Erich 09.39 in 2.(Z)/LG 1. 08.10.39 now in 14.(Z)/LG 1. 21.07.40 trf to 3./NJG 1. 10.40 Lt., assigned to 3./NJG 1. 11.02.41 Oblt., appt Staka of 3./NJG 1 (to 10.41). 10.41 appt Staka 9./NJG 2. 06.43 Hptm., Staka 11./NJG 5. †28.03.44 Hptm., KIA during operational mission or died at Brodenbach in Bf 110 G-4 test flight crash Brodenbach on 26.03.44 with 3./NJGr. 10.
Laufs, Peter Click the name above to see a profile of Laufs, Peter    Died : 27 / 1 / 1942	Laufs, Peter 01 Sep 1939 I.(Z)LG1 Peter Laufs shot down a Polish PZL P-24 at a height of 2000m at 17:10± over Warschau
Muller, Helmuth Click the name above to see a profile of Muller, Helmuth    Died : 15 / 9 / 1940	Muller, Helmuth sometimes listed at Helmut Muller. Oblt. Helmut Müller scored the first-ever aerial victory of a Bf 110,on the 1st Sept 1939 when shooting down the PZL P-11c flown by Airman Boleslaw Olewinski of 114. Fighter Squadron. Flying Me110s with 13.(Z)./LG1, Helmuth Müller claimed 10 victories before being shot down and killed in his Me110C-3 on 15th September 1940, just two days after his final victory claim. On 27th May 1940, he claimed two Spitfires over Dunkirk. Research shows these are likely to have been the Spitfires of Albert R J Medcalf 90339, fying Spitfire L1016 DW-Q of No.610 Sqn, and Spitfire L1003, also of No.610 Sqn.
Schleiff , Fritz Click the name above to see a profile of Schleiff , Fritz	Schleiff , Fritz
Schob, Herbert Click the name above to see a profile of Schob, Herbert    Died : 5 / 4 / 1981	Schob, Herbert
Sturm, Alfred Click the name above to see a profile of Sturm, Alfred	Sturm, Alfred C 2.(Z)/LG 1 at 17.10 over Warschau shot down a PZL P-24 Pologne

Aircraft for : LG1
A list of all aircraft associated with LG1. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Ju88 Click the name above to see prints featuring Ju88 aircraft. Manufacturer : Junkers Production Began : 0 Retired : 0 Number Built : 15000	Ju88 The German Junkers JU 88 twin engined Bomber of World war two. The first prototype first flew in December 1936 with a civilian registration of D-AQEN it managed a top speed of 360 mph. This would give the German air force the Luftwaffe a fast multi role bomber. The Junkers JU 88 was used as a night fighter, reconnaissance and Torpedo Bomber. In total there were 15,000 JU 88's built during the war JU88 losses unknown serial numbers at this stage 11/12.07.40: Target Avonmouth & Portishead: Ju 88A of I/KG 51 4 NCO's missing Failed to return and probably crashed into the sea. 11/12.07.40: Target Avonmouth & Portishead: Ju 88A of 3/KG 51 Ofw. Josef Rattel (F) killed 1 NCO injured 2 others uninjured This aircraft was unable to precisely identify the target because of intense flak. It suffered engine failure on the return flight and crashed and burnt out at Varnevil while on approach to landing. 22.08.40: Reconnaissance over Filton: Ju 88A-1, 7A+AL, of 3(F)/121 Ogefr. W.Kuhweide ( ) killed Ltn. R.Pfundtner ( ) POW injured Oblt. Baudler ( ) POW injured Flg. A.Leber ( ) POW injured Crashed at 16.00 hrs at Upcott Farm, Beaford, nr. Okehampton, Devon. Shot down by Spitfires of Green Section, 152 Sq. (Warmwell) following an attack by P/O. W.Beaumont. 11/12.04.41: Target Bristol area: Ju 88A-5, B3+GN of 5/KG 54 Uffz. Karl Funke (F) missing Fw. Josef Höhnhorst (Bf) missing Gefr. Heinz Bretschneider (Bs) missing Gefr. Horst Heller (B) missing Failed to return, probably crashed into the sea
Me110 Click the name above to see prints featuring Me110 aircraft. Manufacturer : Messerschmitt Production Began : 1938	Me110 The Bf-110 grew out of Herman Gorings specifications for a multipurpose aircraft capable of penetrating deep into enemy airspace to clear the sky of enemy fighters in advance of German bomber formations. The aircraft would also be utilized as a long range interceptor, and as a ground support and ground attack bomber. The Bf-110 prototype first flew in 1936. The prototype was under powered with its Daimier Benz DB 600A engines. Several months passed before a go ahead was given for large scale production which commenced in 1938. Utilizing improved DB 601 engines, the early production 110s were as fast as any single engine fighter at that time, and had superior fire power. Their biggest apparent weakness was in the areas of armor protection for the crew, and in terms of maneuverability when compared to single seat fighters. The 110 was produced in large numbers and in many different variants. The 110D was the long range model. An additional belly tank was fitted to that aircraft, with several later variants having the more traditional drop tanks. The first serious test for the Bf-110 came during the Battle of Britain. About 300 Bf-110s were involved. They became easy prey for Hurricane and Spitfire pilots, and Bf-109s were often required to assist the 110s in their own defense. On August 15, 1940, which became known as Black Tuesday, the Bf-110s were ravaged by the RAF, and for the month over 100 aircraft were lost. On the Eastern Front the Bf-110 performed admirably in the early stages of Operation Barbarossa. With the Soviet Air Force weakened in the first several weeks of the attack, 110s were effectively utilized in a ground attack role. Ultimately, the Luftwaffe re-equipped a significant number of its 110s as night fighters. The aircraft performed well in this role because it was a good gun platform with sufficient speed to overtake the RAF night bombers. Such night missions were typically carried out with no Allied fighter escort, so the 110 night fighters would not have to engage or elude Allied fighters in this role.

Last edited : 15:05, April 24, 2017
Last editor : HMS
First created : 14:00, April 21, 2017
Created by : HMS

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