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KG54

Name : KG54 Founded : May 1939 Disbanded : October 1944 Country : Germany

Kampfgeschwader 54 "Totenkopf"(German pronun­cia­tion: [ kampfɡəʃvaːdɐ fiːɐ ʊntfʏnftsɪç ]) (KG 54) was a Luftwaffe bomber wing during World War II. It served on nearly all the fronts in the European Theatre where the German Luftwaffe operated. KG 54 was formed in May 1939. The bomber wing was equipped with two of the major German medium bomber types; the Heinkel He 111 and the Junkers Ju 88. It was given and insignia of a human skull, which was sometimes displayed on a shield-like device, but more often depicted over a normal camouflage pattern. It bore a strikingly close graphic resemblance to that of the 3rd SS Panzer Division, known as the "Death's Head Division". The Totenkopf motif was inspired by the Braunschweiger Black Hussars KG 54 began it's first campaign in September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland, which began World War II. It spent the Phoney War resting and refitting though it did carry out leaflet-dropping over France. In April 1940KG 54 briefly supported the Operation Weserübung, the invasions of Denmark and Norway. In May 1940KG 54 played a critical and controversial role in Fall Gelb, the German offensive into Western Europe. On 14 May 1940, as the Battle of the Netherlands reached a climax, KG 54 carried out the Rotterdam Blitz, which destroyed the centre of the city and killed many civilians. The attack played a role in the surrender of the Dutch Army.[2] KG 54 continued to support German forces in the Battle of Belgium and Battle of France through to the surrender of the latter in June 1940. From July 1940 it fought in the Battle of Britain sustaining considerable losses and thereafter in The Blitz.KG 54 also provided tertiary support to the Kriegsmarine, German Navy, the Battle of the Atlantic. From June 1941 to October 1942 it fought on the Eastern Front after Operation Barbarossa and the invasion of the Soviet Union. In 1943 it served in the Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatres of war.KG 54 fought on the Italian Front and participated in Operation Steinbock over England. It supported German forces in the night intruder role over the beachheads in June 1944 and served on the Western Front until October 1944, when the last of its groups was disbanded

Known Service Details :
Pilot or Aircrew	Rank	Start of Service	End of Service	Known Dates	Aircraft	Airframes	Notes
Karl Funke	Uffz	unknown	11th April 1941	11th April 1941	Ju88		11/12.04.41: Target Bristol area: Ju 88A-5, B3+GN of 5/KG 54 Uffz. Karl Funke (F) missing with his crew Failed to return, probably crashed into the sea Killed in Action
Josef Höhnhorst	fw	unknown	11th December 1941	11th December 1941	Ju88		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 Killed in Action

Pilots and Aircrew for : KG54
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
Funke, Karl Click the name above to see a profile of Funke, Karl    Died : 11 / 4 / 1941	Funke, Karl 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
Höhnhorst, Josef Click the name above to see a profile of Höhnhorst, Josef    Died : 11 / 12 / 1941	Höhnhorst, Josef 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

Aircraft for : KG54
A list of all aircraft associated with KG54. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
He111 Click the name above to see prints featuring He111 aircraft. Manufacturer : Heinkel	He111 The German medium bomber the Heinkel He111 was designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter. The first He111 flew on 24th of February 1935, piloted by chief test pilot Gerhard Nitschke. The Heinkel He111 was the primary medium bomber of the Luftwaffe during the opening years of World War Two and the major bomber during the Battle of Britain. It was also used as a torpedo bomber during the Battle of the Atlantic. The Heinkel He111 was used in all theatres, Western, Eastern, Middle East and Northern Africa. He111 continued in production into 1944 and by the end of the war it was used primarily as a transport. Its origins came from a pre war airliner design.
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