"Englandblitz"
The Badge of all Nightfighters

Nachtjagdgeschwader 3

 D5+??  &  3J+??  &  L1+?? 

Version: 07-05-08 (D-M-Y) - 35 pics

 

 

 

 

Geschwaderstab (A)
Geschwaderkommodore:
  • Maj Johann Schalk, 29.9.41 - 1.8.43
  • Oberst Helmut Lent, 1.8.43 - 7.10.44
  • Oberst Günther Radusch, 12.11.44 - 8.5.45
1941, September 29   -   Formed from Stab/ZG26 in Stade, northern Germany  (1. Nachtjagddivision)
5.42 2. Jagddivision.
1941, September 29   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Stade, northern Germany
 D5+?A  
Geschwaderkommodore
1942, May   -   2. Jagddivision
Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Stade, northern Germany
 D5+?A  
Geschwaderkommodore
1943, July   -   Operation Gomorrha: Massive RAF night boming against Hamburg
Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Stade, northern Germany
 D5+?A  
Geschwaderkommodore
1943, late    -   Junkers Ju 88C  -   Stade, northern Germany
 D5+?A  
Geschwaderkommodore
1944, mid    -   Junkers Ju 88G  -   Stade, northern Germany
 D5+?A  
Geschwaderkommodore
1945, May 8   -   Capitulated

 

 

 

 

I. Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Hptm Günther Radusch, 7.10.40 - 2.10.41
  • Hptm Hans-Dietrich Knoetzsch, 3.10.41 - 30.9.42
  • Maj Egmont Prince zur Lippe-Weissenfels, 1.10.42 - 31.5.43
  • Hptm Erhard Peters, 1.6.43 - 14.8.43
  • Hptm Walter Mylius, 15.8.43 - 13.12.43
  • Hptm Paul Szameitat, 14.12.43 - 2.1.44
  • Maj Werner Husemann, 4.1.44 - 8.5.45

Gruppenstab
(B)

1. Staffel
 (H)

2. Staffel
 (K)

3. Staffel
 (L)
1940, October 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Formed from V.(Z)/LG1 in Vechta, northern Germany, with:
from Stab V./LG1 from 13./LG1 from 14./LG1 from 15./LG1
1940, October 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C  -   Vechta, northern Germany
 L1+?C   L1+?H 
Bf 110C   L1+LK 
Note: Still with LG1 code
Bf 110C   L1+BL 
Note: Still with LG1 code
1941, when?   -   Changed to D5 code
 D5+?C  In the MTO between
February and October 1941

See table below
Bf 110C   D5+AK 
-		  D5+?P 
2./NJG3 operated in the Smolensk area from 2.42 - 3.42 (Luftwaffenkommando Ost),
and was stationed at Wittmundhafen 3.42 to 4.44 (1. NJ-Div., from 5.42 2. JD).
 D5+?C   D5+?H 
Ju 88C-6b  R4+FM  (36 LS)
(W.Nr.360219)
FuG 202 Lichtenstein BC
Lt. Wilhelm Beier
(October 1942)

 Transferred from 4./NJG2 to 2./NJG3 in October, he apparently took his aircraft with him
 On the night of 15/16 October, Lt. Beier claimed a B-24, two Stirlings and a Manchester, raising his tally to 36 victories. Photographed shortly afterwards, the A/C is still wearing the code of 4./NJG2.

  D5+?P 
1943, July   -   Operation Gomorrha: Massive RAF night boming against Hamburg
1943, August  -   Messerschmitt Bf 110C  -   Vechta, northern Germany
 3./NJG3 was detached at Kastrup/Copenhagen, at least between 8.43 and 3.44 (2. JD).
Vechta Vechta Vechta Kastrup/Copenhagen
 D5+?B   D5+?H   D5+?K   D5+?L 
1944, ...   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4d/R3   -   Schleswig, northern Germany
 D5+?B   D5+?H   D5+GK  (W.Nr. 730301)
1944, August 20
Shot down shortly after takeoff
by own Flak
(near Brammer, south of Rendsburg) - crew KIA:
Heinrich Langohr
Otto Aschermann
Eugen Peters
 D5+RL  (W.Nr. 730301)
Today at the RAF-Museum
in Hendon, UK
-
1944, August 20   -   Junkers Ju 88G   -   Schleswig, northern Germany
detachment at Nordholz (2. JD)
 D5+?B   D5+?H   D5+?K   D5+?L 
1944, December   -   Junkers Ju 88G & He 219A UHU   -   Grove (Karup), Denmark

 D5+CB 
wrong colour=wrong codes????		  D5+?H   D5+?K 
He 219A-2  D5+BL  (W.Nr.290126)
(Grove, Denmark, May 1945)

He 219B-1  D5+FB  (Wk.Nr.......)
Denmark, 1945
One of a handful B-types
-
-		  D5+?H   D5+?K 
He 219A-5  D5+CL  (W.Nr.310189)
(Grove, Denmark, May 1945)
This airplane was captured and then well-evaluated by British forces whose cockades it later wore.
 D5+?B   D5+?H   D5+?K 
He 219A-0  D5+?L  (W.Nr.190176)
(Grove, Denmark, May 1945)
1945, May 8   -   Capitulated

He 219A-2 (W.Nr.290060)
(later USA FE-612)
This was an A-5 prototype built on A-2 fuselage.
Made flight-worthy by "Watson's Wizzers" and flown to Cherbourg, France, shipped to the United States on board the British aircraft carrier HMS Reaper and was reassembled at Ford Field, Newark, New Jersey.
It was flown to Freeman Field, Indiana for flight testing.
The fate of Werknummer 290060 is unknown.
-
-
-
-
-
He 219A-2 (W.Nr.290103?)
(later USA FE-613)
Lined up at Grove with rudders removed to secure from prohibited use.
Made flight-worthy by "Watson's Wizzers" and flown to Cherbourg, France, shipped to the United States on board the British aircraft carrier HMS Reaper and was reassembled at Ford Field, Newark, New Jersey.
It was flown to Freeman Field, Indiana for flight testing.
The fate is unknown.
-
-
-
-
-
He 219A-2 (W.Nr.290202)
(later USA FE-614, later T2-614)
Made flight-worthy by "Watson's Wizzers" and flown to Cherbourg, France, shipped to the United States on board the British aircraft carrier HMS Reaper and was reassembled at Ford Field, Newark, New Jersey.
It was flown to Freeman Field, Indiana for flight testing.
undergoing restoration in the collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., USA.
Recently the fuselage has been put on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center by Dulles Airport.
Note that this aircraft wasn`t black when found.		 -

 

 

 

 

1. Staffel
 (H)
1./NJG3 operated in the Mediterranean area between 2.41 and 10.41
X. Fliegerkorps
MTO
1941, February   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110D   -   Catania, Sicily & Argos, Greece
Codes from 13./LG1

Bf 110D  L1+AH
(Catania, Sicily)
Bf 110D-3  L1+BH
(Catania, Sicily)
Bf 110D-3  L1+CH
(Catania, Sicily)

Bf 110D  L1+DH
(Catania, Sicily)		 -
Bf 110D  L1+EH
(Catania, Sicily)		 -
Bf 110D  L1+FH
(Catania, Sicily)
Fl. Fü. Afrika
MTO
1941, May   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110D   -   Benghazi, Libya

Bf 110D  L1+DH
(Benghazi, Libya)
Note replacement tail from non-nightfighter		 -
Bf 110D  L1+?H 		-
Bf 110D  L1+?H
1941, August   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110D   -   Derna
 L1+?H
1941, November   -   Back to Vechta

 

 

 

 

II. Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Hptm Günther Radusch, 3.10.41 - 1.8.43
  • Maj Heinrich Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 15.8.43 - 11.43
  • Hptm Paul Szameitat, 12.43 - 14.12.43
  • Maj Klaus Havenstein, 15.12.43 - 9.44
  • Hptm Hüschens, 9.44 - 2.45

Gruppenstab (C)

4. Staffel (M)

5. Staffel (N)

6. Staffel (P)
1941, September 1   -   Formed from the Zerstörer-Ergänzungsgruppe in Schleswig, northern Germany with
Stab/Zerstörer-Ergänzungsgruppe from 4./ZG2 from 1./Erg.ZGr. from 3./Erg.ZGr.
1941, September 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Schleswig, northern Germany
4./NJG3 was detached at Westerland from 9.41 to 21.1.44 (1. NJ-Div., from 5.42 2. JD).
Another detachment operated from Mainz-Finthen in late 1941 (1. NJ-Div.).
1942, August   -   Bf 110 & Do 217
 <<D5+AC 
Gruppenkommandeur		  D5+?M   D5+?N   D5+?P 
1942, November 1   -   crews were transferred to 11./NJG3.
1943, July   -   Operation Gomorrha: Massive RAF night boming against Hamburg
Messerschmitt Bf 110 & Do 217J  -   Schleswig, northern Germany
 <<D5+AC 
Gruppenkommandeur
D 217J-2  D5+MM  		 D5+?N   D5+?P 
1943, August   -   Bf 110 &  Ju 88C
 <<D5+AC 
Gruppenkommandeur
Hptm. Prinz Sayn-Wittgenstein
Until November 1943 64 kills.
To NJG 2 in December, to become Geschwaderkommodore NJG2 in January 1945		  D5+?M   D5+?N   D5+?P 
 <<D5+BC 
Gruppenkommandeur		  D5+?M   D5+?N   D5+?P 

 <D5+DC 
"Gruppenadjutant II./ NJG7"
But NJG7 only had a I. Gruppe, so I place it here.		  D5+?M   D5+?N   D5+?P 
1944, March   -   Junkers Ju 88C   -   Langendiebach, Vechta, northern Germany
 D5+?C  D5+?M   D5+?N   D5+?P 
1944, May   -   Junkers Ju 88C   -   Plantlünne, northern Germany
 D5+?C  D5+?M   D5+?N   D5+?P 
1944, August   -   Junkers Ju 88G   -   Gütersloh, northern Germany
 D5+?C  D5+?M   D5+?N   D5+?P 
1944, September 3   -   Junkers Ju 88G   -   Grove (Karup)
detachment at Tirstrup 9.44 - 10.44 (2. JD)
 D5+?C  D5+?M 
Ju 88G-1  D5+AN   (Wk.Nr......)
5./NJG3		  D5+?P 
1944, November   -   Junkers Ju 88G   -   Schleswig, northern Germany
 D5+?C  D5+?M   D5+?N   D5+?P 
1945, February 25   -   Disbanded and was absorbed by NSGr.30.
1945, March   -   A new 4./NJG3 was formed at Kjevik from Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen, and remained there until the end, under Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen (with Ju 88G and He 219).
1944, November   -   Junkers Ju 88G & He 219A-5/R-1 UHU  -   Kjevik, Norway
XXX  D5+?M  XXX XXX
1945, May 8   -   Capitulated

 

 

 

 

III. Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Obstlt Heinz Nacke, 1.11.41 - 21.4.43
  • Hptm Walter Mylius, 22.4.43 - 14.8.43
  • Hptm Rudolf Sigmund, 31.8.43 - 3.10.43
  • Maj Walter Barthe, 15.10.43 - 8.5.45

Gruppenstab (D)

7. Staffel (R)

8. Staffel (S)

9. Staffel (T)
1941, November 1   -   Formed from II/ZG26 in Stade, northern Germany
from Stab II./ZG76 from 4./ZG76 from 5./ZG76 from 6./ZG76
  1. Nachtjagddivision
1941, November 1   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110E-1  -   Stade
-  Lueneburg from 11.41 to 4.43  Lueneburg from 4.43 to 4.44. -
Detachments were based at Ingolstadt and Wunstorf. (All under 1. NJ-Div., later 2. JD)
 D5+?D  D5+?R
Bf 110C-2  D5+AS
Staffelkapitaen Walter Borchers
Lueneburg (?) 1942
Operation Donnerkeil??		  D5+?T
1942, May   -   Under 2. Jagddivision in northern Germany
Messerschmitt Bf 110E-1  -   Stade
 D5+?D
Bf 110E-1  D5+ER
Wilhelm Herget
(Lueneburg 1942)		  D5+?S
Bf 110E-1  D5+DT
Pilot ?
(Trondheim-Vaernes 1942)
1942-1943   -   Do 217N-1/R-22  -   Stade
 D5+?D  D5+?R  D5+?S
 D5+CT
1942, December   -   7./NJG3 became 4./NJG5
7./NJG was reformed in 8.43.
-  Kastrup/Copenhagen
4.43 to 11.43		  Lüneburg from 4.43 to 4.44. -
 D5+?D  D5+?R  D5+?S  D5+?T
1943, July   -   Operation Gomorrha: Massive RAF night boming against Hamburg
1943, around summer   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4  -   Stade, northern Germany
8./NJG3 was detached at Lueneburg from April 1943 to April 1944
 D5+?D  D5+?R  D5+?S
 D5+LT
with FuG 212 Lichtenstein C-1
1943, August   -   7./NJG was reformed
1943-44, Winter   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4  -   Stade, northern Germany
7./NJG3 was detached at Nordholz 11.43 to 4.44.
 D5+?D  D5+?R  D5+?S  D5+LT
1944, Spring   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4d/R3  -   Stade, northern Germany
 D5+?D
 D5+BR
Nordholz, March 1944
-
 D5+DS
sometime in 1944 - Herget?
But he was CO I./NJG4 then		  D5+LT
1944, August   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110  -   Düsseldorf, Germany
 D5+?D  D5+?R  D5+?S  D5+LT
1944, September   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110 & Ju 88G  -   Westerland, northern Germany
detachment at Skrydstrup/Denmark (2. JD)
 D5+?D  D5+?R  D5+?S  D5+LT
1944, December   -   Junkers Ju 88G  -   Stade, northern Germany
detachments at Nordholz and Uetersen (2. JD)

Ta 154A-4U2   D5+HD  (W.Nr.320008)
This aircraft entered service on 22nd February 1945 in Agathenburg near Stade.		  D5+?R  D5+?S  D5+LT
1945, March 30   -   Reduced to 7./NJG3, when Stab III, 8. and 9./NJG3 was disbanded.
XXX  D5+?R XXX XXX
1945, May 8   -   Capitulated

 

 

 

 

IV. Gruppe
Gruppenkommandeure:
  • Maj Erich Simon, 1.11.42 - 7.10.43
  • Hptm Albert Schulz, 8.10.43 - 1.44
  • Hptm Franz Buschmann, 1.44 - 7.44
  • Hptm Heinz Ferger, 7.44 - 11.44
  • Maj Berthold Ney, 11.44 - 4.3.45
  • Hptm Friedrich Tober, 5.3.45 - 8.5.45

Gruppenstab (E)

10. Staffel (U)

11. Staffel (V)

12. Staffel (W)
1942, November   -   Formed from parts of Stab III./NJG2 at Grove with:
Stab IV./NJG3 new from 1./NJG2 from 9./NJG2 new
1942, November   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110E   -   Grove, Denmark (2. JD)
 D5+?E   D5+?U   D5+?V 
 3J+AW 
1942, mid (??)   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110, Do 217  -   Grove, Denmark
 D5+?E   D5+?U 
Si 204A  D5+BV 
 3J+YW 
1943, mid (??)   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110, Ju 88C /Ju 88R  -   Grove, Denmark
10./NJG3 was detached at Aalborg-West from 11.42 to 8.1.44, with a small kommando in Lister (Norway) during the Autumn 1943
 Another detachment was based at Kastrup/Copenhagen in Autumn 1943
 D5+?E   D5+?U 
Ju 88R-1  D5+?V 
The crew and their aircraft defected from Norway to Scotland on May 26, 1943
A Ju 88R-1 is actually an enhanced C-6 type with BMW engines.
Today at the RAF-Museum
in Hendon, UK.		  D5+?W 
1943, July   -   Operation Gomorrha: Massive RAF night boming against Hamburg
1944, January 8   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110, Ju 88C  -   Westerland, northern Germany
10./NJG3 detached at Grove (Karup) from 8.1.44 to ?9.44
 D5+?E   D5+?U 
FW 190A  D5+XV 
Aalborg-West in 1944		  D5+?W 
1944, October 30 - Redesignated III./NJG2 with:
became Stab III./NJG2 became 7./NJG2 became 8./NJG2 became 9./NJG2
A new IV./NJG3 was formed from the old III./NJG2 on the same day with:
from Stab III./NJG2 from 7./NJG2 from 8./NJG2 from 9./NJG2
1944, November   -   Junkers Ju 88G  -   Marx, Varel, northern Germany
detachment at Wittmundhafen
 D5+?E   D5+?U   D5+?V   D5+?X 
Staffelkapitaen OLt. Alfons Köster
1944, December   -   Junkers Ju 88C-6 & G  -   Jever, northern Germany

Ju 88G-6  D5+AE   (Wk.Nr......)
Gruppenkommandeur IV./NJG3
(11.44 - 4.3.45)
Major Berthold Ney
Jever, early 1945		  D5+?U   D5+?V  Ju 88C-6  D5+PX   (Wk.Nr.621499)
Staffelkapitaen OLt. Alfons Köster
Lt. Bodusch & Uffz. Lingen
On the night 6-7. January 1945, they striped the roof of a farm during landing in Varel-Obenstrohe because of fog. They crashed and all died.
1945, March   -   Junkers Ju 88G  -   Nordholz, northern Germany
 D5+?E   D5+?U   D5+?V   D5+?X 
1945, March 30   -   Reduced to 10./NJG3, when Stab IV., 11. and 12./NJG3 was disbanded.
1945, April   -   Junkers Ju 88G  -   Skrydstrup, Denmark
XXX  D5+?U  XXX XXX
1945, May 8   -   Capitulated

 

 

 

 

Ergänzungsstaffel (?)
1941  -   Formed in Vechta. Also called 1.(Erg.)/NJG3.
1941   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110   -   Vechta, northern Germany
 D5+?? 
1942, May   -   Messerschmitt Bf 110   -   Schleswig, northern Germany
 D5+?? 
1942, December   -   Disbanded

 

 

 

Schulstaffel (?)
1944, June   -   Formed in  (during 6.44 - 7.44 known as Ausb.Lehrgang NJG3)
1944, June   -   Bf 110, Ju 88   -   Grove/Denmark
 D5+?? 
1944, November   -   Absorbed 4./NJG7
1944, December   -   Redesignated 16./NJG3, but:
1945, January 1   -   Became Stabsstaffel/NJG3 actually

 

 

 

 

 

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