Jagdgeschwader 4

Version_2006_08_23 : 27 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 4 was black-white-black:

     

 

 

 

 

 

Geschwaderstab
1944, June 15   -   formed from Stab/JG z.b.V. in Ansbach
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)
Reichsverteidigung
1944, June 15   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A   -   Ansbach, Germany
(<-+-)
Major Gerhard Schöpfel
(15.6.44 - 6.8.44)		 (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1944, June 20   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A   -   Jüterbog, Germany
(<-+-)
Major Gerhard Schöpfel
(15.6.44 - 6.8.44)		 (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1944, July 9   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A   -   Bad Lippspringe (near Paderborn), Germany
(<-+-)
Major Gerhard Schöpfel
(15.6.44 - 6.8.44)		 (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1944, September 17   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A & Bf 109G   -   Dortmund, Germany
(<-+-)
Major Gerhard Schöpfel
(15.6.44 - 6.8.44)		 (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1944, November 21   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A & Bf 109G   -   Darmstadt-Griesheim, Germany
(<-+-)
Major Gerhard Schöpfel
(15.6.44 - 6.8.44)		 (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1944, July 9   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A   -   Bad Lippspringe (near Paderborn), Germany
(<-+-)
Major Gerhard Schöpfel
(15.6.44 - 6.8.44)		 (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1945, January 23   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A   -    Neuhausen (near Cottbus), Eastern Germany
(<-+-) (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1945, February 14   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A   -    Jüterbog-Damm, Brandenburg, Eastern Germany
(<-+-) (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1945, April 9   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A & D   -    Jüterbog-Mark Zwuschen, Brandenburg, Eastern Germany

(<-+-)
Obstlt . Gerhard Michalski
(7.8.44 - 8.5.45)		 (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1945, April 9   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9   -   Rechlin-Roggenthin
(<-+-) (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1945, April 30   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9   -   Parchim, Eastern Germany
 
(<II+   )
Oderfront
-		 (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1945, May 2   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9   -   Leck, Germany
(<-+-) (<II+   ) (<-+-) (<-+  ) (<o+  )
1945, May 8   -   Kapitulation in Leck

 

 

 

 

 

I. Gruppe

1942, August 7   -   Formed from the Ölschutzstaffel/JG77 in Mizil, Rumania
But first in summer 1944 a whole Geschwader was formed.
Gruppenstab 1. Staffel 2. Staffel 3. Staffel
X X formed 1.12.42
new		 X
formed 10.1.43
from Stab I./JG 77		 formed 10.1.43
from 1.Staffel JG 77		 new formed 10.1.43
new
Reichsverteidigung
1942, August   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109E/F/G   -   Mizil, Rumania
(Luftflotte 4, Jafü Balkan (from 6.43))

main base. 3./JG4 was based at Boteni, 23.8.44 - 8.10.44, and Tarsorul-Nou, 8.10.44 - 30.10.44
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Franz Hahn
(10.1.43 - 22.1.44)		 - - -
1943, January   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4   -   Mizil, Rumania
(Luftflotte 4, Jafü Balkan (from 6.43))

(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Franz Hahn
(10.1.43 - 22.1.44)		 - - -
1943, November 26   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109F/G   -   Bad Wörishofen, Southern Germany
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Franz Hahn
(10.1.43 - 22.1.44)		 - - -
1943, December 21   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Lavariano, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Franz Hahn
(10.1.43 - 22.1.44)		 - - -
1944, January 4   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Perugia, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Franz Hahn
(10.1.43 - 22.1.44)		 - - -
 (Jafü Oberitalien)
1944, January 5   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Viterbo, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(23.1.44 - 14.2.44)		 - - -
1944, January 6   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Osa (Littorio), Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
1944, May 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Fabrica di Roma, Northern Italy

1./JG4 was based at Vignanello, 10.2.44 - late 2.44; 3./JG4 was based at Centocelle, 10.2.44 - late 2.44
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
1944, March 13   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Orvieto, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
1944, March 19   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Ferrara, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
1944, May 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Fabrica di Roma, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
1944, June 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Lavariano, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
1944, July 4   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6   -   Maniago, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - -
(4+  )
Renè Derbois
- - -
(8+  ) G-6/R-6
-
1944, July 25   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6   -   Ghedi, Northern Italy
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
From there back to Germany for a duty in the Reichsverteidigung
1944, August 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Kassel-Rothwesten, Germany (3.JD?)
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
1944, August 25   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Mönchen-Gladbach, Germany
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Walter Hoeckner
(15.2.44 - 25.8.44)		 - - -
1944, August 27   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Friere
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(26.8.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
1944, August 29   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Antwerpen-Deurne, Belgium (5. JD)
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(26.8.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
1944, September 4   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Lachen-Speyersdorf***, Germany
1. and 3./JG4 at Gemersheim, 5.9.44 - 25.9.44; 4./JG4 at Langen-Dietzenbach, 5.9.44 - 25.9.44.
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(26.8.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
1944, September 25   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Götzenhain, Germany (1. JD)
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(26.8.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
1944, October 6   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G   -   Gahro, Germany (1. JD)
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(26.8.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
1944, November 21   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Guben, Germany (Jafü Mittelrhein)
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(26.8.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
1945, May 2   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Guben, Germany (3. Flieger-Division)
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(26.8.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
1945, February 14   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Berlin-Schönfeld, Germany (2. JD)
(<<<+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Wilhelm Steinmann
(26.8.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
1945, March 19   -   Disbanded in Berlin

 

 

 

 

Sturm-Staffel 1
...Then a Major Hans-Günter von Kornatzki persuaded certain powers to let him form an experimental unit based on the army's Sturm units who got in close to enemy units and engaged in hand-to-hand combat. He envisioned a unit that meant to break up the heavily armed 4-engined bombers of the Eighth Air Force. Members pledged themselves to the unit by a handshake from Kornatzki.

The rules of engagement in the unit were as follows:

     ~ to look for a fight with 4-engined bombers, and whenever possible to avoid engagement with a fighter

~ to not open fire on the bombers until at a position of 150 to 200 meters, when the four engines
appeared to be in the target circle of the Revi gun sight

~ to ram the bomber if weapons failed or the gunfire was ineffective

The new Staffel became operational in January 1944 under the command of Major Kornatzki.
They were based alongside the First Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 1 (I./JG1) at Dortmund airfield. 

On 11 January 1944, Oblt. Zehart downed a B-17 and claimed the Staffel's first victory.
Unteroffizier Willi Maximowitz scored his first victory on 30 January near Hannover.

Due to the added weight of the new fighters being used, the fighters of Sturm-Staffel 1 had to be escorted be Bf109s,
who had better performance at altitude. 
The unit became an immediate success and was soon considered an elite unit.

Soon many Jagdgeschwaders began forming Sturm units on their own.
The first of these was the new IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (IV.(Sturm)/JG3) led by Hauptmann Wilhelm Moritz.
Reichsverteidigung
1944, January   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-6/R-8    -   Salzwedel, Germany
These were modified planes with additional armor around the cockpit to protect the pilot of the bombers heavy gunfire and when he was going to ram them. (not like a Kamikazes, though - The pilot should get the chance to bail out after the hit).
After this purpose, the fighters were called "Rammbock"/"Sturmbock" what means "Battering ram" in English.

(1+  )
Major Hans-Günter von Kornatzki
(10+  )
Unteroffizier Willi Maximowitz
(12+  )
Unteroffizier Oskar Boesch

(7+  )
Major (?) Erwin Bacsila		 - -
1944, March   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-7/R-8    -   Salzwedel, Germany
-
(14+  )
Unteroffizier Oskar Boesch		 -

 

 

 

 

 

II. (Sturm) Gruppe
Another unit, the Second Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 4 (II.(Sturm)/JG4) 
was built around the original SturmStaffel 1, and command was given to none other than Major von Kornatzki.
1944, July 12   -  Formed from I./ZG1 in Salzwedel, Germany
Gruppenstab 5. Staffel 6. Staffel 7. Staffel 8. Staffel
from Stab I./ZG1 from 1./ZG1 from 2./ZG1 from 3./ZG1 formed new on 21.7.44
Reichsverteidigung
Note: that most of the planes wear no II Gruppe bar.
Why should they, being it an FW 190, it was obvious they belonged to the II./JG4.
I tend to believe, the profiles showing bars are probably wrong, I have not seen a picture with bars yet.
1944, July 12   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8/R-2   -   Salzwedel, Germany
(<<+-)
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Hans-Georg
von Kornatzki
(12.7.44 - 12.9.44)
(11+-)
Hptm. Walter Wagner		 - - -
-
(16+-) (Wk.Nr 681385)
'FratzIII'		 - - -
-
(20+-)
Unteroffizier Erich Keller
(14+  )
-		 - -
1944, August  31  -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8   -    Welzow, Germany (J1. JD)
part of II./JG4 at Mainz-Finthen, 19.11.44 - 30.11.44
(<3+-)
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Hans-Georg
von Kornatzki
(12.7.44 - 12.9.44)
KIA September 12, 1944
 		 - - - -
1944, November 30   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8   -    Babenhausen**, Germany (Jafü Mittelrhein)
5. and 8./JG4 at Schafstädt, 30.11.44 - 4.12.44
(<<+-)
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Rudolf Schröder
(13.9.44 - 3.45)		 - - -
(1+  )
(late 1944)
- - - -
(21+  )
(late 1944)
1945, January 1   -   Operation Bodenplatte
- - -
(2+  ) (Wk.Nr 682296)
Fw. Erich Güldenpfennig
(1945, January 1)		 -
1945, January 23   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8   -    Neuhausen bei Cottbus, Germany (3. Flieger-Division)
(<<+-)
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Rudolf Schröder
(13.9.44 - 3.45)		 - - - -
1945, February 9   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8   -    Guben, Germany
(<<+-)
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Rudolf Schröder
(13.9.44 - 3.45)		 - - - -
1945, February 12   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8   -    Berlin-Schoenefeld, Germany

(<6+  )		 - - - -
1945, April 4  -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8   -   Mörtitz, Germany
(<<+-)
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Wilhelm Moritz
(3.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, April 12   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8   -   Glücksburg, Germany
(<<+-)
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Wilhelm Moritz
(3.45 - 8.5.45)
(2+-) (W.Nr.300400)
(April)
-
(10+-) (W.Nr.961076)
Obergefreiter Axel Kessler
Bullfota, Sweden, 18.April		 - -
1945, April 19   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-9   -   Rechlin-Roggenthin, Germany
part of II./JG4 at Rechlin-Lärz

(  +  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Wilhelm Moritz
(3.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, April 30   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190A-9   -   Parchim, Germany
(<<+-)
Gruppenkommandeur
Major Wilhelm Moritz
(3.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, May 2   -   Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9   -   Leck, Germany (2. JD)

(<1+-)
Gruppenadjutant
(FW 190D-9 ??)		 - - - -
1945, May 8   -   Kapitulation in Leck

 

 

 

 

 

III. Gruppe
1944, July 12   -   Formed from III./ZG1 in Rotenburg, Germany
Gruppenstab 9. Staffel 10. Staffel 11. Staffel 12. Staffel
from Stab III./ZG1 from 7./ZG1 from 8./ZG1 from 9./ZG1 from
 Ergänzungsstaffel/ZG1
 (21.7.44)
Reichsverteidigung
1944, July 12   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/R-6   -   Rotenburg, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1944, August 11   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K  -   Hoya, Germany (1.JD)
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1944, August 31   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K  -   Alteno, Germany (1.JD)
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1944, September 17   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Bad Lippspringe (near Paderborn), Germany (3.JD)
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1944, October 4   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K  -   Alteno, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1944, November 20   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K  -   Erfurt-Bindersleben, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1944, November 21   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K  -   Esperstedt, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1944, November 26   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K  -   Biblis, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1944, December 26   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K  -   Darmstadt-Griesheim, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Friedrich Eberle
(12.7.44 - 8.1.45)		 - - - -
1945, January 1   -   Operation Bodenplatte
- - - - -
1945, January 23   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14/AS & K   -   Drewitz, Germany (3. Flieger-Division)
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Gerhard Strasen
(9.1.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, February 14   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14/AS & K  -   Jüterborg-Damm, Germany (3. Flieger-Division)
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Gerhard Strasen
(9.1.45 - 8.5.45)		 -
(8+  ) (W.Nr. 782354)
Oberleutnant Rolf Schlegel
(march)		 - -
1945, April 2   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Löbnitz, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Gerhard Strasen
(9.1.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, April 12   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Mark Zwuschen, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Gerhard Strasen
(9.1.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, April 19   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Rechlin-Roggenthin, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Gerhard Strasen
(9.1.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, April 30   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Parchim-Redlin, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Gerhard Strasen
(9.1.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, May 2   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G & K   -   Leck, Germany (2. JD)
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Gerhard Strasen
(9.1.45 - 8.5.45)		 - - - -
1945, May 8   -   Kapitulation in Leck

 

 

 

 

 

IV. Gruppe
1944, October 20   -   Formed from II./JG5 in Finsterwalde, Germany
Gruppenstab 13. Staffel 14. Staffel 15. Staffel 16. Staffel
from Stab II./JG5 from 5./JG5 from 6./JG5 from 7./JG5 from 8./JG5
Reichsverteidigung
1944, October 20   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/AS   -   Finsterwalde, Germany (1.JD)

(21+  )
Gruppenkommandeur
Hauptmann Wienhusen
(20.10.44 - 3.12.44)
(4+  ) 'Christel'
Uffz Friedrich Zenk
-
-		 - - -
1944, October   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14/AS   -   Finsterwalde, Germany
- -
(13+~) 'Peterle'
Staffelkapitän
Olt. Ernst Scheufele		 - -
1944, November 20   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14/AS   -   Frankfurt/Rhein-Main, Germany (Jafü Mittelrhein)
Gruppenkommandeur
Hauptmann Wienhusen
(20.10.44 - 3.12.44)		 -
(2+  ) (W.Nr. 782354)
Staffelkapitän
Olt. Ernst Scheufele
(shot down by ground fire,
3 December 1944
near Grosshau)		 - -
1945, January 1   -   Operation Bodenplatte
- - - - -
1945, January 23   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14/AS   -   Reppen, Germany (3. Flieger-Division)
Gruppenkommandeur
Hauptmann Ernst Laube
(19.12.44 - 3.4.45)		 - - - -
1945, January 26   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14/AS   -   Drewitz, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hauptmann Ernst Laube
(19.12.44 - 3.4.45)		 - - - -
1944, February 14   -   Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14/AS   -   Marz Zwuschen, Germany
Gruppenkommandeur
Hauptmann Ernst Laube
(19.12.44 - 3.4.45)		 - - - -
1945, April 3   -   Disbanded

 

 

 

 

Back to my
>WW2 Aircraft Profiles<

© Jaxon 2006