Jagdgeschwader 2

"Richthofen"

Version: 04-12-07 (D-M-Y) - 94 pics

Reichsverteidigung

Late in the war, units which had the order to protect the Homeland ("Reich"), received a fuselage band.
Other than before, these were now not a marking for a special place or theatre,
but a recognizing help for each unit, and each had its own colors for the band.

The Reichsverteidigungsband of Jagdgeschwader 2 was yellow-white-yellow:

The Geschwader was mainly to find in the air over south-western Germany (Frankfurt & Wiesbaden) in these days.

Geschwaderstab

Geschwaderkommodore:

Oberst Gerd von Massow, 1.5.39 - 31.3.40
Obstlt Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp, 1.4.40 - 2.9.40
Maj Wolfgang Schellmann, 2.9.40 - 20.10.40
Maj Helmut Wick, 20.10.40 - 28.11.40
Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert (acting), 28.11.40 - 16.2.41
Maj Wilhelm Balthasar, 16.2.41 - 3.7.41
Obstlt Walter Oesau, 20.7.41 - 1.7.43
Maj Egon Mayer, 1.7.43 - 2.3.44
Maj Kurt Ubben, 2.3.44 - 27.4.44
Obstlt Kurt Bühligen, 28.4.44 - 8.5.45

1939, May 1 - Formed from Stab/JG131 in Doeberitz near Berlin

Geschwaderkommodore

Major beim Stab
Ia (Operational questions)
Ic (Enemy activity).

Geschwader-Adjutant
IIa (Personnel, officers)
IIb (Personnel, other ranks)

Nachrichten Offizier (NO) (Intelligence/Signals Officer),

Technischer Offizier (TO)
(Equipment: Aircraft)

Germany

1939, May 1 - Messerschmitt Bf 109D-1 - Doeberitz

<-+-
OTL. Gerd von Massow
(1939, May 1 =>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1939, August 25 - Messerschmitt Bf 109D-1 - Fuerstenwalde

<-+-
OTL. Gerd von Massow
(1939, May 1 =>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1939, September 2 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 - Doeberitz

<-+-
OTL. Gerd von Massow
(1939, May 1 =>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1939, November 2 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 - Frankfurt-Rebstock

<-+-
OTL. Gerd von Massow
(1939, May 1 =>)
1940, January

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, May 10 – June 22 - Battle of France from area Frankfurt:

Luftflotte 3

1940, May 10 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Wengerohr, Germany

<-+-
OTL. Harry von
Buelow-Bothkamp
(1940, April)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, May 14 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Bastogne, France

<-+-
OTL. Harry von
Buelow-Bothkamp
(1940, April)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, May 18 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Signy-le-Petit, France

<-+-
OTL. Harry von
Buelow-Bothkamp
(1940, April)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, June 2 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Couvron, France

<-+-
OTL. Harry von
Buelow-Bothkamp
(1940, April)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, June 12 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Oulchy-le-Chateau, France

<-+-
OTL. Harry von
Buelow-Bothkamp
(1940, April)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, June 16 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Marigny (Sézanne), France

<-+-
OTL. Harry von
Buelow-Bothkamp
(1940, April)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, June 22 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Évreux, France

<-+-
OTL. Harry von
Buelow-Bothkamp
(1940, April)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, June 27 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Beaumont-le-Roger, France

<-+- (W.Nr.5159)
OTL. Harry von
Buelow-Bothkamp
(1940, April =>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, July 10 - 1941, May - Battle of Britain

1940, August 28 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 - Mardyck, Belgium

<-+- (W.Nr.5159)
Major Wolfgang Schnellmann
(1940, September 3 =>)
He left JG2 to command JG27

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1940, September 25 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 - Beaumont-le-Roger, France

Wick became the youngest Major and Kommodore in the Luftwaffe. Under his command, on November 16, the Geschwader achieved its 500th aerial victory. Wick continued adding to his combat victories, reaching number 55 and 56 on November 28, 1940. These were also his last. On the same day, around 5 p.m., Wick’s Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 5344) was shot down, probably by Flight Lieutenant John Dundas of 609 Squadron, RAF in the vicinity of Isle of Wight. Wick was seen to bail out, but was never found and is missing to the present day. The Luftwaffe declared Wick MIA, presumed dead on December 4, 1940.

<-+- (W.Nr.5344)
Major Helmut Wick
MIA after bailing out on November 28 near Isle of Wight, English Channel

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

<<-+-
Hptm. Karl-Heinz Greisert
(acting)
(1940, November 29 =>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1941 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 - Beaumont-le-Roger, France

<<-+-
Major Wilhelm Balthasar
(1941, February 16 =>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1941, June - Operation Barbarossa started, JG 2 stayed in the West

1941 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 - Beaumont-le-Roger, France

<<-+-
Major Wilhelm Balthasar
(1941, February 16 =>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1941, June 29 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 - St. Pol-Brias, France

1941, July - The yellow noses were overpainted on top, only the lower cowling stayed yellow

<<-+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+
Geschwader TO
Oberleutnant Rudolf Pflanz
(1941, Autumn)

1941, December 21 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 - Brest-Guipavas, France

<<-+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1942, February 8 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 - Caen, France

<<-+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1942, February 11 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 - Calais-Marck, France

<<-+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1942, February 14 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 - Brest-Guipavas, France

<<-+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1942, April 11 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F & FW 190A - Beaumont-le-Roger, France

--+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1942, November 9 - Focke-Wulf FW 190A-3 - Marseille-Marignane, France

<<-+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+ (W.Nr.5159)

-+-

<o-+

1942, November 22 - Focke-Wulf FW 190A-3 - Beaumont-le-Roger, France

<<-+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1943, Spring - Focke-Wulf FW 190A-5 - France

<<-+-
Oberleutnant (!)
Walter Oesau
(1941, July=>)

<II+

<I+

--+-

<o-+

1943, July - Focke-Wulf FW 190A-5 - France

<<-+-
Major Egon Mayer
(1943, July 43 =>)

<II+

<I+

<-+

<o-+

1943, November 27 - Focke-Wulf FW 190A - Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France

<<-+-
Major Egon Mayer
(1943, July 43 =>)

<II+

<I+

-+-

<o-+

1944, May 15 - Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8 - Creil, France

<<-+-
Major Kurt Ubben
(1944, March 2 =>)

<II+

<I+

<-+

<o-+

<<-+-
Major Kurt Buehligen
(1944, April 28 =>)

<II+

<I+

<-+

<o-+

1944, October - Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 - St. Trond, France

<<-+-
Major Kurt Buehligen
(1944, April 28 =>)

<II+

<I+

<-+

<o-+

1944, September 4 - Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 - Merzhausen (NW Frankfurt/Main), Germany

<<-+-
Major Kurt Buehligen
(1944, April 28 =>)

<II+

<I+

<-+

<o-+

1944, September 14 - Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 - Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, Germany

<<-+-
Major Kurt Buehligen
(1944, April 28 =>)

<II+

<I+

<-+

<o-+

1944, September 25 - Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 - Nidda, Germany

<<-+-
Major Kurt Buehligen
(1944, April 28 =>)

<II+
Major Werner Hohenburg
Aachen (Aix la Chapelle)
January 45

<I+

<-+

<o-+

I. Gruppe

Gruppenkommandeure:

Obstlt Carl Vieck, 1.5.39 - 26.9.39
Hptm Jürgen Roth, 1.10.39 - 22.6.40
Hptm Hennig Strümpell, 22.6.40 - 9.9.40
Hptm Helmut Wick, 9.9.40 - 20.10.40
Hptm Karl-Heinz Krahl, 20.10.40 - 20.11.41
Hptm Ignaz Prestele, 20.11.41 - 4.5.42
Hptm Erich Leie, 24.6.42 - 12.42
Hptm Helmut-Felix Bolz, 12.42 - 18.8.43
Hptm Erich Hohagen, 19.8.43 - 24.9.44
Maj Walter Matoni, 24.9.44 - 12.44
Hptm Franz Hrdlicka, 18.12.44 - 25.3.45
Olt Christian Eickhoff, 26.3.45 - 8.5.45

Gruppenstab

1. Staffel

2. Staffel

3. Staffel

1939, May 1 - Formed from I./JG131 in Doeberitz

from Stab I./JG131

from 1./JG131

from 2./JG131

from 3./JG131

Germany

1939, May 1 - Messerschmitt Bf 109D-1, later E-1 - Doeberitz

Note early placement of Swastika at the tail !

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Obstlt. Carl Vieck
(1. May 39 =>)

3+ ''Luchs''
Lt. Hermann Reifferscheidt
(white X on fuselage
and upper wings)

1939, August 25 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 - Fuerstenwalde

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Obstlt. Carl Vieck
(1. May 39 =>)

1939, September 2 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 - Doeberitz

1./JG2 at Lyck, 10.9.39 - 13.9.39

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Obstlt. Carl Vieck
(1. May 39 =>)

1939, November 2 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 - Frankfurt-Rebstock

Detachments at Bassenheim, Wengerohr and Trier-Euren

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Obstlt. Carl Vieck
(1. May 39 =>)

1940, April 20 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 - Bassenheim

detachments at
Kirchberg (10.5. - 14.5.40),
Dockendorf (13.5. - 14.5.40),
Signy-le-Petit (20.5. - 2.6.40) and
Cambrai (26.5. - 2.6.40)

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Obstlt. Carl Vieck
(1. May 39 =>)

1940, May 10 – June 22 - Battle of France from area Frankfurt:

Luftflotte 3
(Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle, Targets: The West, the Midlands and the Nordwest of Britain)

1940 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - France

May 14   -   Bastogne
May 18   -   Beaulieu-en-Aronne
June 2   -   Couvron
June 13   -   Oulchy-le-Chateau
June 16   -   Marigny (Sézanne)

Early standard camouflage - also note early placement of svastika at the tail and early cross with small white parts!

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Roth
(1. October 39 =>)

1+
Staffelkapitaen
Oberleutnant Otto Bertram
(=> September 24, 1940)

2+
Helmut Wick
-
-

<+
Gruppenadjutant

9+ ''Motti''
Helmut Wick (?)
(28 November 1940)
-

1940, June - Stayed in France

1940, June 22 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - St. André

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Hennig Strümpell
(22. June 1940 =>)

1940, June 24 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - Rocqancourt

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Hennig Strümpell
(22. June 1940 =>)

1940, July 10 - 1941, May - Battle of Britain:

Jagdfliegerfuehrer 3 of Luftflotte 3
(Generalfeldmarschall Hugo Sperrle, Targets: The West, the Midlands and the Nordwest of Britain)

1940, June 27 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 - Beaumont-le-Roger, France

Note: Bright sides covered with darker mottling

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Hennig Struempell
(22. June 1940 =>)

1+
Staffelkapitaen
-?-

<+
Gruppenadjutant
Oberleutnant Paul Temme

2+ (W.Nr.5344)
Oberleutnant
Helmut Wick

8+
Oberfeldwebel Franz Jaenisch

14+
Leutnant Franz Fiby
Note, that the newer style cross was touched to look like the old one!

Yellow cowlings for easier recognition

1940, August 28 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 - Mardyck/Belgium

<<+ (W.Nr.5344)
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Helmut Wick
(9. September 1940 =>)
(His old plane from the 3./-)

5+
-
-
-
-

1940, September 10 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 - Beaumont-le-Roger

<<+ (W.Nr.5344)
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Helmut Wick
(9. September 1940 =>)
(His old plane from the 3./-)

1940, October 20 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 - Mont-de-Marsan

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Krahl
(20. October 1940 =>)

9+ (Wk.Nr.5159)
(The former Schnellmann plane,
see Stab to compare)

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Ignaz Prestele
(20. November 1941 =>)

10+
-

1940, October 26 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 - Beaumont-le-Roger

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Krahl
(20. October 1940 =>)

1941, March - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 - Théville

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Hennig Strümpell
(22. June 1940 =>)

1941, June - Operation Barbarossa started, JG 2 stayed in the West

1941, June 8 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 /F-2 - Brest-Nord

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Hennig Strümpell
(22. June 1940 =>)

1941, July - The yellow noses were overpainted on top, only the lower cowling stayed yellow

1941, December 23 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 /F-2 - Morlaix

3./JG2 at Bernay (8.42 - 10.42)

1./JG2 at Brest-Nord (1.1.42 - 8.2.42)

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Hennig Strümpell
(22. June 1940 =>)

1942, February 8 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 /F-2 - Caen

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Leie
(24. June 42 =>)

1942, February 11 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 /F-2 - Calais-Marck

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Leie
(24. June 42 =>)

1942, February 12 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 /F-2 - Katwijk

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Leie
(24. June 42 =>)

1942, March 23 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 /F-2 - Octeville

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Leie
(24. June 42 =>)

1942, May 10 - Messerschmitt Bf 109F/G, FW 190A - Tricqueville

2./JG2 was based at St. André

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Leie
(24. June 42 =>)

FW 190A-2 13+
OFw Josef 'Sepp' Heinzeller
Triqueville, May 19th, 1942

1942, July - 1./JG2 became 11./JG2, and was reformed.

1942, November 8 - Focke-Wulf FW 190A-3 - Marseilles-Marignane, France

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hptm. Helmut-Felix Bolz
(12.42 =>)

14+

1943, January - Focke-Wulf FW 190A-4 - St. Brieuc, France

(<<+ )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Helmut-Felix Bolz
(12.42 =>)

1943, March - Focke-Wulf FW 190A-4 - Triqueville, France

6.43 - Evreux & Beaumont-le-Roger
11.43 - 1.44 Conches******
1.44 - 20.2.44 Aix*******
20.2.44 - 24.2.44 Viterbo
24.2.44 - 8.3.44 Viglianello
8.3.44 - 26.3.44 Castiglione
26.3.44 - 8.4.44 Diavolo
8.4.44 - 12.5.44 Aix

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Hohagen
(19.8.43 =>)

1+ (W.Nr.734)
(TR+ZH) before arrival in JG 2
Staffelkapitaen
Leutnant Horst Hannig

1944, May 12 - Focke-Wulf FW 190A - Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Hohagen
(19.8.43 =>)

1944, June 7 - Focke-Wulf FW 190A - Creil, France

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Hohagen
(19.8.43 =>)

1944, July 13 - Focke-Wulf FW 190A - Husum, Northern Germany

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Hohagen
(19.8.43 =>)

1944, August - Focke-Wulf FW 190A - St. Trond, France

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Hohagen
(19.8.43 =>)

1944, September 4 - Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 - Merzhausen, Germany

<<+
Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2
Hauptmann Erich Hohagen
(19.8.43 =>)

15+ (W.Nr.600651)

+ (W.Nr.601444)

16+ (W.Nr.600636)

1943, September 21 - Increased to 4 Staffeln

*4 Staffel System*
Gruppenstab	1. Staffel	2. Staffel	3. Staffel	4. Staffel
unchanged	unchanged	unchanged	unchanged	from the old 11./JG2
1944-1945 - Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 - Merzhausen, Germany
<<+ Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2 Major Walter Matoni (24.9.44 =>)	1+	?+	?+	?+
<<+ Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2 Hauptmann Franz Hrdlicka (18.12.44 =>)	?+	?+	?+	?+
<<+ Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 2 Oberleutnant Eickhoff (26. March 1945 =>)	?+	?+	?+	?+
1945, April - Disbanded

II. Gruppe

Gruppenkommandeure:

Hptm Wolfgang Schellmann, 15.12.39 - 2.9.40
Hptm Karl-Heinz Greisert, 2.9.40 - 17.5.42
Hptm Helmut-Felix Bolz, 17.5.42 - 12.42
Hptm Erich Rudorffer (acting), 12.42 - 1.43
Hptm Adolf Dickfeld, 1.43 - 31.3.43
?
Hptm Kurt Buhligen, 15.6.43 - 1.5.44
Hptm Georg Schroder, 4.5.44 - 1.1.45
Maj Walter Matoni, 1.45 - 28.2.45
Hptm Fritz Karch, 28.2.45 - 8.5.45

Gruppenstab

4. Staffel

5. Staffel

6. Staffel

1939, December 15 - Formed new in Zerbst

new

1939, December 15 - Messerschmitt Bf 109E - Zerbst