History of "White Dragons" Gruppe

[ErprGr210_Buurz]

Hi mates Zerstorers!

Want to write You some history notes about Your Gruppe.

III. Gruppe Jagdgeschwader 234 "Schlageter" was Formed 1.7.38 in Düsseldorf, (1 staffel 1.7.38, the rest 1.8.3, equipped with Ar 68E, Bf 109D.
Gruppenkomandeure was Hptm Karl-Heinz Lessmann.

On 1.11.38 it was redesignated I./JG143. Later, on 1.1.39 Gruppe again changed its name to I./ZG143, and purposed to be equipped with Bf110C Zerstorers.

Then, on 1.5.39, following the last pre-war reorganisation of Luftwaffe, Gruppe was redesignated I./ZG52.

Stab I./ZG143 became Stab I./ZG52;
1./ZG143 became 1./ZG52;
2./ZG143 became 2./ZG52;
3./ZG143 became 3./ZG52.

Still equipped with Bf109D-1, Gruppe was based in Illesheim, and carryed Reich Defence Duty.

AS Bf110C's were not enough to equip all ZerstorerGruppen, I./ZG52, while waiting new aircrafts, was redesignated as Jagdgruppe 152 on 24.9.39.
It saw no action during Polish campaign, as still waiting near Western border of Germany.

Finally, on 6.1.40 first Bf110C's were delivered. I./ZG52 flew to Garz auf Usedom and started to convert to Bf110C's, training its crews to fly it and ground personnel to service it on the ground.

In march 1940, I./ZG52 was ready for action. It was subordinated to V. Fliegerkorps and moved to Neuhausen ob Eck, close to German-Swiss border.

When "Blitz" started in France, I./ZG52 found themselves in Mannheim. Following action, it moved to Charleville, and at the last stages of the battle flew some missions over Paris.

Losses were low:

-Two Bf110 were lost on 14.5.40 to enemy fighters south of Diedenhofen.

-One Bf110C crashed on routine flight in Saar area, killing crew.

-Three Bf110C were lost to REF fighters over Calais on 27.5.40, with all crewmembers killed. Hard blow was a loss of GruppenAdjutatn Lt. Christian-Friedrich von Neumann, killed in his Bf110C.

-von Neumanns successor, Oblt. Herwarth Ziebarth, was killed in his Bf110C during a crash land after combat mission over Pont a Mousson on 4.6.40.

-last accident happened with further great night fighter ace, Lt. Werner Hoffmann of 1./ZG52 - he was injured by ground fire during low level attack on troop concentrations on 19.6.40.

In early june 1940, I./ZG52 was withdrawn from action, and moved to Germany, to the rest. It was one of the first Zerstorerwaffe Gruppen to be fully equipped with new long-range Zerstorer, Bf110D "Doras". Shortly after that, Gruppe was again renamed in 26.6.40 and became part of Zerstorergeschwader 2, as a II./ZG2.

Unchanged Gruppenkomandeur, Hptm Karl-Heinz Lessmann, relinquished command to Major Harry Carl moving from disbanded Stab I./ZG1. Hptm. Lessmann took command over one of the Zerstorer Training regiments.

Fully equipped and ready for action, II./ZG2 entered in a frenzy fight with RAF fighters over England.

Losses were:
-11.8.40 - 1 Bf110C lost, 1 - damaged.
-12.8.40 - 2 Bf110D lost, 2 more - damaged.
-15.8.40 - 1 Bf110D lost
-16.8.40 - 2 Bf110D lost. Among killed, Gruppenkomandeur Maj. Harry Carl.
-24.8.40 - 1 Bf110C-4 lost.
-25.8.40 - 3 Bf110 damaged.
-26.8.40 - 1 Bf110D lost
-30.8.40 - 1 Bf110D-0 was lost, with killed StaffelKapitane 5./ZG2 Hptm. Adolf Schuldt.
-2.9.40 - 2 Bf110 lost.
-7.9.40 4 Bf110 were lost. Among killed - Lt. Kurt Schunemann (Gruppe TO) and Oblt. Willi Brede, StaKa 6./ZG2 who became PoW.

Together with I./ZG2, wich lost almost a half of its aircrafts within 3 weeks, II./ZG2 was totally exhausted.

On the same time, grouwing Night fighter force asked crews and aircrafts. So, Luftwaffe HQ decided:
All survived crews were collected around 4./ZG2, wich was renamed in 4./NJG3 and became Night fighter Staffel. Zerstorergeschwader 2 was disbanded.

Later during a war, 4./NJG3 flew on Bf110 and Ju88, and on 25.2.45 the Gruppe was disbanded and was absorbed by NSGr.30.

[I/ZG52_Gaga]

Priceless info on the White Dragons!!!

Dear friend,

I thank you immensely for your important info!!!

You never stop to amaze me with your dedication to the Zerstorers!!

Very few people do ...

[ErprGr210_Buurz]

Gaga, just 2 questions:

- how can I attach images here?

- Is there any "quick reply" button?

[I/ZG52_Gaga]

you type " [img]XXXXadressxxx[/img] "

quick reply ??? hm.... i think not ....not expert ...

Cheers !

[ErprGr210_Buurz]

History page of Web site must contain, IMHO, following things:

-History of Gruppe, as written above, with description of most of figts.
-List of losses and victories.
-List of notable pilots with Gruppe.
-Pictures of a/c's of Gruppe for all periods.

***********
Current content of History page is too big, useless and overwhelming.

Notable pilots of I./ZG52 - II./ZG2:

-Wilhelm Lessmann.
Served with:
Gr.Kdr. of I./ZG52 from 01.05.1939 to 26.06.1940
Gr.Kdr. of II./Zerstörerschule 1 from 26.6.40 to 8.40
Gr.Kdr. of II./ZG2 from 8.40 to 29.09.40
Gr. Kdr. of ErprobungsGruppe 210 from 1.11.40 to 24.04.1941
Gr.Kdr. of Ergänzungs-Zerstörergruppe from 4.7.41 to 15.9.41
Gr. Kdr. of II./Zerstörerschule 2 from 24.04.1941 to 14.10.1941
He had 7 victories: 2 on Bf109D-1 with J.Gr.152 and 5 more on Bf110C-1 with I./ZG52.

-Werner Hoffmann
http://www.luftwaffe.cz/hoffmann.html

-Willi Elstermann
Gr.Kdr. of II./JG6 from 7.44 to 31.8.44
Gr.Kdr. of I./JG6 from 1.9.44 to 2.2.45, when he was killed in action.
He had 9 victories, and 3 of them with I./ZG52 and II./ZG2.

-Hans Schmid, the TOP Ace of Gruppe, had 7 victories with I./ZG52 and raised his tally to 15 with II./ZG2. Then became Nightfighter, and served with NJG3, victories 16 through 19 from March to Sept. 1942 as an Oberleutnant in 6./NJG 3, Then posted to NJG100, and added victories in the period April to July 1944 on EaternFront. Then, scored 4 claims with I./NJG 100 in the period January to April 1945. Finished a War in a rank of Hptm.

In Total, I./ZG52 had 19 victories during French Campaign.
II./ZG2 had 44 claims during Battle of Britain.

[I/ZG52_Gaga]

Dearest your are absolutely right ...

I will re-do the whole History part as you suggest...

i managed to re-frame some of the material you send me so ..

here it is ..

http://www.zg52.com/historic_zg52_8.html

Hope you like it ...

[ErprGr210_Buurz]

http://www.zg52.com/Bersk_photos/New_Material/Bersrk_ZG52_Emblems.png

1 ZG52 is not correct :0 I would write 1./ZG52 see a difference?

[I/ZG52_Gaga]

Agrrrr!! you're right .. sorry ....

fixing it as we speak ...

[I/ZG52_Gaga]

Re-did the history page ... hope you like it beter now ..

http://www.zg52.com/historic_zg52.htm

[ErprGr210_Buurz]

Ok

Name of Hptm. Lessmann was Wilhelm, not Karl-Heinz (that chap was in I./JG52).

[I/ZG52_Gaga]