Kampfgeschwader 27
Encyclopedia
Kampfgeschwader 27 “Boelcke” was a Luftwaffe
medium bomber wing of the Second World War.
. The unit was initially equipped with the Heinkel He 111
.
The IV gruppe was formed July 1940 in Avord as Erg.Gruppe/KG 27 with 3 staffeln; 2 with Ju 52, 1 with He 111.On 24 Nov 1940 the unit was again reduced to Erg.Staffel/KG 27, but on 13 Mar 1941 was increased to Gruppe strength. On 23 Nov 1944 KG 27 became Erg.KGr.(J).
During May-June 1940, KG 27 then participated in the Battle of France
.
KG 27 was part of Luftflotte 3 during the Battle of Britain
, with their Headquarters 'Stab' and I Gruppe based at Tours
, II Gruppe at Dinard
and Bourges
, and III Gruppe at Rennes
. From August onward in KG 27 flew operations during the offensive against Britain until June 1941, when the unit flew bombing operations on the Southern Russian front during the attack on the USSR. Through 1942 KG 27 were based in southern Russia during the advance into the Caucasus. After service over Stalingrad II./KG 27 was reformed in January 1943 in Langenhagen
. A specialist train-busting staffel (14.(Eis)/KG 27) was formed in Jan 1943 in Charkow-Woitschenko.
On 13 November 1944 KG 27 was coverted to a fighter unit flying the Bf 109 and renamed Erg.KGr.(J) 27. After almost all aircraft had been lost or grounded due to lack of fuel, the remnants of the unit were transferred to ground defence duties attached to with paratroop divisions during April 1945.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
medium bomber wing of the Second World War.
Formation
Formed on 1 May 1939, the Stab and I Gruppe were based in Hanover-Langenhagen, with II and III Gruppe at WunstorfWunstorf
Wunstorf is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km west of Hanover. The following localities belong to the city of Wunstorf: Blumenau , Bokeloh, Grossenheidorn, Idensen , Klein Heidorn, Kolenfeld, Luthe, Mesmerode, Steinhude, Wunstorf....
. The unit was initially equipped with the Heinkel He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
.
The IV gruppe was formed July 1940 in Avord as Erg.Gruppe/KG 27 with 3 staffeln; 2 with Ju 52, 1 with He 111.On 24 Nov 1940 the unit was again reduced to Erg.Staffel/KG 27, but on 13 Mar 1941 was increased to Gruppe strength. On 23 Nov 1944 KG 27 became Erg.KGr.(J).
Operations
KG 27 participated in the Polish campaign of 1939, and then became part of Luftflotte 2.During May-June 1940, KG 27 then participated in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
.
KG 27 was part of Luftflotte 3 during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, with their Headquarters 'Stab' and I Gruppe based at Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, II Gruppe at Dinard
Dinard
Dinard is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.Dinard is on the Côte d'Émeraude of Brittany. Its beaches and mild climate make it a popular holiday destination, and this has resulted in the town having a variety of famous visitors and residents...
and Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
, and III Gruppe at Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
. From August onward in KG 27 flew operations during the offensive against Britain until June 1941, when the unit flew bombing operations on the Southern Russian front during the attack on the USSR. Through 1942 KG 27 were based in southern Russia during the advance into the Caucasus. After service over Stalingrad II./KG 27 was reformed in January 1943 in Langenhagen
Langenhagen
Langenhagen is a town in the Hanover district of Lower Saxony, Germany.-International relations:Langenhagen is twinned with: - Joinville - - Economy :...
. A specialist train-busting staffel (14.(Eis)/KG 27) was formed in Jan 1943 in Charkow-Woitschenko.
On 13 November 1944 KG 27 was coverted to a fighter unit flying the Bf 109 and renamed Erg.KGr.(J) 27. After almost all aircraft had been lost or grounded due to lack of fuel, the remnants of the unit were transferred to ground defence duties attached to with paratroop divisions during April 1945.
Geschwaderkommodore
- Oberst Hans Behrendt, 1 May 1939 – November 1939
- Generalmajor Richard Putzier, November 1939 – December 1939
- Oberst Hans Behrendt, January 1940 – 22 June 1940
- Oberstleutnant Bernhard Georgi, 22 June 1940 – 25 July 1940
- Oberst Gerhard ConradGerhard Conrad (pilot)Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard ConradIn German an engineer's degree is called Diplom-Ingenieur was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, 26 July 1940 – 6 October 1940 - Major Gerhard Ulbricht, November 1940 – 1941
- Oberst Hans-Henning Freiherr von BeustHans-Henning Freiherr von BeustHans-Henning Freiherr von Beust was a highly decorated Oberst in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme...
, 1 March 1942 – November 1943 - Major Rudi Kiel, December 1943 – 8 May 1945
I./KG 27
- Obstlt Graumnitz, 1 May 1939 - 1 Oct 1939
- Major Sigismund Freiherr von Falkenstein, 1 Oct 1939 - 31 May 1940
- Major Gerhard Ulbricht, 1 Jun 1940 - Nov 1940
- Hauptmann Fritz Reinhard, Nov 1940 - 8 Jul 1941
- Major Hubertus Lessmann, Jul 1941 - 29 Dec 1941
- Hauptmann Joachim Petzold- 1943
II./KG 27
- Major de Salengre Drabbe, 1 May 1939 - ?
- Major Tamm, 1940
- Major Schlichting, 1940 - 12 Aug 1940
- Hauptmann Reinhard Günzel, Aug 1940 - Jan 1943
- Major Karl August Petersen, Jan 1943 - 15 Mar 1944
III./KG 27
- Oberst Dr. Sommer, 1 May 1939 – 26 June 1939
- Major Andreas Nielsen, 26 June 1939 – 24 February 1940
- Hauptmann Schirmer, February 1940 – 1940
- Major Manfred Speck von Sternberg, 1940 – 22 October 1940
- Hauptmann Hans-Henning Freiherr von BeustHans-Henning Freiherr von BeustHans-Henning Freiherr von Beust was a highly decorated Oberst in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme...
, October 1940 – January 1942 - Major Erich Thiel, 1942 – 22 April 1943
- Hauptmann Karl Mayer, April 1943 - ?
IV./KG 27
- Oblt Bernhard Schlafke, 24 Nov 1940 - Mar 1941
- Hauptmann Johannes Lorenz, 13 Mar 1941 - 24 Sep 1941
- Hauptmann Hellmann, 25 Sep 1941 - Oct 1941
- Hauptmann Gerhard Braunschweig, 30 Oct 1941 - 30 Nov 1942
- Major Walter Engel, 1 Dec 1942 - 23 Nov 1944