Luftflotte 1
Encyclopedia
Luftflotte 1 was one of the primary divisions of the German Luftwaffe
in World War II. It was formed February 1, 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 1 in Berlin. This Luftwaffe
detachment served in Estonia
, Latvia
, Lithuania
and Immola, Finland for air support of Axis forces in area; with command offices in Malpils
, Latvia, (June 26, 1944), Eastern front.
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....
in World War II. It was formed February 1, 1939 from Luftwaffengruppenkommando 1 in Berlin. This Luftwaffe
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....
detachment served in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Immola, Finland for air support of Axis forces in area; with command offices in Malpils
Mālpils
Mālpils is a village in Mālpils municipality, Latvia. Mālpils had 2,168 residents as of 2006....
, Latvia, (June 26, 1944), Eastern front.
Strategic Reconnaissance
- Stab/FAGr 1 (RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
–Spilve) - 3.(F)/22 (RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
–Spilve) - 5.(F)/122 (Mitau)
- NASt 3 (RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
–Spilve)
Transports (special works)
This unit was branch of KG 200 with bases in East Prussia, Kurland and Baltic areas, stay equipped with:- Junkers Ju 252A-1
- Junkers Ju 352A-0/A-1 Herkules
- Arado Ar 232B-0 Tausendfüßler for transport special commandos, weapons, vehicles or dropping by parachute secret agents in clandestine missions behind enemy lines.
- I.(TGr.)/KG 200 (RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
)
Tactical Reconnaissance
- Stab//NAGr 5 (Petseri)
- 1./NAGr 5 (Idriza)
- 1./NAGr 31 (Wesemberg)
Night land strike
- Stab/NSGr 1 (Idriza)
- 3./NSGr 1 (Idriza)
- 1./NSGr 1 (Kovno)
- 2./NSGr 1 (Kovno)
- Stab/NSGr 3 (Vecuci)
- 1./NSGr 3 (Vecuci)
- 2./NSGr 3 (Vecuci)
- 1./NSGr 12 (Vecuci)
- 1./(Detach)NSGr 12(RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
–Spilve) - Stab/NSGr 11(Rahkla)
- 1./NSGr 11 (Rahkla)
- 2./NSGr 11 (Rahkla)
- 2./NSG 12 (LibauLiepajaLiepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
)
Fighters
- Stab/JG 54 (Dorpat)
- I./JG 54 (TurkuTurkuTurku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
)(Finland) - 2./JG 54 (Reval–Laksberg)
- 3./JG 54 (Reval–Laksberg)
Land Air Strike
- Stab/SG 3 (Immola)
- 1./SG 3 (Immola)
- 2./SG 3 (Immola)
- 3./SG 3 (Immola)
Commanding officers
- Generalfeldmarschall Albert KesselringAlbert KesselringAlbert Kesselring was a German Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. In a military career that spanned both World Wars, Kesselring became one of Nazi Germany's most skilful commanders, being one of 27 soldiers awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords...
, 1 February 1939 - 11 January 1940 - Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen StumpffHans-Jürgen StumpffHans-Jürgen Stumpff , was a German general of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.-Early life:Born in Kolberg, Stumpff entered the Brandenburgisches Grenadierregiment Nr. 12 "Prinz Karl von Preußen" as an ensign in 1907. Promoted to lieutenant in 1908, by the start of the First World War,...
, 12 January 1940 - 10 May 1940 - General Wilhelm Wimmer, 11 May 1940 - 19 August 1940
- Generaloberst Alfred KellerAlfred KellerAlfred Keller was a general in the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Born in Bochum, Province of Westphalia, his career in the Imperial German Armed Forces begun in 1897, when he became a cadet in a military school, he retired after the Second World War as one of the most decorated...
, 20 August 1940 - 12 June 1943 - Generaloberst Günther KortenGünther KortenGünther Korten was a German Colonel General and Chief of the General Staff of the Luftwaffe in World War II. He died from injuries suffered in the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler in July 1944....
, 12 June 1943 - 23 August 1943 - General Kurt PflugbeilKurt PflugbeilKurt Pflugbeil was a highly decorated General der Flieger in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 24 August 1943 - 16 April 1945
Chief of staff
- Generalmajor Wilhelm Speidel, 1 February 1939 – 19 December 1939
- Generalleutnant Ulrich KesslerUlrich KesslerUlrich Otto Eduard Kessler was a highly decorated General der Flieger in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 19 December 1939 – 25 April 1940 - Oberst Heinz-Hellmuth von Wühlisch, 1 May 1940 – 9 May 1940
- Generalmajor Dr. Robert Knauss, 9 May 1940 – 4 October 1940
- Generalmajor Otto Schöbel, 5 October 1940 – 16 January 1941
- Generalmajor Heinz-Hellmuth von Wühlisch, 16 January 1941 – 13 October 1941
- Generalmajor Herbert RieckhoffHerbert RieckhoffHerbert Rieckhoff 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 13 October 1941 – 23 February 1943 - Generalmajor Hans Detlef Herhudt von Rohden, 23 February 1943 – 24 August 1943
- Generalmajor Klaus UebeKlaus UebeKlaus Uebe was a German Luftwaffe Generalmajor and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II...
, 25 August 1943 – 24 December 1944 - Oberstleutnant Paul-Werner HozzelPaul-Werner HozzelPaul-Werner Hozzel was a German World War II Luftwaffe Stuka pilot and the first pilot of that type of plane to be awarded with the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.- Military career :...
, 25 December 1944 – 16 April 1945
Subordinated units
- II, III/Kampfgeschwader 1Kampfgeschwader 1Kampfgeschwader 1 was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during the Second World War. Heinkel He 111 and later Heinkel He 177 bombers.-History:...
"Hindenburg" (Ju 88AJunkers Ju 88The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
) - Kampfgeschwader 76Kampfgeschwader 76Kampfgeschwader 76 was a Luftwaffe bomber Group during World War II .Its units participated on all of the fronts in the European Theatre throughout the conflict, and served until the last day of the war...
(Ju 88AJunkers Ju 88The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
) - Kampfgeschwader 77Kampfgeschwader 77Kampfgeschwader 77 was a Luftwaffe bomber wing during World War II.Its units participated on all of the major fronts in the European Theatre until its dissolution in 1944...
(Ju 88AJunkers Ju 88The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
) - K.Fl.Gr. 806 (Ju 88AJunkers Ju 88The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
)
- Jagdgeschwader 54Jagdgeschwader 54Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz was a Luftwaffe fighter wing during the Second World War. It was known as the Green Hearts Wing, and it was the second highest scoring wing of all time, JG 52 being the highest...
(Bf 109FMesserschmitt Bf 109The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
)
- 2(F) Ob.d.L. (Do 215B)
- 5(F) 122 (Ju 88D)
- eleven squadrons of (Hs 126)
- SAGr 125 (Ar 95, Ar 196, He 114)
- one transport squadron (Ju 52)
- five liaison squadrons (Fi 156)
- IV. Flakkorps (anti-aircraft artillery)
- 2. Flak-Division
- 6. Flak-Division
Abbreviations
- FAGr = Fernaufklärungsgruppe = Reconnaissance aircraftSurveillance aircraftA surveillance aircraft is an aircraft used for surveillance — collecting information over time. They are operated by military forces and other government agencies in roles such as intelligence gathering, battlefield surveillance, airspace surveillance, observation , border patrol and fishery...
.- Gruppe = equivalent to a RAF WingWing (air force unit)Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
.
- Gruppe = equivalent to a RAF Wing
- JG = Jagdgeschwader = FightersFighter aircraftA fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
.- Geschwader = equivalent to a Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
GroupGroup (air force)A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. Usage of the terms group and wing differ from one country to another, as well as different branches of a defence force, in some cases...
.
- Geschwader = equivalent to a Royal Air Force
- KG = Kampfgeschwader = Bombers.
- KG zbV = Kampfgeschwader zur besonderen Verwendung = Transport aircraftCargo aircraftA cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. They are usually devoid of passenger amenities, and generally feature one or more large doors for the loading and unloading of cargo...
, later TG. - NAGr = Nahaufklärungsgruppe = Observation aircraftLiaison aircraftA liaison aircraft is a small, usually unarmed aircraft primarily used by military forces for artillery observation or transporting commanders and messages. The concept developed before World War II and included also battlefield reconnaissance, air ambulance, column control, light cargo delivery...
. - NASt = Nahaufklärungsstaffel = Observation aircraft.
- Staffel = equivalent to a RAF SquadronSquadron (aviation)A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
.
- Staffel = equivalent to a RAF Squadron
- NSGr = Nachtschlachtgruppe = Night Fighter Bombers.
- SAGr = Seeaufklärungsgruppe = Maritime Patrol aircraftPatrol bomberA maritime patrol aircraft , also known as a patrol aircraft, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, or by the older American term patrol bomber, is a fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long durations over water in maritime patrol roles - in particular anti-submarine, anti-ship and search and...
- SG = Schlachtgeschwader = Fighter bombersGround attack aircraftGround-attack aircraft are military aircraft with primary role of attacking targets on the ground with greater precision than bombers and prepared to face stronger low-level air defense...
. - TG = Transportgeschwader= Transport aircraft.